Self Advocacy
The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project
The New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project (NJSAP) was established in 1983 to challenge individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to become involved in events, legislative policies, and issues that affect their lives or lives of others with disabilities. We work together with these individuals to form The New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network (NJSSAN), which is used as means of supporting positive change on both a personal and social level. The NJSSAN consists of five Councils based on geographic location within the state. To learn more about the NJSSAN and how to attend monthly Council meetings, click here.
Our work includes conducting trainings and leadership seminars for self-advocates and group advisors across the state, supporting more than 150 self-advocacy groups across the state, facilitating fundraising and public outreach initiatives, conducting presentations to community groups, schools and conference audiences, and educating state legislators regarding issues of importance to people with disabilities.
Planning for Adult Life
http://planningforadultlife.org/
Planning for Adult Life is a statewide project funded by the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to assist young adults (between the ages of 16-21) with developmental disabilities and their families in charting a life course for adulthood. We offer a variety of resources including Informational sessions, webinars, and resource guides/materials that address the following core areas:
Postsecondary Education/Employment
Housing Legal/Financial Planning
Entitlement Programs and Eligibility
Self-Direction
Health/Behavioral Health
Building/Maintaining Community Ties
Friendships Planning/Visioning a Life Course
DDD RECIPES for Adulthood - Webinar
RECIPES Presentation Webinar Link
RECIPES for Adulthood: Addressing the Seven Main Areas in Life that Lead to Success, Meaning, and Fulfilment. There are seven main areas in everyone’s life that need to be addressed in order to experience a successful, meaningful, and fulfilling life. The same is true for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. This webinar will provide an overview of each area (Relationships, Employment, Chores, Individual Health & Wellbeing, Place to Live, Education, and Social Life) and steps students, families, and school personnel can take to prepare for each of these areas as a student moves toward adulthood.
Sproutflix
Sproutflix hosts the largest and most diverse collection of films featuring people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) on the marketplace. With over 280 titles, Sproutflix hopes to reinforce accurate portrayals of individuals within this community, help breakdown stereotypes and promote a greater acceptance of differences and awareness of similarities.
DeStress Mondays
Welcome to a new stress reduction program designed especially for teachers by Johns Hopkins University and The Monday Campaigns. The goal is to help you start the week in a positive frame of mind and manage stress throughout the week. Each Monday, you’ll receive an email with new stress reduction practices along with complementary exercises that can be used in the classroom. Watch this short introductory video and be sure to check back each week for new practices!
Teaching Tolerance
Our mission is to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy. Teaching Tolerance provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners—who work with children from kindergarten through high school. Educators use our materials to supplement the curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil and inclusive school communities where children are respected, valued and welcome participants.
A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Through Coronavirus Article Link:
https://www.tolerance.org/magazine/a-trauma-informed-approach-to-teaching-through-coronavirus
Kindness 101 with 'On the Road's' Steve Hartman
CBS reporter Steve Hartman and his kids have launched this free online course as a means of offering some educational content (Character Education) to America’s children during their time home from school, his lessons in compassion are valuable to everybody—regardless of their age. Includes lessons on:
Kindness, Empathy, Character, Gratitude, Optimism, Courage, Friendship, Altruism....
Amy Poehler's Smart Girls
CHANGE THE WORLD BY BEING YOURSELFFounded by artist Amy Poehler and producer Meredith Walker, Amy Poehler’s Smart Girls organization is dedicated to helping young people cultivate their authentic selves. We emphasize intelligence and imagination over “fitting in.” We celebrate curiosity over gossip. We are a place where people can truly be their weird and wonderful selves. We are funny first, and informative second, hosting the party you want to attend.
Girl Rising
Girl Rising works with local partners by providing customized tools and curricula to build confidence and agency in girls and to change attitudes and social norms so that entire communities stand up for girls and against gender discrimination. Our story-based tools and curricula engage, energize and motivate young people to see beyond their borders, value their education, understand their rights and believe in their capacity to change their lives, communities, and even the world.