Montvale
PASCACK VALLEY TEACHES LIFE SKILLS TO
SPECIAL-NEEDS STUDENTS
The Pascack Valley Regional High School District wants
to ease the transition into adulthood for special-needs
students with a new life skills program. The “Milestones
Program at PVR” will run during
regular school day hours and focus on teaching daily
living and vocational skills. The program will be held in
an apartment of a single-family house located in down-
town Hillsdale. A team of special education teachers,
job coaches and transition coordinators help each
student successfully transition to independent living.
Students learn integral skills such as budgeting, food
planning and preparation, and grocery shopping. They
also become familiar with going to the local library,
shops and restaurants, and using public transportation.
SP-26
2018 EDITION SPECIAL PARENT
Clifton
CLIFTON PARENT, POLICE LAUNCH SPECIAL NEEDS REGISTRY
Carol Ann Cianicullo’s 6-year-old son, Noah, is autistic and cannot communicate
verbally, so she has joined forces with the city’s police department to develop a
registry that better prepares officers when interactive with special needs residents.
The special registry program offers an online document accessible through the
police department’s website. In addition to age and address, each database entry
contains the individual’s medical conditions, triggers, method of communication and
tendencies, such as wandering, that assist responding officers when interacting with
a special-needs resident. Participants are also capable of attaching a photograph.
The information is uploaded to the department’s secure computer system and will
display as an alert when a call comes into police that involves the listed individual
or address. Responding officers then receive advanced notice of the resident’s
background and other valuable information to lead to “as safe and productive”
NEWS & NOTES