Office of Special Education The office implements state and federal laws and regulations governing special education to ensure that pupils with disabilities in New Jersey receive full educational opportunities. It provides statewide leadership through the development of policy and implementation documents and provides guidance to school districts and parents regarding the implementation of special education programs and services.
New Jersey Early Intervention System Our mission is to enhance the capacity of families to meet the developmental and health related needs of children birth to age three who have delays or disabilities by providing quality services and support to families and their children. Families from diverse racial, cultural, and socio-economic backgrounds will be involved in decision making at every level of the design, implementation, and evaluation of the Early Intervention System.
Division of Disability Services The New Jersey Department of Human Services (DHS) is the state's social services agency, serving more than one million of New Jersey 's most vulnerable citizens, or about one of every eight New Jersey residents. Among them are children who are abused and neglected, troubled youth and families; individuals and families with low incomes; people with mental illness, developmental disabilities, or late-onset disabilities; and people who are blind, visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing. Through the work of DHS and its 13 major divisions, individuals and families in need are able to keep their lives on track, their families together, a roof over their heads, and their health protected. Human Services offers individuals and families the breathing room they need in order to find permanent solutions to otherwise daunting problems.
Parent-to-Parent, a collaboration with the Family Support Center of NJ, is a statewide network of parents supporting families of children with developmental delays, disabilities, and special health needs. As trained supporting parents, we offer emotional support and information, and act as a valuable resource to families. We offer assistance in learning the necessary skills to help parents face the challenges of raising their child. We are not counselors or therapists. We are parents who have experienced the feelings and emotions that come after learning that our children have a developmental delay, disability, or other special health needs. We offer moral support and encourage parents to feel comfortable and optimistic about the future.
Parent Teacher Association (PTA) The PTA is an organization whose members care about ALL children and youth - the school that they attend, the communities that they live in, and their opportunities for growth into happy, healthy, responsible citizens. PTA is democracy at work - making a place for all citizens regardless of color, race, religious belief, political preference, or economic and social status. For you are the PTA, our grass roots members are what moves the State and National PTA forward.
Special Parent Assistance & Resource Center (SPARC) If you are a parent of a special needs child, you are a special parent! SPARKLE (Every child sparkles!) is here to provide a supportive resource to meet the challenges that are unique to you! Whether you are seeking friendships with other special parents resource referral, fun activities for the whole family, presentations on special needs topics or special education information, SPARKLE is interested in meeting your needs. SPARKLE is all-inclusive of all special needs children. Regardless of the disability, special parents need support and advocacy.
Additional Resources
Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities The Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD) is a New Jersey-based non-partisan organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with multiple physical and developmental disabilities so that they may have the opportunity to attain the highest level of purpose and dignity. ABCD represents member agencies that provide a broad array of community-based services to more than 7,900 people with disabilities and their families statewide. In just ten years, ABCD became an active leader in the developmental disability community in New Jersey. Its activities have included ensuring maximization of federal revenues for the Community Care Waiver, protecting the adult day health services for people with developmental disabilities, and leadership in the creation of New Jersey WorkAbility (the Medicaid buy-in program for people with disabilities who work).
Centers for Independent Living We create opportunities for independence for people with disabilities through research, education, and consultation. This page includes a list of Centers for Independent Living (CILs) and Statewide Independent Living Councils (SILCs) and is updated weekly by the Independent Research Living Utilization (IRLU).
Easter Seals New Jersey For more than fifty years, Easter Seals New Jersey has been there to provide support through its statewide programs and services to individuals with disabilities. Easter Seals believes that everyone has a valuable contribution to make to his or her community. Our services are geared toward helping individuals with disabilities remove obstacles along their path toward independence. We seek to further empower people who face challenges in today's society, whether it be due to mental, physical or developmental disabilities (or a combination thereof), or because of age, lack of employment training, socialization skills, parenting skills, or a secure family structure or economic disadvantage.
Family Support Center of New Jersey The Family Support Center of New Jersey is the clearinghouse on information and referral for families and individuals with developmental disabilities and chronic or serious illnesses in New Jersey.
New Jersey Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities We designed the New Jersey Yellow Pages for Kids with Disabilities so people who love and work with our children can get reliable information, support -- and connect with one another.
VSA arts New Jersey VSA/NJ provides arts programming throughout New Jersey and resource and referral services for any individual or organization requiring information or assistance with arts issues as they relate to individuals with disabilities, accessibility, and physical or programmatic accommodations.
A Note about These Resources The resources posted on this website contain hypertext links or pointers to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links and pointers are provided for the user's convenience. NERRC does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness, or completeness of this outside information. Further, the inclusion of links or pointers to particular items in hypertext is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the sites.
