Special Services

In-District Special Education Programs-Updated 3/29/2020:

Regarding our Distance Learning Plan for our students with disabilities, we are working very hard to ensure we are making every effort to provide learning opportunities that support the attainment of your child’s IEP goals. Please know that our Special Services team recognizes that this is an extremely difficult time for our students with special needs and their families. Please find some comfort in knowing that when we return to school, we will convene the IEP team to determine if your child is entitled to any compensatory services to help with any regression of skills.

Our Special Education teachers have been working diligently to ensure that your children have meaningful individualized instruction, access to IEP-driven supports, assistive technology, accommodations, and modifications. Special Educators have been in daily contact with parents, related service providers, general education teachers, and students, where appropriate. In addition to the folders posted on the District’s web page, special education teachers will send an email to students/parents to provide appropriate accommodations for academic work where necessary.

Unique to our special education programs, you will also continue to receive direct emails from the teacher and the related service providers on a daily basis with on-going individualized, specially designed programming for your child. Our special education paraprofessionals are fully integrated into our special education programming. Our paraprofessionals will also be engaging in greater outreach to students and families to provide assistance with remote learning, effective March 30, 2020.

Please be assured that we will make every attempt to provide additional support through continued consultation and virtual means for Speech Therapy, Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy through our clinics, in addition to your child’s regular school-based provider services. The consultative model with supplemental materials will remain in place in regularly scheduled sessions to support progress towards educational IEP goals. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJ DOE) on March 5, 2020, and March 17, 2020 (updated on additional dates) and the United States Department of Education (US DOE) on March 12, 2020, and March 21, 2020, provided guidance that school districts can use online instruction or virtual instruction. Teletherapy is optional and may be used as an additional tool to supplement the activities and resources the related service providers are providing through email. Shortly, you will receive information from the related service providers with instructions regarding preparing your child for teletherapy and connecting to video platforms. For home programming, our BCBAs, clinical coordinators and our ABA therapists will also continue to provide virtual support through online platforms, direct consultation, email, and phone conferences.

Out of District Special Education Programs: For students with disabilities enrolled in Approved Private Schools for Students with Disabilities, we continue to receive weekly updates regarding Distance Learning Plans. Should you have difficulty accessing these services, please reach out to your child’s case manager for assistance.

Child Study Team Services: As a reminder, your child’s case manager is accessible via email and phone conference. All IEP and special education-related meetings and annual reviews will continue as scheduled. These meetings can be held via an online platform or phone conferencing if there is an agreement with families to do so. All finalized IEPs will be posted in the Parent Portal in Genesis. Evaluation planning meetings will occur but evaluations will be completed once school resumes.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to any Child Study Team member if you or your child need assistance. We are here to help you navigate this challenging time. Counseling support will remain accessible to your child through our team of school psychologists, social workers, Care Plus Clinicians, and Sage Thrive Clinicians. We are also in the process of creating Virtual Parent Support groups through Special Services and Care Plus. We recognize that these uncertain times are stressing family systems and we want to ensure that you have access to these mental health supports.

We encourage you to access the Parent Resource page of this Google Site or call your case manager for assistance. Linda Wieseneck of the Cape Center provides tremendous support to families. Ms. Wieseneck can be reached at 201-343-6000 x4067 or linwie@bergen.org. Information regarding the Cape Center can be found here: https://www.bergen.org/cape.

Additional Special Education Resources: New Jersey COVID-19 Resources from the Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

For more information please contact Margaret Damiano, Supervisor of Special Services at 201-261-7800 x3020 or email mdamiano@paramusschools.org