
DJUSD Special Education Department
Newsletter | March 2024
Dear Parents, Guardians, and Community Members,
March marks the beginning of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, a time dedicated to celebrating the unique abilities and strengths of every individual in our community. This month serves as a reminder of the importance of advocacy and inclusion for individuals of all abilities. Learn more about Developmental Disabilities here: https://nationaltoday.com/national-developmental-disabilities-awareness-month/ . Your ongoing support and involvement play a crucial role in nurturing your child's growth and success. Let's continue to come together to share resources, experiences, and encouragement as we navigate this journey.
Warm regards,
Sarah Dhah
Director, Special Education
In Case You Missed It: Parent/Guardian Education Night Recordings
Parent/Guardian Education Night virtual recordings are posted to the DJUSD Special Education Website under the resource tab titled "Parent/Guardian Special Education Webinar Recordings".
The recording of the January 25th presentation by the DJUSD Behaviorist Team is posted for your convenience here; you can view the slide deck here.
Superintendent’s Advisory Committee for Special Education (SACSE) Meeting
Join via: Zoom Link
Passcode: Teams!
Events happening in March:
Women's History Month
Women's History Month celebrates the contributions of women to history, culture, and society.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month aims to increase public awareness, inclusion, opportunities, and support for people with developmental disabilities.
César Chávez Day
March 31, 2024
Cesar Chavez Day is a U.S. federal commemorative holiday that celebrates the birth and legacy of the civil rights and labor movement activist Cesar Chavez on March 31 every year.
Senator Tammy Duckworth
Learn about Tammy Duckworth, the U.S. senator from Illinois who served in the Vietnam War and lost her legs in a helicopter crash:
U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth is an Iraq War Veteran, Purple Heart recipient and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs who was among the first handful of Army women to fly combat missions during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Duckworth served in the Reserve Forces for 23 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2014. She was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2016 after representing Illinois’s Eighth Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives for two terms.
Claudia Gordon
Learn about Claudia Gordon, the First Female Deaf Black Lawyer:
Claudia Gordon is recognized as one of former President Barack Obama’s key advisors for disability issues. She was also the first female deaf African American lawyer to graduate law school and pursue a career devoted to helping individuals with disabilities. She currently works with corporate companies like T-Mobile and Sprint to implement inclusion and accessibility initiatives geared towards people with disabilities.
Jillian Mercado
Learn more about Jillian Mercado, the actor and model who advocates for inclusivity in the beauty, fashion, and entertainment industries:
Jillian Mercado is an American actress and fashion model represented by CAA Fashion. As a wheelchair user (due to muscular dystrophy), she is one of the few professional models who has a visible physical disability in the fashion industry. A prominent figure in the new wave of models challenging beauty ideals in the fashion industry, Mercado is keen to fight the lack of representation of people with disabilities in the fashion industry and their enduring stigma.
Judy Heumann
Learn more about Judith “Judy” Heumann, widely regarded as “the mother” of the disability rights movement:
Judith "Judy" Heumann (1947-2023) was an internationally recognized disability rights activist, widely regarded as “the mother” of the Disability Rights Movement. She was a leader in the historic Section 504 Sit-In of 1977 and instrumental in the development and implementation of other disability rights legislation. Judy worked in the Clinton and Obama Administrations, as an advisor at the World Bank, and as a Senior Fellow at the Ford Foundation. Judy's story is featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution and her book, Being Heumann: An Unrepentant Memoir of a Disability Rights Activist.
Arts Education/Youth Arts Month
We asked our students "would you rather slide down a rainbow or find a 4-leaf clover?"; our students responded they would rather:
You can find a fun list of more would you rather questions to ask your kids here.
1st Day of Spring….Let’s go for a drive! Magical Bridge Inclusive Playground
Heralded as the nation’s most innovative and inclusive playground, Magical Bridge thoughtfully considers the needs of those living with cognitive and physical disabilities, autism, sensory challenges, visual and auditory impairments, the medically fragile, and even our aging population. In short, Magical Bridge is NOT a special needs playground – rather, Magical Bridge Playgrounds are a playground for everyone and everybody, at every stage of life. These intergenerational, fun, and safe playgrounds are: 100% INCLUSIVE, 100% INNOVATIVE, and 100% ENRICHING.
Visit Magical Bridge:
3700 Middlefield Road
Palo Alto, CA
94303
Find out more about Magical Bridge Playground using the following links:
The Doghouse by Jan Thomas
-Recommended by the DJUSD Speech-Language Pathologists
How to Catch a Leprechaun by Adam Wallace
Description: "You've been planning night and day, and finally you've created the perfect trap with shamrocks, pots of gold, and rainbows galore! Now all you need to do is wait. Is this the year you'll finally catch the leprechaun? Start a St. Patrick's Day tradition with this fun and lively children's picture book and get inspired to build leprechaun traps of your own at home or in the classroom! Laugh along in this zany story for kids that blends STEAM concepts with hilarious rhymes and vibrant illustrations!
How to catch a leprechaun?
It's tougher than you think!
He'll turn your whole house upside down.
He's quicker than a wink!"
-A #1 New York Times and USA Today bestseller
CONTACT US
Special Education Department Website
Special Education Department Address:
Phone:
(530)757-5300 ext. 113