Employment of Individuals with Disabilities
I recently attended a one-day conference on employment of persons with disabilities. What made this conference different were the participants. The audience was made up equally of individuals in private…
In each blog post, we’ll be following important news, legislation, and current events that affect people with developmental disabilities and their families. We’ll provide commentary on issues that matter and new trends in our communities. And, occasionally, we’ll invite guest contributors to provide their unique perspectives on a variety of topics important New Jersey’s DD community. Most importantly though, we’ll invite you, our readers, to join the conversation and share your views.
Whose System is it Anyway
A few posts back I talked about some aspects of the Big Business of Disability. I want to talk some more about that. Before it had been the over prescription…
Like Math Class: UCP Report on State of the States
Today we’re going to math class. I know. I hear the collective groan. But United Cerebral Palsy recently released a report on how states are doing in terms of some…
Common Core – A Mistake Revisited
There have been many attempts to standardize education since schooling for all children became mandatory in most Western countries. I have documented the experience I had as a child in…
Let’s Take a Look at People First
I hear New Jersey is looking into augmenting its self-advocacy movement with some of the ideas and inspirations from the People First groups that have had success in other states…
Intellectual Disability and the Death Penalty
The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments about the strict use of IQ scores in determining whether some people convicted of capital crimes should be exempt from the death penalty…
Direct Care An Evolving Field in Need of Collective Advocacy
There’s a case before the U.S. Supreme Court about direct care workers for people with disabilities and others who may need such services that could profoundly affect in-home supports. A…
DDD: On the Move with Liz Shea
I spoke with Liz Shea just before the holidays. For those of you who don’t know, she took over as Assistant Commissioner at the state Department of Human Services’ Division…
Experiment in Kansas
Kansas is bringing in three national insurance companies to run services for people with developmental disabilities in that state. It’s the first time any state has ever applied this model…
Here We Go Again
Incidents of developmental disability are on the rise. Not just autism. ADHD is on the rise along with other incidents of developmental disability. Mental health and other health care professionals…