FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Bob Witanek 908-881-5275
Web Link:
Http://studentadvocate-nj.org/May26_2005_IDEIA2004_Mtg_RHill.htm
Meeting:
IDEIA 2004: Standing Up for the Rights of Our Children With
Disabilities!
Thursday, May 26, 6:30 – 8:15 pm
Mary Jacobs Library, 64 Washington St., Rocky Hill, NJ
“Standing Up for the Rights of Children With Disabilities” will be the topic of an educational and organizing meeting to occur on Thursday, May 26, 6:30 – 8:15 pm at the Mary Jacobs Library, 64 Washington Street, in Rocky Hill, NJ.
The meeting is a response to the federal reauthorization of IDEA special education law through passage of the IDEIA 2004 this past December.
According to organizers of this meeting, many aspects of the federal law will allow states to “weaken” special education law in ways that will harm students with disabilities in public schools. Meeting organizers are coordinating a petition drive that has already garnered 600 signatures from special education parents and supporters throughout the state. The petition calls upon NJ to keep its law stronger where federal law would allow weakening. The petition drive is being coordinated from The Student Advocate Website, http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org .
The meeting will present the areas where petitioners believe the rights of and support for special education students and parents are imperiled by the federal law changes. Participants will discuss plans to attempt to reach out to “every special education family in the state” to let them know about IDEA and how the changes will affect them.
According to member of A Parent’s
Initiative for Every Childs’ Education Bob Witanek, who initiated the petition
drive, “There are 225,000 special education students in the state and each and
every one of them and their families will be adversely affected should the New
Jersey Department of Education implement the changes that are addressed by the
petition. In the coming months, our organization and many other such
organizations around the state will be doing our best to reach deep into the
special needs communities and to organize ourselves into a formidable
constituency with the ability to impact state policy. This meeting will be one
step of many in this process.”
Those planning to attend, if possible, should RSVP by writing to
ADVOCATE@STUDENTADVOCATE-NJ.ORG or calling 908-881-5275. More information
about the meeting is available at
http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org
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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