The Fathers Group

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The Fathers Group Support group for fathers raising children with special needs. Meet monthly in Cherry Hill, NJ and on Zoom.

Share, learn, and connect with other dads who understand. You’re not alone — your story matters.

What do dads actually want from a fathers’ group? A chance to talk, practical help, or a bit of both?When organizers of ...
10/15/2026

What do dads actually want from a fathers’ group? A chance to talk, practical help, or a bit of both?

When organizers of a fathers’ group in Camden, UK, asked dads directly, the answer wasn’t more advocacy training. It was a safe space to talk and connect. Fathers’ groups are growing in the U.S. too, and we’d love to hear what would make ours most helpful to you.

At our third-Wednesday meetings, would you like more guidance on IEPs, SSI and other practical questions, or more open time to talk with dads who get it? You can share, or just listen, no pressure and no judgment. What would you want more of?

We meet every 3rd Wednesday, virtually and in person.
1030 Kings Hwy N, Suite 210, Cherry Hill, NJ 08034
FREE to attend | Dinner provided
RSVP or ask for info: [email protected] | 856-236-0090

Visual created with AI. This post is for general information and does not constitute legal or medical advice.

We carry a lot on our backs as dads. New federal civil rights data for the 2023–24 school year reports that students wit...
10/14/2026

We carry a lot on our backs as dads. New federal civil rights data for the 2023–24 school year reports that students with disabilities made up 15% of K–12 enrollment but 27% of students who received one or more out-of-school suspensions.

That disparity is worth understanding, not a judgment about every individual decision. Schools have real responsibilities to keep students safe, and each situation has its own context. Disparities can also overlap with race and other factors, so it’s important to look carefully and respectfully at what the data shows.

If your child is disciplined, you can ask:
• How was the incident and decision documented?
• Was my child’s IEP or behavior plan followed?
• Has a functional behavioral assessment been done?
• Could this behavior signal a communication or skill need?
• Can you share the documentation with me in writing?

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Does your child’s school explain discipline decisions clearly?

This post is for general information only and is not legal or medical advice. (Visual created with AI.)

Ever wish you had something concrete to bring to the next meeting about your child’s services? This new report may help ...
10/13/2026

Ever wish you had something concrete to bring to the next meeting about your child’s services? This new report may help start that conversation.

On October 7, the National Council on Disability, an independent federal advisory agency, released its 2026 report. It recommends that Congress fully fund IDEA, make home- and community-based services a required Medicaid benefit, and that states maximize available Medicaid work-requirement exemptions for family caregivers.

Important: These are recommendations, not changes to the law. The report itself does not change your family’s Medicaid coverage or school services. It also doesn’t guarantee that a service will be approved.

Still, it gives dads a source to bring to a Medicaid office, legislator, or school district when explaining what families need. We carry a lot on our backs; having useful information can help us feel less alone in the conversation.

Would you like our group to stay informational on issues like this, or take a position? We’d like to hear from dads.

General information only; not legal or financial advice. Visuals created with AI.

“We don’t think testing is needed.” If you hear that, ask for the answer, and the reason, in writing. A clear paper trai...
10/12/2026

“We don’t think testing is needed.” If you hear that, ask for the answer, and the reason, in writing. A clear paper trail can help you understand what comes next.

Send your evaluation request in writing, keep a dated copy, and ask the school to provide its refusal and the reasons for it in writing. You can also ask what records, observations, screening, or other data the school relied on.

IDEA gives parents rights related to evaluation requests and written notice when a school refuses certain actions. Michigan is proposing rule changes that would specifically require districts to provide prior written notice when they decline a parent’s evaluation request, and clarify how “school days” are counted toward evaluation deadlines. These are proposed Michigan rules, not a national requirement. Rules and timelines vary by state, so New Jersey families should check with their district or a state parent center about what applies where they live.

You don’t have to figure it all out alone. What were you told when you asked the school to evaluate your child?

General information only; not legal advice. (Visuals created with AI.)

What does being a strong dad really mean?For many of us, strength was supposed to look like staying quiet, pushing throu...
10/02/2026

What does being a strong dad really mean?

For many of us, strength was supposed to look like staying quiet, pushing through, and never asking for help. But dads who are autistic or living with disabilities are showing us another way.

Recent Australian research found that autistic fathers can feel invisible to schools, parenting programs, and maternity services. Many also describe choosing more emotional openness with their children than they experienced growing up.

That matters.

Strength can look like asking questions at an IEP meeting. It can look like explaining what support you need. It can look like showing emotion, taking a break, or saying, “I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

You do not have to fit the silent and stoic version of fatherhood to be a good dad. Your lived experience is valuable. Your voice belongs in the room. And asking for help is not weakness. It is wisdom.

To dads with disabilities, autistic dads, and fathers raising children with special needs: come as you are. You belong here. You can share, listen, or simply sit with dads who get it.

The Camden County FSO Fatherhood Group welcomes dads of all backgrounds. Free to attend, with dinner provided. For information or to RSVP: [email protected] or 856-236-0090.

(Visuals created with AI)

That envelope in the mail can feel like one more thing on a dad’s already-full shoulders. But with Medicaid and SSI pape...
10/01/2026

That envelope in the mail can feel like one more thing on a dad’s already-full shoulders. But with Medicaid and SSI paperwork changes ahead, staying organized may help protect your child’s benefits.

New federal rules mean some groups may face eligibility reviews more often, along with tighter deadlines for sending documentation. Even families who still qualify can risk losing coverage if paperwork is missed or incomplete.

Here’s what NJ dads can do:
• Open Medicaid, NJ FamilyCare, and SSI mail promptly.
• Keep copies of applications, renewals, income records, medical or school documentation, and anything you submit.
• Write down submission dates and confirmation numbers.
• Ask a benefits navigator or trusted support group for help when forms are confusing.

New Jersey developments to watch include S4500, a proposal for one online portal for self-directed home and community-based services, and S838, a pilot that could extend NJ FamilyCare coverage to children who would qualify for SSI except for their parents’ income. These are proposals or pilots, not guaranteed benefits.

You don’t have to figure it out alone. If you’re unsure what a notice means, ask for help before a deadline passes. The Fathers Group is here for dads who get it.

This is general information, not legal, financial, or medical advice. (Visuals created with AI)

Some dads look fine on the outside while carrying more than anyone realizes.Research involving more than 10,000 caregive...
09/30/2026

Some dads look fine on the outside while carrying more than anyone realizes.

Research involving more than 10,000 caregivers found that parents of children with disabilities were about twice as likely to experience psychological distress. Nearly half-48%, reported loneliness, compared with 31% of other parents.

That doesn’t mean something is wrong with you. It means the load is real.

Decision fatigue. Identity erosion. Marital drift. The constant appointments, school meetings, financial choices, and worries about the future can leave a dad feeling isolated, even when he is surrounded by people.

When was the last time someone asked how you’re doing, not just how your child is doing?

Asking for support is wisdom, not weakness. You don’t have to share everything. You can come as you are, talk with dads who get it, or simply listen.

The Camden County FSO Fatherhood Group is a supportive space for fathers raising children with special needs. We meet every 3rd Wednesday, virtually and in person. Free to attend, with dinner provided.

1030 Kings Hwy N, Suite 210
Cherry Hill, NJ 08034

RSVP or ask for information:
[email protected] | 856-236-0090

This group is peer support, not mental health treatment or medical advice. If you’re in immediate distress in the U.S., call or text 988.

(Visuals created with AI)

Dads, if the latest special education headlines have you wondering whether your child’s rights changed, take a breath. H...
09/29/2026

Dads, if the latest special education headlines have you wondering whether your child’s rights changed, take a breath. Here’s the plain-English version.

What changed: In June 2026, day-to-day management of OSERS programs shifted toward HHS, while civil rights enforcement began coordinating more closely with DOJ. The Office for Civil Rights also has a significant complaint backlog, and new DOJ guidance has raised questions about Olmstead-based transition planning.

What did not change: IDEA, Section 504, and your child’s right to FAPE are still in place. Your child’s IEP should remain individualized and based on their needs, not a template or a computer-generated plan.

AI-written IEP drafts are becoming more common. About 57% of teachers reported using AI for IEP-related work during 2024–25. AI may help with drafting, but it cannot replace professional judgment, family input, evaluations, or knowledge of your child.

Also, be careful with private-school voucher programs. Some may require families to waive certain IDEA rights. Read every document carefully and ask what services and protections you may be giving up before signing.

What can dads do? Request IEP documents in writing. Keep organized records. Ask how each goal was developed, what data supports it, and who reviewed it.

You do not have to understand every federal change alone. Ask questions, take notes, and bring support when you can. This is general information, not legal advice.

(Visuals created with AI)

When a school says your child was sent to a “calm-down room” or “calming station,” do you know exactly what happened?A f...
09/28/2026

When a school says your child was sent to a “calm-down room” or “calming station,” do you know exactly what happened?

A federal investigation found that one district secluded students with disabilities nearly 4,000 times over two years, sometimes for behavior that was not dangerous. Some states are now tightening their rules, but families still need clear answers from schools.

If your child was restrained or secluded, ask for the details in writing:

What happened before the incident?
Who was involved?
Was my child physically held or prevented from leaving a room?
How long did it last?
What de-escalation strategies were tried first?
What does the school’s restraint and seclusion policy actually say?
Was an incident report completed, and can I receive a copy?

IDEA protections have not changed, and families can request incident documentation in writing. Rules and procedures may vary by state and district, so this is about asking informed questions, not giving legal advice.

Dads, if something about the explanation does not sit right, you are not overreacting. We carry a lot on our backs, but we do not have to navigate these moments alone.

What have you experienced? Or what do you wish you had asked sooner? Share below: another dad may need to hear it.

(Visuals created with AI)

“Should my kid be in the general education classroom?”It’s a question many dads of children with special needs are asked...
09/18/2026

“Should my kid be in the general education classroom?”

It’s a question many dads of children with special needs are asked: and it doesn’t have a one-size-fits-all answer.

Some children thrive in a general education classroom with the right accommodations and individualized support. Others may need a specialized classroom, or a combination of settings, to feel safe, communicate, learn, and make progress. The right placement depends on your child’s strengths, needs, communication style, safety, goals, and the supports actually available: not assumptions, convenience, or what works for someone else.

As dads, it’s okay to ask:

• What accommodations and individualized supports will be provided?
• How will my child be included with peers?
• What setting will best support learning, communication, and safety?
• Have we considered the full range of placement options?
• How will we know whether the plan is working?

You don’t have to have every answer before speaking up. Bring your questions. Share what you see at home. Your voice matters because you know your child beyond the paperwork.

If you’ve faced this decision, what helped your family: and what do you wish you had known? Dads who get it are here to listen. You’re not alone.

This is general information, not legal or educational advice. (Visuals created with AI)

Address

1030 Kings Highway N, Suite 210
Cherry Hill, NJ
08034

Telephone

+18566622600

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