School Board OKs Regional Day School's Transitional Program Proposal

When most students reach the end of their high school career, parents know there’s a world of opportunities for them: college, jobs and more.

For parents of the developmentally disabled, the future is far more murky. While programs to assist these students are guaranteed until they are 21, the availability of programs – let alone opportunities – is far less certain.

With that in mind, the on Wednesday night gave its approval for the New Jersey Regional Day School to apply to the state to add a Transitional Opportunities and Post Secondary Services program to its services.

The TOPSS program would help students who have aged out of eligibility for the providing them opportunities to learn about the types of jobs they might be able to do in ways that are appropriate to each student’s level of ability and readiness.

Federal law requires school districts to provide services for developmentally disabled children until they reach 21. After that, parents face a decision of what to do next, whether it’s finding a private facility that’s able to help them – if they can afford it – or take the burden on themselves.

“It’s a very tough time for parents when children leave what they’re entitled to and move to what they’re eligible for,” said Renee Agro, transition coordinator for the Regional Day School. “It’s not as if the next day (after they turn 21) everything is suddenly different. Those needs continue.”

“We’ve had parents tell us they would keep their kids here (at the Regional Day School) if we had programs for them once they age out,” Principal Ralph Lotierzo said. “This will allow us to offer that.”

The Regional Day School, which has been open since 1982, currently provides a range of academic and other services for students ages 5 to 21, tailored to each student’s individual capabilities. There are 89 students currently at the Regional Day School from nearly every school district in Ocean County and some from Burlington and Monmouth counties, as well. Manchester assumed responsibility for the school, one of 11 Regional Day Schools in New Jersey, in 1984.

“Districts sometimes bring their students back to their home district, but we find that often they return them here because of the quality of the program,” Lotierzo said.

With the school board’s approval on Wednesday night, Lotierzo said, the application for the TOPSS program was to be submitted to the state Division of Developmental Disabilities, which oversees the regional day schools in the state, for approval. Once approved by the division, Lotierzo said, the Regional Day School will have to determine policies and a procedural manual.

Lotierzo, Agro and Lisa Michallis, the RDS learning consultant from Manchester’s child study team, hope to be able to have the program in place sometime during 2012.

“We have a graduating class this year (from the Regional Day School),” Lotierzo said. “They would be a great test group.”

“This is a recognition of the need for transitional services,” Lotierzo said. “It’s necessary, and it’s boundless in possibilities.”