The past four months have felt like four years, and when our special needs daughter is done with ESY, we are taking a much-needed, socially-distanced family getaway. But while my family and I definitely need a vacation, we know it won’t be so relaxing for our daughter. For neurotypical family members, vacation can be a […]
Continue readingWhile a vacation can be a great chance for parents to unwind, it can be tough for the special needs child. With planning and flexibility, however, it really is possible to have a positive family vacation. Here are some tips for making it work. Keep it simple. Consider staying in one place rather than travelling around. […]
Continue readingWith spring almost here, it’s a good time to think about the health benefits of being in nature. For special needs children there are many particular benefits to gardening and working with plants. Horticultural therapy is defined as gardening or any plant-based activity, facilitated by a trained therapist, to achieve specific therapeutic treatment goals. According […]
Continue readingIn October of 2019, Pat O’Keefe, a speaker from the New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association (NJPSA) presented a staff workshop titled “Building a Positive School Climate.” Creating a positive school climate can have a positive impact on attendance for students and staff. It can also improve academic success, communication styles, and safety levels for […]
Continue readingObsessive-Compulsive disorder (OCD) is a common and treatable brain disorder whereby unwanted thoughts cause significant anxiety or distress, or interfere with the child’s normal routine, academic functioning, social activities, or relationships. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, when a child has OCD, a difference in the way his or her brain processes […]
Continue readingAs the news about COVID-19 gets more alarming every day, it is understandable that everyone is feeling anxious right now. With schools closed, special needs children are missing their normal routines and caregivers are faced with the overwhelming task of helping children make sense of what is happening. Our children are looking to us for […]
Continue readingEvery parent is struggling right now to manage work or unemployment with everyone at home together, but parents of special needs kids have a particularly difficult job. Family routines have been disrupted, social outlets have been removed, and professional supports have been decreased or eliminated. Create a flexible routineRoutines can create structure and give your […]
Continue readingMay 4, 2020Greetings Alpha School families, On behalf of all of us at Alpha School, we hope all of you are well and maintaining. Maintaining is the best way I can describe what we are going through. Earlier today, Governor Murphy has made the decision to close schools for the rest of the school year with a […]
Continue readingJohn Gonzalez, Principal of Alpha School in Jackson, New Jersey describes the process of transitioning to the virtual home learning model in response to the COVID-19 outbreak in March of 2020. A Monumental Task This is unprecedented. This is not anything that any of us has ever been through before, so we had no procedures or […]
Continue readingApril 9, 2020Greetings Alpha School Family,This is Mr. John and I would like to take a moment to thank all of you for all you have done these past four weeks. We are all facing very difficult times. While the world around us faces challenges never faced before, we all do our best to provide […]
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