IDEIA 2004 Letter Writing Workshop Form
The purpose of this form is
described below.
On-Line IDEA Letter Writing Clinic
By Bob Witanek http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org 908-881-5275
As we collect letters and statements for input to the NJ State IDEIA special education code revisions process our goal is 50 such statements per each school district I understand that some parents and supporters of children with disabilities could be intimidated by the task of getting their thoughts about their personal challenges in the public education system into writing and how their own challenges relate to rights and protections that the state is trying to eliminate due to IDEIA 2004.
In order to encourage more parents and other supporters (including siblings, youth, special education students themselves, other relatives, and anyone else who wants to take a position in favor of our children), I am offering an on-line clinic to help you get the letters together. The goal is a letter signed in ink, either mailed or faxed to us. You can send it to the state yourself as well but we would like to have it so that we can include it with our 50 Strong submissions. We will be including signed petition statements and electronic petition names with the petition as well but the personalized letters are more valuable toward our goals in this process.
How the clinic will work is that you will make contact with us either by e-mailing advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org , phoning 908-881-5275 or filling out the form at this link: http://StudentAdvocate-NJ.org/letter_writing_form.htm
We can work either via e-mail, the comment at the form, I can interview you by telephone or we can use the chat room at njstrongidea@yahoogroups.com (you would need to load the yahoo chat software), you can use the worksheet at this link and fax it to 908-281-7873 http://www.studentadvocate-nj.org/Letter_Work.doc (MS WORD). Also those who live nearby to me I am in Montgomery Township can arrange an appointment to meet me at my home office to work your comments through into letter form.
You can express to me your concerns in special education or district challenges you have faced, and I will help you formulate your concerns around the issues in play under IDEIA 2004 revisions into written comments to the state. You can make any and all modifications. Then you would either mail the letter, with your signature to NJ Student Advocate, PO Box 1214, Belle Mead, NJ 08502 or fax it to 908-281-7873. You can send it to the state yourself as well but we want to collect 50 letters per district to hand in as a per-district packet to show greater unity and organization.
It could be a matter of 10 15 minutes of your time or longer if you want to work harder on putting it together.
If we get a large number of folks asking for such support, we have some other coordinators of our effort who can help with your letters.
If you want to get your letter together without our help, you can use this link:
http://www.studentadvocate-nj.org/IDEIA2004_Writing.htm
Please print off and sign your letter, including your home address (at least the town and zip). Again, please mail to NJ Student Advocate, PO Box 1214, Belle Mead, NJ 08502 or fax it to 908-281-7873. Instructions at that link describe how to send the letter to the state but we request that you send us a copy as well so that we can include it in the packets we are assembling per district.
If you have already written a letter and have sent it previously please print off the letters, sign and mail or fax to us.
I look forward to working with you to get your letters out.
For Our Children,
Bob Witanek
advocate@studentadvocate-nj.org 908-881-5275
PS Similar support is being offered by
Martha Brecher and Peg Kinsell
of SPAN. Be encouraged to call or write for similar support from them as
follows:
Please contact either Peg Kinsell (pkinsell@spannj.org ) or Martha Brecher if you are interested in testifying or need assistance putting your oral or written comments together.
Martha
Brecher, Legal Director, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network
35 Halsey Street, 4th floor, Newark, NJ 07102
telephone: (973) 642-8100 x 114 / fax: (973) 642-8080
martha.brecher@spannj.org /
httP://spannj.org
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