The Special Education Parent Advisory Groups (SEPAG) in the Mantua, Harrison Township and Clearview Regional school districts will host a fair this month to provide children with special-needs or other mental disabilities in the three school systems a place to find resources in the area.
The fair is free and will take place from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 26, at Pleasant Valley Elementary School.
“This event is an open forum, and visitors, both parents and children, may attend … to meet different community organizations that offer programs, support, recreation and information in working with students, specifically those with disabilities,” the Mantua district said in a statement.
“Representatives from sports, clubs, and activities will be available to register on the spot,” it added. “There will also be therapeutic support vendors who offer services that can meet your child’s needs.”
The event had 50 registered providers as of Feb. 24, according to a list from the school districts. Among them are Abilities Solutions, the Gloucester County YMCA, Acenda Integrated Health Network, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey and the Adult Center for Transition at Rowan College of South Jersey.
“We try to bring the resources to the families,” explained Harrison’s director of student services, Lori Hynes. “We bring these resources all into one place. We’ll get more vendors coming in the week of the event. It gets bigger and bigger every year.
“The fair is for parents who aren’t sure about the resources they can use to help their children,” she added. “(It) is giving them access to these resources all in one place in order to get their kids involved with help.”
