Livingston Hosts Special Needs Program Tonight

The Parents and Professionals for Exceptional Children Livingston Advisory Committee for Disabilities and Livingston Public Schools will sponsor the second annual Community and Schools Supporting Parents of Residents with Special Needs tonight from 7:30 until 9:30 p.m. at the Livingston Senior and Community Center, 204 Hillside Ave., Livingston.

“The event was such a success last year, our first year, with more than 70 people in attendance,” says LACD co-chair Bob Gebroe. “More than that, parents walked away feeling that they were not alone in this journey of theirs and that there is a lot of support out there for them. With more panelists this year, we hope to reach out further to our community of parents.”

Community and schools are joining forces again this year to offer parents of children, teens and adults with special needs even more support, resources and information to take home. 

In addition to Gebroe, the panel includes: Larry Russell, assistant superintendent of student services and instruction for Livingston Public Schools; DeeDee Pulver, president of PPEC; Mark Silance, adaptive recreation coordinator of the Senior, Youth & Leisure Services (SYLS) and “Shining Star” Program; Pam Tepper of “Include ME!” Peer Mentor Program; Rebecca Gallanter of the Jewish Community Center (JCC) of MetroWest; Mary Beth Walsh, Ph. D., of Mom2Mom Helpline of UMDNJ; Carole Ammann, LCSW of Horizon Schools and Cerebral Palsy New Jersey (CPNJ); and, Cheryl Francione of the West Essex YMCA.

“We are so lucky to be in Livingston with such great resources, collaboration, and caring citizens,” Pulver said. “We thank all of the panelists and volunteers who put this wonderful program together.”            

Topics covered will include resources and up to date information on the new “Include ME!” Peer Mentor Program for children of all abilities; the “Shining Star” sports, arts and photography programs from the SYLS, as well as the “Shining Star” robotics teams through the Livingston Robotics Club; CPNJ and the Horizon Schools; PPEC, a group that supports families with children who have special needs and the professionals who work with their children in the Livingston community; the township LACD's newest social and recreational programs; the YMCA's sports programs and activities, the second year of the helpline Mom2Mom, which can be reached at (877) 914-MOM2 of UMDNJ, serving the well-being of mothers of children with special needs; the various services of the JCC and other Jewish community services; and special education services of the Livingston Public Schools.

Audience members will have opportunity question of panelist and socialize after the question and answer session.

For questions about the event, email gretto12@aol.com. To attend the free event, open to the public and non-residents, please register at Eventbrite to ensure the sponsors have enough resources for all guests.