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Rockaway Township highlights Autism Acceptance and honors KDM peer mentors
Summary
At its April meeting, the Rockaway Township Board of Education recognized 15 KDM peer mentors and heard a district presentation on autism acceptance, inclusion strategies and specialized supports for preschool through eighth grade.
The Rockaway Township Board of Education on April 9 recognized 15 fifth-grade peer mentors from KDM and heard a district presentation on autism acceptance and inclusion.
Principal Brian Rollins introduced the peer-mentor awards, saying the program offers regular, structured opportunities for fifth graders to support classmates in self-contained classrooms during recess and other activities. "Mentors accept a leadership role and rise to the occasion every week," Rollins said.
The district's director of student services then led a multi-staff presentation describing the district's autism program, which serves students from preschool through eighth grade. Presenters said services combine applied behavior analysis (ABA), occupational and physical therapy, speech-language supports and paraprofessional assistance, and that the district uses peer mentoring and Unified Club activities to promote inclusion.
A member of the autism team summarized traits commonly associated with autism and why consistent schedules and individualized supports matter in school settings. The presenter recapped prevalence figures cited during the talk and said the district has seen increased identification over time. "With awareness comes knowledge, with knowledge comes understanding, with understanding comes acceptance," the presentation concluded.
District leaders described inclusion as an ongoing process: self-contained students receive targeted instruction and supports, and staff work to mainstream students into broader programs "when they're ready to work on those skills and social interactions." The presenters also noted the district's peer-mentor program as an example of how KDM pairs fifth graders with students in self-contained classrooms to build relationships and social skills.
Superintendent Dr. Richard Corbett praised the staff and the peer-mentor model, saying the program helps create a welcoming environment across schools. The board thanked the presenters and the students; the meeting then moved to routine business, including personnel and policy votes later in the agenda.
The board's presentation materials and a list of the honored students were made available at the meeting.
