Parents, staff object to NJ regional school closings
April 9th, 2009From the [Newark] Star-Ledger, [Secaucus] Jersey Journal:
New Jersey parents, students and staff are protesting a plan to close 18 regional schools for disabled and troubled kids by June 2010. The state will return some 520 students to their county or local districts, citing declining enrollment as the reason for the planned closings.
The schools serve children with physical, developmental and behavioral disabilities, as well as pregnant teens and kids with juvenile detention records.
“This is not just about jobs,” said Ken McNamara, president of Local 1037 Communications Workers of America, which represents regional school employees. “Local school districts were not able to provide services for these children’s level of disability. These schools provide services. They are there for a reason.”
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September 4th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
I realize, that a lot of disabled people are un-aware of what the aisle stripped access next to the disabled parking space is for. I was not either until I purchased a van with a ramp, on its side to drive my scooter down..
Handicapped parking spaces must be marked with a sign and penalty tag and be at least eight feet wide.
Also, at least one handicapped parking space in each parking lot, must be van-accessible with an 8 foot wide space and adjacent stripped access aisle at least 8 feet wide. The space and access aisle must be painted in color. That is a great law if people didn’t park on it.
The stripped access aisle which is about 8 ft. wide adjacent to the disabled parking space, should not be parked on, or close. I drive a van using a scooter, I need the stripped access aisle to let the ramp down from the side of my van, get on to my scooter and drive down the ramp.(a sign in my van windows does state this)
If you are parked on these lines, I can not get out, if you park after I did get out, I can not get my scooter in the van so I can drive home.
In the past three weeks once at Walmart’s and once at Shoprite, I had to ask a passer by to get in my van back it up so i can let the ramp down.
Please pass this on to everyone, disabled or not. The public has to be aware as more and more disabled people getting more freedom with motorized scooters and wheel chairs. THANK YOU.