Collaborating with First Responders Helps Everyone!

Recognition and ongoing support of community partnerships is a cornerstone of success for all public schools. Teaching our students to recognize the work our first responders do within the school community is a priority of the Morris-Union Jointure Commission, a collaborative public school district educating students with disabilities at its Developmental Learning Centers (“DLC”) located in New Providence and Warren, New Jersey.

Police officers, firefighters, and emergency medical technicians (EMTs) are on the scene to help during emergencies. Whether it is transporting a student having a first seizure or dispatching a fire truck when a fire alarm sounds, we are appreciative of our first responders’ timely response and the attentiveness they provide to the unique needs of our students with disabilities.

Through a variety of activities and trainings the Morris-Union Jointure Commission has sponsored, first responders have been given the tools and knowledge to be prepared to respond effectively and safely to situations involving students with behavioral and developmental disabilities. Through this collaborative effort, our students and staff have developed a comfort level and better understanding of expectations during an emergency.

Walk-Through Opportunities:

Providing first responders with an opportunity to take tours of our schools while engaging with our students helps to familiarize them with the communication abilities of our students and how our students respond to questions.

First Responder Brunch:

DLC students plan, shop, create table centerpieces, formulate questions and prepare a variety of favorite foods in anticipation of a splendid afternoon spent with first responders. While eating brunch, first responders and students learn about each other and develop a better understanding and comfort level in each other’s presence. It is an afternoon where friendships are developed.

First Responder Training:

We offer specialized training to help first responders better understand and interact with our students who have difficulty communicating or may become agitated in response to the presence of strangers. Training includes an overview of developmental and behavioral disabilities and its potential impact on behavior, communication strategies, and de-escalation techniques.

Field Trips:

Whether it is visiting the firehouse or the police station, our students are provided enriched hands-on learning experiences where they learn about the professions and the environments in which the first responders work. Highlights for students of all ages include sitting in a firetruck, listening to a police siren, and touring the police station.

The community partnership between the Morris-Union Jointure Commission and our respective first responders in New Providence and Warren Township have expanded the types of learning experiences to which DLC students are exposed. It is a relationship that cultivates an inclusive, supportive community which understands and collaboratively works with the diverse needs that exist within our school community.