Special Education
Autism Awareness 2023
Inclusive Schools Week 2022
Presentation
Building Acceptance and Awareness Through Activities and Education
April was Autism Awareness Month and on April 5th, 2022, the Office of Special Education launched its 4th Annual Autism Awareness and Acceptance Kick-Off: Building Acceptance and Awareness Through Activities and Education, with a virtual performance and an artwork presentation. This annual district event was created to promote Autism awareness, inclusion and self-determination for all students, and to ensure that each student with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is provided the opportunity to receive high quality education and achieve the highest possible quality of life. Superintendent León started the kick-off with his welcome message to all of our families, schools, administrators and their wonderful staff and students. We also had a great keynote address from Kim Rivers, from SPAN Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN). Mrs. Rivers is also the parent of a child with Autism. She shared her challenges and successes raising a child on the spectrum with all of us. In honor of Autism Awareness this year, the Newark Board of Education went beyond simply promoting Autism awareness, to encouraging the community, educators, families, students and friends to build acceptance through inclusive activities education, and a month filled with Autism Awareness parent training activities. The kick-off event was a celebration of the gifts and talents our students on the spectrum possess. We had amazing performances and also beautiful artwork as part of our celebration.
A special thank you to the following schools that participated: Fourteenth Avenue, First Avenue, South Street, Camden Street, Louise A. Spencer, Central, McKinley, Ivy Hill, American History, Salomé Ureña, New Jersey Regional Day, John F. Kennedy, Quitman, and Thirteenth Avenue. Please click this link to view the submission of students’ artwork and performances from our schools across the district.
The Newark Board of Education Celebrates Inclusive Schools Week December 7-11, 2020
For Inclusive Schools Week, December 7-11, 2020, the Office of Special Education, in collaboration with our general education and special education programs, have prepared presentations with photos and information to celebrate our students' participation in everyday practices of Inclusivity.
Those presentations submitted by NBOE schools are listed below:
Newark Board of Education Connects with Families for Autism Awareness
[NEWARK, New Jersey – April 19, 2019] Earlier this month, the Newark Board of Education and the Office of Special Education launched into a month-long series of programs, lectures and parent-focused events to share information and updates with parents of students with special needs. This year’s kickoff included a number of special speakers, in addition to parents and student performances.
Superintendent of Newark Schools Roger León said, “I want to commend the Office of Special Education (OSE) for incorporating guest speakers to discuss programs and services both as part of the Newark Board of Education’s curriculum and external programs designed to keep parents informed and engaged in the education of their child.”
This year, the following speakers presented: Anne Marie Sullivan of Spectrum Works, Megan Stuhrman of Rethink Ed, Sharnette Vidal of Nassan’s Place and Allison Hawkins of Rutgers University DDC.
Carolyn Granato, Executive Director of the OSE, said, “It was our goal to bring information to the many parents who attend the kickoff celebration, that was punctuated by the fascinating performances of many of our students attending Special Education.” She added, “Throughout the month, we hosted workshops and informational sessions so that our parents are aware of new services and opportunities for their child.”
According to Ms. Granato, recent numbers show an increase in the number of cases of children with autism in New Jersey. The most recent CDC findings (2018) show the overall US ASD prevalence to be 1-in-59 and indicate that NJ ASD prevalence is even higher — 1-in-34. Boys are about 4 times more likely to have ASD than girls. In NJ, approximately 4 percent of all 8-year old boys have ASD. The cost of caring for a child in the US with autism are in the range $60,000 per year. (In NJ, out of district autism annual cost of placement in a special school may exceed that amount, of course.)
For the remainder of this month, programs will be held on April 29 at 14th Avenue, Ivy Hill and Camden Street Schools. On April 30, programs will be held at Central High School and American History High School, and 14th Avenue and Ivy Hill Schools. Also, Spencer Miller School will host an Autism Walk on the 30th. Finally, on Friday, May 3, the following schools will host programs; Salome Urena, Quitman Street, Camden Street and First Avenue Schools.
In closing, Ms. Granato said, “National Autism Awareness Month represents an excellent opportunity to promote autism awareness and autism acceptance. It is our goal to incorporate these tenets into our teaching and into the culture and climate of every school and in every encounter. We believe we can move one step closer to a society where those with ASD’s are truly valued for their unique talents and gifts.”
For more information on remaining events, visit our District Calendar.