Hinkle, Prior & Fischer, Disability Attorneys

MARCH 10, 7 – 8:30 pm
Courtyard Marriott Princeton
1 Mapleton Rd.
Princeton, NJ

Many parents and educators believe that ESY services are only for students who lose skills (regress) during the summer months, and then have difficulty recovering lost skills (recoup) when school starts in the fall. While “regression/recoupment” is one common basis for providing ESY, there are other situations in which ESY may be required, such as when a student’s disability is particularly severe; to prevent an interruption in instruction while an important skill is being addressed; or to allow students who attend relatively restrictive programs during the school year to be exposed to peers without disabilities during the summer months. This session will explore the means by which eligibility for ESY is determined, as well as the law and best practices surrounding the provision of ESY services. Emphasis will be placed on promoting continuity and generalization of skills across settings and throughout the year.

MARCH 15, 7 – 8:30 pm
Sheraton Edison
125 Raritan Center Pkwy
Edison, NJ

Many students with disabilities exhibit challenging behaviors that interfere with their abilities to benefit from special education. To the extent that educators and parents focus upon managing or limiting problem behaviors – whether the goal is to prevent injury, avoid disciplinary action, or to promote positive social interactions – the student often misses valuable opportunities to engage in more constructive activities. This session will explore the obligations of school districts to address behavioral challenges that result from children’s disabilities. The presenters will review evidence-based approaches to addressing challenging behaviors, and the need to develop appropriate behaviors and foster generalization. Particular attention will be paid to the obligations of school districts and other agencies to address challenging behaviors that arise in the home and community.

MARCH 24, 7 – 8:30 pm
Crowne Plaza Cherry Hill
2349 Marlton Pike West
Cherry Hill, NJ

Evaluations drive the special education process. Parents who disagree with evaluations conducted by their school districts have powerful rights to secure independent evaluations from neutral, qualified evaluators at no cost to them. This means parents can “level the playing field” to ensure that a fair and balanced representation of their children’s abilities and needs is available when decisions about programming, placement, and other issues arise. This session will describe the circumstances under which school districts must provide independent evaluations, evaluator qualifications, parents’ rights in selecting independent evaluators, various types of evaluations, best practices for completing an independent evaluation, and how to get the greatest benefit from the results of independent evaluations. Attention will also be paid to the powerful rights that parents have when disputes arise with school administrators about independent evaluations.

MARCH 31, 7 – 8:30 pm
Hampton Inn Robbinsville
153 W Manor Way
Robbinsville, NJ

Many disabilities interfere with children’s abilities to learn and apply the skills needed to engage in positive, meaningful, and satisfying social relationships. These deficits not only result in isolation, stigmatization, and loneliness while the child is in school; multiple studies have confirmed that a lack of appropriate social skills is one of the primary factors that limits individuals with disabilities from being able to secure and maintain employment, pursue further education, and live independently as adults. This workshop will explore specialized, evidence-based techniques to improve social skills among students with deficits in this area. Participants will also learn when and to what extent school districts are responsible for providing services to address students’ social skills impairments.