'Road to Resources' leads to own community Special needs families get overview of local programs
By Patricia Keller
WEST MILFORD ‑‑ Folks with special needs and their families recently were given a roadmap to the many resources available in their community.
Participating in the township's Health Advisory Board 's "Road to Resources Event" at the West Milford Public Library.were: Dr. Elizabeth McQuaid, the school district's director of special services; Karyn Reinhold, special education teacher and Special Olympics coach; Maggie Drew, coordinator of services at Jewish Family Services of Metrowest; and Kristi Clave, special education teacher and Special Olympics coach.
Also there were representatives of the Association for Special Children and Families, first responders, Macopin Farms, and Town Council members Ada Erik and Marilyn Lichtenberg.
Saying it's important that families and the school district work together, McQuaid announced that the district’s Special Education Parent Advisory Committee will now be open to all families with special needs in the community, allowing it to better share information and resources. SEPAC will meet from 4:45 p.m. - 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Maple Road School Media Center and from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 29 at the Westbrook School Media Center.
The district's special education programs, include: individual and group therapies, behavioral disabilities classes, and Inclusion Preschool. McQuaid also pointed to “Macopin Mentors” and Maple Road “Buddies,” clubs for peer interaction; and to physical therapist-guided yoga, which helps cut stress and increase concentration.
Reinhold and Clave spoke about the growth of the inclusion programs and their individualized special education classes.. The core curriculum is the same for special education students and the rest of the student body.
The Special Olympics program lets young athletes, with or without disabilities, socialize, enjoy sports, and learn to follow directions. It has 75 athletes and more than 120 volunteers.
Drew said Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey provides resources for social services and mental health needs including: personal, vocational, social, and transportation.
Rachel Youngren, parent consultant, and Julie Rikon, co-director and parent consultant for The Association for Special Children and Families, said the Hewitt-based organization's services include: individual parent meetings, parent support groups, a hotline, and advocacy training.
Highlands Family Success Center also offers child, maternal and family health services; and employment- and housing-related services.
The prevocational training program at Macopin Farm allows adults to feed, water and groom farm animals such as horses, sheep and chickens. They learn about composting, gardening, landscaping and even making jam.
Police and first responders provide disability/tolerance training so their crews can better communicate with special needs families and interact with students with disabilities.
Erik told attendees that police can “flag” residents' names, addresses, and relevant medical conditions on a database so first responders get a heads-up. Ken Cuneo, president of the West Milford First Aid Squad, said the squad has crutches and wheelchairs to loan and conducts CPR and defibrillation classes.
Lichtenberg noted that the state's “Yellow Dot” program provides a yellow decal for on the driver’s side rear window. The dot alerts first responders that critical health information is in the glove compartment.
The Health Advisory Board's Dorrie Torp said she was "overwhelmed" by the way the organizations "care about the families they work with and how willing they are to help people.”
For more information, contact:
West Milford Special Education Parent Advisory Committee: www.wmtps.org/district/special_services/s_e_p_a_c.
West Milford Township Public Schools, Department of Special Services: www.wmtps.org/district/special_services, email: Dr. Elizabeth McQuaid - director of special services at elizabeth.mcquaid@wmtps.org, or Roberto Mendez - supervisor of special services at roberto.mendez@wmtps.org, or call the Special Services Department at (973) 697-1700, Ext .5041.
West Milford Special Olympics- Facebook: www.facebook.com/WestMilfordSpecialOlympics, or email westmilfordspecialolymipcs@gmail.com.
Support Coordination - Jewish Family Service of MetroWest New Jersey- visit www.jfsmetrowest.org, or email Maggie Drew- Coordinator of Services for Individuals with Disabilities at mdrew@jfsmetrowest.org, or call (973) 637-1762 or (973) 765-9050.