The following is a sample letter to the editor.  Feel free to use it as a basis for a letter to your papers.  Send the letters to local as well as regional and statewide papers.  Here is a link with some addresses for such letters: http://www.njascu.org/daily_papers.htm .

Opinion Page: Special Education Families Unite!

It is time for special education families, relatives, friends, advocates and other supporters to organize and converge to protect our rights which are being whittled away. IDEIA 2004 is the federal revision to special education law that allows states to weaken rights of - and support for - special education students and parents.  States with stronger law in areas where the federal law  allows weakening can opt to keep the laws stronger.  The good news is that special education families and allies across NJ are joining together to call upon the Department of Education, Acting Governor Codey and state legislators to stand with our children  by foregoing the most offensive changes.

Part of the effort is being coordinated from The Student Advocate Website, http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org where a petition drive has already garnered support from over 600 NJ residents.  The petition calls upon NJ to hold the line on 11 points that are important to special education students and their families. 

The following are issues addressed by the petition:

1. Elimination of short term objectives.
2. The changing of an IEP period from 1 year to 3 years.
3. Regular education teachers would no longer need to attend IEP meetings.
4. Midterm assessments of progress toward objectives can be eliminated.
5. Stay put provisions prohibiting unilateral district placement change while an issue is in dispute can be eliminated.
6. Manifest determination rules can be weakened making it easier to suspend or expel a child with a behavioral disability.
7. Increasing the time for which a child can be removed to an “alternative learning environment.”
8. Decreasing the frequency parents must be notified of their rights.
9. Imposing a statute of limitations for holding a district legally accountable.
10. Imposing a state run resolution meeting on due process procedures.
11. Increasing the age for transition service from 14 to 16.

If you are concerned about these issues, visit , http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org to sign the petition and learn of other efforts around the issue.  You can get more info by calling 908-881-5275.  The website provides tips on letter writing and other actions you can take.  While the petition has been launched by A Parents Initiative for Every Childs’ Education, it is being supported by organizations and individuals throughout NJ.  You can learn more about the issue and this effort at a meeting on Thursday, May 26, 6:30 pm at Mary Jacobs Library, 64 Washington Street in Rocky Hill.

In NJ, there are 225,000 special education students.  There are between 300 and 400 thousand parents of such children.  Add in our relatives, advocates and other supporters and we could represent a million voters.  Imagine if we converge our efforts and resources.  We can prevent the weakening of these laws that are so vital to the survival and realization of the full potential of our children!

Bob Witanek

Belle Mead (Montgomery Township)

908-881-5275