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P.O. Box 909 ● Trenton, NJ 08605-0909 ● Phone: 609.695.7600 ● Fax: 609.695.0413 ● Web: www.njsba.org/PI |
NEWS RELEASE CONTACT: Frank Belluscio (fbelluscio@njsba.org) FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10 School Programs Honored for Innovations in Special Education TRENTON, April 24, 2006—Ten New Jersey schools will be honored next month for creative special education programming through the fifth annual Innovations in Special Education program. The statewide program will recognize the 10 schools at a special event on Friday, May 12 at the High Road School in Somerset. The New Jersey School Boards Association and the Association of Schools and Agencies for the Handicapped, ASAH…serving the private special education community since 1974, sponsor the Innovations program in conjunction with Special Education Week in New Jersey, May 14-20. [Media coverage of the May 12th event is encouraged. Call Frank Belluscio or Mike Yaple at (609) 278-5202 for further information.] The 10 selected programs include—
A panel of judges representing the New Jersey School Boards Association, ASAH and the State Department of Education selected the 10 programs from among 76 submitted to this year’s Innovations program. [Descriptions of the 10 programs are at the end of this release.] Judges selected the honorees based on program innovation, effectiveness, parental or community involvement, and strategies to evaluate the program. “Innovations in Special Education helps the citizens of our state know about the exciting programs and services our schools provide for students with special needs,” explained Patti J. Pawling, NJSBA president. “New Jersey’s special education programs produce success stories every day as children, with the guidance and support of dedicated teachers and parents, overcome obstacles to achieve to their fullest potential.” “New Jersey is a leader in serving the needs of students with a range of disabilities,” said Gracanne Hinksi-Ryan, president of ASAH. “The programs submitted to Innovations in Special Education represent the high level of services we provide special education students and should be recognized in the local school community.” New Jersey’s public schools and private schools for the disabled serve more than 235,000 special education students. ********
Innovations in Special Education is funded by contributions from the Bank of America Insurance Group, PSE&G, and the Tarpey Group. Since 1985, the New Jersey School Boards Association and ASAH…serving the private special education community since 1974 have sponsored Special Education Week in New Jersey to recognize the achievements of New Jersey’s more than 235,000 special education students, the contributions of their teachers and the support of their parents. The two organizations established Innovations in Special Education to recognize successful, creative program that help students with special needs achieve to their fullest. INNOVATIONS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION 2006 Souper Thursday Souper Thursdays teaches students self-care and pre-vocational skills by making and selling soup to teachers and other staff members of the school community. The goal is to teach students independent living skills, while incorporating all areas of the curriculum. Students place orders, tabulate amounts of the ingredients that are needed, prepare the food, collect money and learn about jobs in the food industry. Teaching Adolescents & Young Adults with Autism to Access Schedules on a Palm Pilot This program incorporates the use of technology to focus on specific skills often lacking in students with autism, particularly staying on-task for long periods of time. Students learn to use Palm Pilots as a guide in completing complicated activity schedules, which are broken down into clear, sequential steps. Self-Advocacy: Empowerment Self-Advocacy: Empowerment prepares students for the transition from middle school to high school by helping them to identify and negotiate for what they need to be successful in school and adult life. These skills are particularly necessary as students take part in meetings with staff and their parents in the development of their Individual Education Plans. Through role-playing, movies and other techniques, students learn how to inventory their learning strengths, assess areas to improve, and set goals to prepare themselves for high school. Soaring with Signs Through Soaring with Signs, children (ages 3 to 9) acquire a pratical base of sign language to augment receptive and expressive communication. The use of signing provides a richer communication experience for students with autism. Working through the concept that multi-sensory instruction can develop learning skills, the program results in previously inattentive students responding when teachers pair words and signs. The Soup-er Heroes of Secondary 6 The Soup-er Heroes of Secondary 6 builds skills in the area of daily living. Every other week, students prepare a new recipe for sale to staff. Quality control and presentation are emphasized. As a self-sustaining program, the students purchase supplies for distribution from an online restaurant site, fill out order forms design advertisements, and acquire money math skills. "Show Me" ‘Show Me’ is designed to encourage positive self-images for special needs students while strengthening literacy, encouraging the performing arts, and promoting creativity. Students participate in two performances each year, writing plays based on an area of study or on characters they selecte from literature they have read. Student refine the script, memorize their lines and participate in designing costumes and scenery. Little Historians Little Historians integrates state curriculum standards in three learning activities that acknowledge veterans and current military personnel. The first activity involves students placing American flags in front of the school for Veterans’ Day, as they learn why the veterans are honored. A Vietnam veteran visits for the second activity, as students learn to listen, comprehend, take notes and formulate questions. The third activity invovles making “Valentines for Veterans” cards, as students express appreciation for the contributions of veterans. Self-Advocacy Training Through Self-Advocacy Training, each student must understand the nature of his or her disability, be able to articulate its impact on learning, and feel empowered to advocated for his needs. This helps students better participate in developing their own Individual Education Plans. Staff receive training to guide each student to discern personal strengths and interests as a foundation for future planning. Each week, staff focus on a different area to train students in self-advocacy, prioritizing values and setting goals. Classroom at the Aquarium Classroom at the Aquarium, which includes trips to the local Jenkinson’s Aquarium, integrates science, computers and math as students learn about organisms, the diversity of life, and geophysical systems of animals. Students record their explorations with a digital camera, and return to the classroom for further study and creation of a CD. The program also helps students develop skills for problem solving, decision making and inquiry by formulating questions, making hypotheses, and conducting experiments. Building Bridges Through Music Building Bridges Through Music helps students enhance their ability to communicate through song and sign. Music is used to reach out to students, age 4 to 10, as they play a keyboard, sign as they sing favorite songs, and participate in dance. A great deal of interaction takes place between general education students and their disabled peers. Students develop social skills through music and peer interaction, improve motor skills through dance, increase attention span, and develop awareness and acceptance of diversity in learning styles. ###
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