ABLE Newspaper: SPECIAL EDUCATION RALLY, by Kate Blisard
In an excellent article, the NJ based newspaper NJ Able Newspaper provided strong support for the May 17 Demonstration for Student Rights in front of the Department of Education organized by the NJ Student Advocacy Union.
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The article below is
how it was submitted. The published version was slightly edited. This version is
provided since it provides our contact information. Accompanying the
article was the picture of the Delgado family shown here.
NJ ABLE Article from June 2005
NJ ABLE: IDEIA 2004 Letter Published!
Volume x Number x July 2006, Page x
SPECIAL
EDUCATION RALLY
Submitted by Kate Blisard
Rain was forecasted for May 17, 2006 but it turned into a beautiful day for one of the largest rallies anyone could remember in recent times for the special education rights of children with disabilities in front of the Department of Education Building next door to the Riverfront Stadium. There was music and signs reading “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND”. There were speeches from parents, disability advocates, and most of all, the students with disabilities. Adults with disabilities and staff of Community Options and members of NJ ADAPT joined ranks with the Student Advocacy Union and others to address the myriad concerns about special education in our state.
The rally was organized by the Student Advocacy Union to protest and bring to the attention of New Jersey citizens the attempts to weaken IDEIA 2004 which would be made into law within IDEIA 2006. IDEIA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. It is the piece of federal legislation that protects and regulates the rights of children with disabilities to be schooled with supports and accommodations to ensure a free and equal education.
In March 2006 New Jersey’s Department of Education issued a letter to the state’s school districts requesting their input to make Individualized Education Plans (IEP) for students with disabilities written and reviewed every three years instead of once a year. Another suggested change weakened the “stay put” policy. Currently, if parents do not agree with the transfer of their child to another classroom, building or school because of disruptive behavior, the student stays put in their current setting until a due process hearing is held. The proposed change would allow districts to transfer a “disruptive” classified student to another setting prior to a due process hearing.
Richard Vespucci, spokesperson for the Department of Education, when asked to comment replied “The department appreciated the concerns of those who attended the rally. IDEI Act allows for flexibility. The hearings that followed the rally provided very important feedback from the families and other concerned persons that is incorporated into our state IDEI Act whenever possible.”
Thanks to these efforts in solidarity with other groups of concerned citizens New Jersey will keep short term education goals, New Jersey will not change over to a three year IEP, nor will it lengthen the period of time a child is temporarily placed in another setting for discipline reasons.
“We recently formed the New Jersey Student Advocacy Union (SAU) to bring greater coordination to the effort to improve how IDEIA is implemented in our state as well as organize stronger, unified advocacy to promote the rights and services of children with special needs in public education at the local, statewide and with others, the national level.” stated Bob Witanek, father of two classified sons and coordinator of the Student Advocacy Union. SAU also launched an online petition campaign uniting over 2000 parents and seeing success with the IDEI Act.
When asked what happens now Witanek concluded “We are at the cusp of a new civil rights movement dedicated to full equality of our children with disabilities fighting to maximize their full potential in the public school system. Together with other organizations we are confident in our ability to improve the condition of 225,000 special education children across the state of New Jersey.”
If you are interested in more information and receiving a free copy of the New Jersey Student Advocate contact advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org or call 908.881.5275.
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