MONTHLY MEETING
SPARKLE meets on a monthly basis throughout the year. Meetings are held in Bergen County, Wyckoff and Hudson County, North Bergen. The monthly meeting includes professional presentations on special needs topics, friendship circles, IEP circles and more! Please email us at: SPARKLEofucp@yahoo.com for upcoming events and directions for meeting locations.

SPARKLE invites professionals in the special needs community as well as educators and school representatives to discuss various topics of their expertise. These presentations are usually scheduled in conjunction with the monthly meeting. Topics may include coping with the stress of raising a special needs child, special education issues, treatment options, medicare/medicaid/social security benefits, utilizing insurance coverage to the best advantage, etc.

SPARKLE will publish an annual resource guide for parents of special needs with listing of agencies, schools, therapists, medical professionals, recreational programs, and more. The resource guide is available to members at a discounted rate and available to non-members as well. It is one of the primary fundraising projects of SPARKLE.

SPARKLE publishes a quarterly newsletter for members which include events information, the latest news in our area regarding the special needs population, parenting and advocacy tips, and member updates.

SPARKLE encourages the forming of long lasting and supportive friendships among special needs families and creates opportunities to meet and socialize. Special parents have unique needs of their own and find that positive friendships with other parents in similar situations are both helpful and wonderful source of support. Special needs children and their siblings are also given opportunities to socialize with both peers and typical peers. Friendship Circle runs recreational activities for all needs. Some activities will be just for moms, others just for dads, some will include the entire family and others just for siblings. It is SPARKLE's goal to serve the entire family and every member in it.

Each quarter, SPARKLE organizes a mommies only social event which may be a dinner or luncheon with entertainment (movie, play, music event). It is time to decompress and be ourselves in a supportive and friendly environment.

Everybody deserves to have a birthday party or be invited to one. SPARKLE encourages parents to celebrate those milestones in a child's life. It can be difficult to run a birthday party or perhaps your child hasn't had enough socialization to be invited to a birthday party. SPARKLE is here to help. We will be offering a monthly birthday party for all children born in each month with cake, favors, and a special gift for the birthday child. Maybe planning a birthday party is just too much right now, but SPARKLE is here to support your child's right to celebrate!

SPARKLE runs a workshop regarding parent rights in the special education process quarterly. It is our hope that this will provide the information parents need to advocate effectively for their child's educational needs.

Throughout the year, specific issues in special education are presented in detail that interest parents such as inclusion, extended school year, related services, transportation, extracurricular activities, Section 504 plans, developing measurable goals and objectives for IEPs, etc. These workshops will further enhance parents' skills in these areas and provide the information necessary to determine the appropriate education for their child.

From March to July, SPARKLE runs the IEP circle once a month. It is a time which you can bring your IEPs in and discuss it with each other. Each circle is run by a knowledgeable circle leader who is available to address any questions or problems which you may have.

The IEP process can be intimidating. SPARKLE provides training for parents to become an IEP buddy. The IEP Buddy Program is a training program. In the program, you will learn the basics of being a good IEP buddy such as taking accurate notes, improving listening skills, reading between the lines, spotting problems and defusing conflict. Once you complete the program, you will be able to be in the exchange program where you can be matched with another IEP buddy from another nearby town. You will not be matched with a resident of your area so that each parent can maintain their respective relationships with their school district. You will attend each other's IEP meeting for support and notetaking, This training program is not an advocate training program. The IEP buddy exchange program is not about being an advocate but being a buddy!

Every child sparkles!