Welcome to PART II of our dental care and disability blog series, where we break down what you need to know about how to keep good oral hygiene when you or your loved one has a disability. PART I was all about the basics, so if you haven’t checked that out, be sure to take a look. As with the previous article we sat down with Keith Libou, D.M.D. of Delta Dental of New Jersey to answer all our questions about disability and dental care. This time we are focusing on dentists – how do you get the most out of your visits? How do you choose the right one for you? Let’s dive in so you can make the most of your next visit.
Resources
Raising a Child With a Disability – 8 Vital Reminders For Parents
Raising a Child With a Disability
When you’re about to have a child, you prepare for everything. You paint the nursery, you buy the crib and you do a million other things. And no matter how much you prepare, you will never be ready for a child, but you do your best. One thing many parents don’t consider though, is raising a child with a disability. If you aren’t exposed to the world of disability, you might feel lost and unsure what to do next. So, we compiled a list of eight important reminders
Employment First In New Jersey – What’s It Mean and How Can It Help You?
First Employment – Disability Second
In April of 2012, Governor Chris Christie declared New Jersey an Employment First state. With this simple declaration, New Jersey became a part of a national movement that is “centered on the premise that all citizens, including individuals with significant disabilities, are capable of full participation in integrated employment and community life.” (Via Departement of Labor) This urges local publicly-financed systems to adjust their programs and policies to promote integrated, competitive employment opportunities for people with disabilities and special needs.
Phew. That was a lot of three-syllable-words.
In plain-speak though, what does it all mean? It means
A Big Win for Students With Disabilities at the Supreme Court!
Our latest blog topic comes to us from Hinkle, Fingles, Prior, & Fischer, a Jersey-based law firm that represents people with disabilities and their families in the tri-state area. They detailed a landmark decision handed down by the Supreme Court that affects how Individual Education Plans (IEP’s) are deemed “appropriate.”
As IEP’s begin to be set, we want to make sure you stay up-to-date on all the important issues so you’re able to effectively advocate for your loved ones.
Benefits of a Guardianship
In this post, Easterseals New Jersey has invited Margaret Spaziani, Esq. to speak about the benefits of becoming the guardian of an adult child with a disability. Ms. Spaziani is an attorney with the firm Giordano, Halleran, & Ciesla and an expert in these complicated legal matters. Guardianship can provide many protections
Choosing a Support Coordination Agency – What You Need to Know
by Erin Jerome
Support Coordination: Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail
Last year, we talked about how to find the best support coordinator in New Jersey. In order to find these coordinators, however, you will have to first approach a support coordination agency. When receiving
Quick Tips for Accessible Higher Education
Apply Yourself!
By Elise Giacobbe
The college application process is stressful, frustrating and time-consuming for everyone. When you need to dig deeper into your research aside from major, location and the price of higher education, that is when things can get challenging. Research for families of people with disabilities and special needs doubles, if not triples. When selecting a school, you must carefully consider
How to Make New Jersey Beaches Accessible
Sand, Sun, and Saltwater Taffy
From North to South, most New Jerseyans agree that the place to be this summer is the Jersey shore. For some, it can even be a second home. There isn’t a weekend that you won’t see them enjoying the Atlantic or strolling the boardwalk with family and friends. The question we ask ourselves here at Easterseals New Jersey, however, is how accessible is the beach?
Guide to Understanding an Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
In New Jersey, as well as other states across the country, an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is a written document that outlines a child’s (with a special need or disability) education, ages 3-21. The plan is tailored specifically to the individual student, so they receive maximum educational benefit. The key word is individual. A program that is appropriate for one student, may not be right for another.
For a child with a disability, the IEP is the cornerstone for their education. It identifies the services that a child needs so that he/she can grow and learn during the school year in a manner that recognizes their disability and challenges. An IEP is also a legal document that outlines three key topics:
- The child’s special education plan that includes their goals for the school year
- Services needed to help the child reach those goals
- A strategy to evaluate the student’s success and progress
