Advocacy in Action Newsletter

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Advocacy in Action is the NJCDD’s monthly email newsletter.

Are you looking to stay informed about important news in New Jersey’s developmental disabilities community? Would you like updates from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities? Look no further! The NJCDD is pleased to present our monthly e-newsletter, Advocacy in Action!

The NJCDD’s Advocacy in Action e-newsletter provides important announcements and event updates for the Council’s programs, grants, and special initiatives, as well as key information about public policies and other news items happening in the developmental disabilities community around New Jersey.

Signing up is easy! Simply contact the Council’s Communication Officer, Gary Brown, at 609-633-8280 or gary.brown@njcdd.org and provide your email address. You can expect to receive each new edition of the Advocacy in Action e-newsletter in your email inbox at the beginning of every month.

Sign up today! We look forward to connecting with you!

Current Edition

November 2018: http://hosted.verticalresponse.com/690772/a371c9a53a/281908259/5c30c2d590/
In This Edition


The NJCDD’s Advocacy in Action e-newsletter provides important announcements and event updates for the Council’s programs, grants, and special initiatives. It also provides key information about public policies and other news impacting individuals with disabilities and their families.

NJCDD Position-Statement-Rights

NJCDD Releases Position Statement on Disability Rights

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities endorses the following statement supporting the rights of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD):
People with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities have the same basic legal, civil and human rights as other citizens. 
Disability is a natural part of the human experience that does not diminish the right of individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities to live independently, to exercise control and choice over their own lives, and to fully participate in and contribute to their communities through full inclusion in the economic, political, social, cultural, and educational mainstream of our society.

DRNJ-Disability Rights NJ

Disability Rights NJ Names New Executive Director

The Board of Disability Rights New Jersey announced the appointment of Gwen Orlowski as Executive Director, effective January 3, 2019. The Board of Directors unanimously approved Ms. Orlowski as DRNJ’s new Executive Director.

Ms. Orlowski was born and raised in New Jersey. She graduated from Georgetown University with a BA in Government and from Rutgers School of Law with a JD. A recognized expert on Medicaid, Ms. Orlowski is an attorney who has extensive disability experience in front line individual advocacy as well as policy work and advocacy for systemic change. She has previously held positions as New Jersey’s Long Term Care Ombudsman and Senior Staff Attorney with Justice in Aging. She most recent served as the Senior Staff Attorney for Central Jersey Legal Services where she represented clients in disability and health law matters.

Ms. Orlowski’s work on behalf of individuals with disabilities is rooted in her commitment to social justice, and she says “I am humbled to take on this new role at DRNJ. I have long admired not only the mission of the organization but the quality and dedication of the people who work here. Through my own work on behalf of individuals with disabilities and their families, I know the complicated, and sometimes overwhelming, challenges people face, especially when navigating the legal system. I look forward to working with the Board and staff to promote and defend the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities.”

Regional Family Support Planning Council

The Regional Family Support Planning Councils Are Looking for New Members

Regional Family Support Council members advocate for families and individuals with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (I/DD) on issues that directly impact their lives. They collaborate with the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and Department of Children and Families, Division of Children’s System of Care (CSOC) on how to better serve individuals and their families.

Councils usually meet monthly. Each council may have up to 11 voting members. Council members are volunteers. They will be reimbursed for reasonable transportation, child care, and other related costs.

For information on how to join one of the Regional Family Support Planning Councils, contact:

Kyoko Coco, Statewide Family Support Coordinator | Phone: 609-341-3112 kyoko.coco@njcdd.org
Rebekah Novemsky, Family Support Liaison| Phone: 609-984-4510 rebekah.novemsky@njcdd.org.

NJ Department of Children or Families New Family Voice office

DCF Launches New Office of Family Voice

TRENTON – The Department of Children and Families (DCF) announced the creation of an Office of Family Voice, the first of its kind among public child welfare agencies nationwide. The office will serve as a liaison to program participants and facilitate opportunities for formal feedback that informs policy and guides system transformation.

“The Office of Family Voice is an idea borne from the 20+ Listening Tour meetings I have had over the course of the last few months with about 500 men, women and youth served by the department,” said DCF Commissioner Christine Norbut Beyer. “Our efforts to keep families safe, healthy and connected require us to be active partners with them.

“Family Voice will engage our consumers as program consultants to ensure that our existing services and any new ones are responsive to their unique needs.” she added.

Existing methods to offer constituent input will continue. Anyone may submit feedback regarding programs and services to  dcf.feedback@dcf.nj.gov  and personal case inquiries can be made by calling the Office of Constituent Relations at 1-877-543-7864.

Allegations of Abuse or Neglect should always be directed to 1-877-NJ ABUSE or 1-877-652-2873. 

  • NJCDD Releases New Position Statement on Disability Rights
  • People with Disabilities Want Paychecks Not Pity
  • Disability Rights NJ Names New Executive Director
  • Restraint and Seclusion Bill Returns to Congress
  • Regional Family Support
    Planning Councils Are Looking
    for New Members
  • Facing the Future 27th Annual Conference: Playbook for Employment Gold
  • DCF Launches New Office of Family Voice
  • DDD Quarterly Update

Jobs

People With Disabilities Want Paychecks Not Pity

Despite reports that U.S. unemployment continues to drop, most people with disabilities are still unemployed. And, despite the recent focus on hiring a diverse workforce, developing disability inclusion practices has lagged far behind. Until now New research from Accenture, in partnership with Disability: IN and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), reveals that companies that embrace and improve their policies and practices for inclusion of disabilities in the workforce significantly outperform their peers.

 

Restraint-Seclusion Bill Returns in Congress

Lawmakers Revive Plan To Curb Restraint, Seclusion In Schools

Legislation establishing first-ever federal oversight of restraint and seclusion in the nation’s schools is back on the table.

Democrats in Congress introduced a bill known as the Keeping All Students Safe Act this week. The measure would bar seclusion at any school receiving federal tax dollars and significantly limit the use of restraint to situations where the safety of students and teachers is at risk.

“It’s barbaric for schools to confine students alone in locked rooms, or to use abusive methods to restrain little children. Treating school kids this way should not be tolerated in America. Period,” said U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., a sponsor of the legislation. “Our bill would establish strong federal standards to keep students safe, while giving school staff alternatives to respond to challenging situations in the right way.”

 
Facing-the-future-conference

Facing the Future 27th Annual Conference: Playbook for Employment Gold

A conference for professionals highlighting best practices in supporting people with disabilities in career planning, supported and customized employment, and transition from school to work
  • Friday, March 22, 2019
    8:00 AM – 4:00 PM
    Hyatt Regency New Brunswick, New Jersey
  • Keynote presentation by Mike Schlappi
  • 27 Dynamic workshops on topics including transition, support strategies, job coaching, job development, policy, and leadership

DDD Quarterly Update Powerpoint

DDD Quarterly update for individuals, families, and providers

Overview
  • Executive Management Team and Unit Contacts
  • Fee-for-Service (FFS) Implementation
  • DSP Wage Increase
  • iRecord Changes
  • NJ Earned Sick Leave Law
  • Service Documentation
  • Policy Manual Revisions
  • Health and Safety Resources

2018 Editions

2018 Editions

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