A Photo Report on the
May 17 Statewide Mobilization for the Rights of Student with Disabilities
Seventh Page
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Congratulations
on cyber-joining the May 17 Statewide Mobilization for the Rights of Students
with Disabilities. We hope that you have enjoyed our pictorial report.
More importantly, we hope that you are inspired by this report of the event.
If you felt a warm or tingly sensation around the heart area while you read
these descriptions and viewed the photos, that could be a feeling of
"solidarity" or even of love for our children.
We know that many parents of children with disabilities are not accustomed to the concept of protesting for the well-being of our children and some might not want to be seen in the company of sign toting advocates. The idea that we have to challenge government, state boards, school boards and administrations in a collective way on behalf of our children could be a difficult one to fathom.
However, across this state and
nation, our children are being lost, left behind, suspended and expelled,
arrested, incarcerated and are even dying before their time. The IDEIA
2004 changes and the Supreme Court Schaffer decision are emboldening
districts to declassify students with needs, deny services, fail to provide
those services agreed upon, side step IEP compliance, run
around
protections and generally make it more difficult for parents, guardians,
advocates and most importantly our children to be successful. Add to that,
shifting of government priorities, failure to fund, wasting of funds allocated,
cutbacks of funding and the picture is getting bleaker.
However, the event that you just read about and viewed as documented in this photo essay is a glimmer of hope of the potential that we have when we work together - when existing organizations converge, even if they have to set aside minor differences and more importantly when families unite for the common good of our children. While we had a tremendously successful event, many sat this one out not wanting to be the first to cross the chasm into a more active and public opposition to policies that are harming our children. Hopefully some of you who visited these pages are now inspired to take some additional steps for our children.
The following are some steps that
you can take:
We are in a comment period with the NJ State Board of Education. Comments should still be provided. We recommend focus on stay put and manifest determination protections. See:
Action Alert Stay Put and Manifest Determination Still on Chopping Block
Help distribute, mail, promote the
NJ Student Advocate newspaper:
Off the Presses: NJ Student Advocate - A
Tool For Parental Empowerment
If you are more of a behind the
scenes person, and you are not ready to pick up a sign or pass a newspaper, you
can still join or donate to the NJ Student
Advocacy Union. We are not f
unded
by the Department of Education or the local school board yet we are effectively
working to improve opportunities for your children. To join or support:
The NJ Student Advocacy
Union
If you were moved at all in any way
when you reviewed this photo essay, and you would like to share your comments,
with us, please write to
advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org
Photos were provided by Kathleen Pennell, Kathryn Sampson and Bob Witanek.
Ask the Advocate
NJ Complaint Form (MS Word)
(PDF)
On Line Public Hearing on IDEIA 2004
Survey on NJ OSEP Complaint
Process
Past Activities
IEP Wkshp
Rec. Programs for
those w/ Disabilities
An Evening of Educational Advocacy
September 8, 2005 Edison, NJ
What The Student Advocate Has Done for Our Children
Lately . . .
NJ IDEIA 2004 Organizing Committee
Minutes of IDEIA 2004 meeting on Thu., May
26
Student Rights Radio
Discussion, October 31
Effort to
Reach Gubernatorial Hopefuls and Acting Governor / Candidates
IDEA: An Update
Dec. 5, 2005
Middletown
January 18,
2006: Hold a Candle Light for Our Children's Rights
50 Strong For Our
Children
No. Jersey Radio Interview Aired, 1/22
Petitioning for Rights Children: Legal in Princeton
Interview on NJ IDEIA Rights
- Racial Disparities in Sp-Ed
Call
is Heard in Montgomery Twp: Inclusive Recreation
NJSAU Minutes 2/18/2006
Playing and Singing for
Our Rights, 4/1/6
Better IDEA Laws for Special Education
Students?
Better IEPs? Anything is Possible!
April
1 Report: Student Advocacy Union - Fundraising Concert
Mobilization for Rights
of Our Children, May 17, 2006, Trenton
Nationwide Internet Radio Rally for Sp-Ed Parent Rights
9pm EST, Sat. May 20
Parents’ Rally @ Statehouse in Trenton Thursday, June 8, 2006
Piscataway Parents Mtg, June 19, 2006