NJCIE Services
I can't thank you enough! You have made a monumental different for J.J. He is really starting to rebound. Everyone is noticing it.
- Deb Gregory, Parent
Thank you for the well-planned and informative in-services that you provided to my department of visual and performing arts. The feedback from evaluations was very positive.
- Joseph Annecchino, Dept. Chair, Irvington
My students can't stop talking about the Inclusion Clinic which they observed on December 8. They said it was the most valuable experience of their college career.
- Jerry G. Petroff, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, The College of New Jersey
It was very helpful for me to get to know other mothers who are experiencing similar obstacles with schools and to learn the positive, successful steps that others have established.
- Evaluation feedback, May 9, 2007 Parent Seminar
Districts: Let NJCIE be your District's Inclusion Facilitator!
Individual Student Consultation
Onsite Consultation: NJCIE provides tailored, on-site consultation to schools planning supports in general education settings for students with complex needs; for students experiencing academic, social or behavioral challenges in the general education classroom; or, for students transitioning from a more, to less restrictive, setting. Consultation may involve one visit, or an initial visit with on-going support. Contact NJCIE for consultation options and fees re: individual student consultation.
See our brochure on individual student consultation, teacher training, and fee schedules
Offsite Inclusion Clinics: NJCIE offers professionally guided, quarterly opportunities at the College of New Jersey or New Jersey City University for school-parent teams to plan the details of inclusion for an individual child. Teams must include at least three people: a general educator, a family member of the focus child, and a special educator. (Schools may bring up to 5 additional professionals). Fee: $50 per team member, nonrefundable.
Click here for our inclusion clinic details and registration form
NJCIE's Professional Development Offerings
NJCIE provides professional development and on-site consultation for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals / assistants and other staff to assist in the development of individual student, classroom and school-wide inclusive programming.
Workshops and consultative services are tailored to the needs of the individual school and students.
Click here for a brochure and fee schedule
Workshop Descriptions: Inclusive Classroom Practices
All students benefit when teachers use inclusive teaching practices to link students to the general education curriculum while addressing their individual needs. These inclusive teaching practices include collaborative teaming, differentiated instruction, using class wide adaptations, grouping, ongoing assessment and positive behavior supports (PBS). NJCIE provides training in all of these areas. A selection of NJCIE's most popular workshops are described below.
Collaborative Teaching
The following series of workshops is appropriate for schools using two-teacher models such as co-teaching (teachers together for a significant portion of the day), in-class resource support (teachers together for part of the day) or consultation models (special education teacher provides periodic support in and out of the classroom to general education teachers).
Collaborative Teaching I: This workshop is an ideal introduction for teachers who have little or no past experience (or a less than positive past experience) working with another teacher in a general education classroom. Participants explore tips for developing a successful collaborative relationship, for planning lessons using the co-teaching teaching approaches and learn other strategies to maximize the talents of both teachers.
Collaborative Teaching II: This workshop is for teachers who are, or will be, teaching together in the near future. Participants discuss key classroom issues and explore strategies for lesson planning, differentiation, class wide adaptations, classroom management and making individual adaptations.
Grouping and Differentiation: General education classrooms which rely on whole group instruction despite the presence of additional staff (i.e., special educators, assistants, etc.) fail to access the benefits of collaboration for students or teachers. In this very interactive workshop, teachers explore the advantages and challenges of grouping in the diverse classroom and learn strategies for using grouping and differentiation to challenge and support the success of all students in the classroom.
Collaboration through Consultation: Special education teachers may provide periodic support to classroom teachers and assistants through a consultation model. This workshop addresses coordination, communication and roles and responsibilities involved with using a consultative model while providing participants with tips for establishing and maintaining a smooth, effective working relationship with other collaborators.
Paraprofessionals (a.k.a. "aides" or "assistants") in the Inclusive Classroom
The trained classroom paraprofessional/assistant can be invaluable in supporting the academic, communication and social progress of students with disabilities while supporting independence.
Effective paraprofessionals / assistant Support in the General Education Classroom: This workshop explores strategies for better communication and coordination, planning, preparation of materials, and the delineation of roles and responsibilities. Participants learn strategies for prompting and redirecting students to support academic and social achievement while fostering student independence. This workshop can be tailored to groups of paraprofessionals / assistants or groups of teachers working with paraprofessionals / assistants or mixed groups of teachers and paraprofessionals / assistants.
Positive Behavior Support (PBS) Training and Consultation
Using PBS (Level 1, 2 or 3): In this workshop, participants receive an overview of the research-based principles of PBS and discuss practical applications of these principles to develop school-wide, class-wide and individual student programs. Strategies shared include determining and establishing behavioral expectations for all students, facilitating smooth transitions, and encouraging appropriate student behavior through recognition and reinforcement.
Many other PBS workshop titles are available. Please contact NJCIE for more information.
Other PBS Services Available from NJCIE:
- Assisting districts in developing school-based PBS teams
- Leading Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) of individual student behaviors, teaching teams to develop Behavior Intervention Plans based on the FBA and providing on-site coaching and modeling of recommended behavior intervention strategies
- Delivering a variety of behavior support-related professional development activities to teachers, administrator and child study team members, including crisis intervention strategies
Information and Support for Parents
"Inclusion Works! Parent Support Network"
NJCIE's newly formed "Inclusion Works! Parent Support Network" will send parent facilitators to support the development of small, local groups of parents who already share an inclusive vision for their children and seek others with whom they can problem-solve and share ideas and mutual support. If interested in hosting or joining one of these collaborative groups of parents, please contact Mary Ann Comparetto, NJCIE's Director of Parent Programs at 732-613-0400.
Presentations for Community and School Parent Groups
Upon request, NJCIE can provide to parent groups an hour-long presentation on inclusive education, free of charge. The parent group and/or individual attendees are encouraged to become members of NJCIE. Contact NJCIE at 732-613-0400 to schedule a presentation for your parent group.
Public Policy Initiatives
Public Policy Committee
NJCIE welcomes members and friends to assist with its efforts to educate government officials and the community at large about policies which can support the development of inclusive schools and address New Jersey's over-reliance on separate, special education. NJCIE's Public Policy Committee's activities include meeting with state and federal legislators and county freeholders, testifying before the State Board, writing letters to promote inclusive schools / classrooms and other activities.
Call or e-mail NJCIE if you are interested in volunteering for our Public Policy Committee.
Letters to the Editor
NJCIE invites supporters of inclusive education to consider writing a "letter to the editor" or an Op-Ed piece to a local newspaper with a personal story about a positive inclusive experience. One real life experience in a classroom, on the playground, or with a teammate or friend, can capture the spirit of what inclusive education is all about and counter inaccurate perceptions that the most New Jersey parents desire separate schools and classrooms for their children. Sending copies of the letter to local legislators can have an impact even if it is not published.
