2017-2021 Five-Year Planning Goals

NJCDD Five-Year State Planning Goals identifies the most pressing needs of people with developmental disabilities in New Jersey.

In accordance with the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act 2000, the NJ Developmental Disabilities Council is required to develop and implement an NJCDD Five-Year State Planning Goals. The NJCDD Five-Year State Planning Goal for Fiscal Years (FY) 2017–2021 focuses on several areas of significance to the developmental disabilities community. Highlights include concrete goals and outcomes but not limited to self-advocate, family training and information, direct support staffing issues, special education advocacy, employment, transportation, health and wellness, and housing. The NJCDD addresses these needs through systems change and capacity building efforts that promote self-determination, integration and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.

NJCDD Five-Year State Planning Goals 2017–2021 ENGLISH.pdf
NJCDD Five-Year State Planning Goals 2017-2021 EN ESPANOL.pdf

Self-Advocate and Family Training and Information

Goal:Assess statewide training and information available for self-advocates and families and address gaps which support individuals to exercise their rights in the various DD systems.

Implementation Targets:
• Develop a bibliography and data base of current trainings and material available for self-advocates and families.
• Identify the gaps and weaknesses in that training and material.
• Develop cognitively accessible materials necessary to deal with gaps and deliver trainings statewide on a regular basis.

Direct Support Staffing Issues

Goal: Develop and implement an advocacy strategy and plan to address staffing issues.

Implementation Targets:
• Survey providers to determine the level of crisis and current issues, including gathering information of state salaries and benefits in similar positions and programs.
• Examine other states and human service programs to determine successful practices used in addressing staffing issues. Support pilot programs to determine the effectiveness of using these practices in New Jersey.
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies from best practices for resolving staffing support issues to inform political and administrative policy makers.

Special Education Advocacy

Goal: Enable students and families to exercise their rights within the Special Education system.

Implementation Targets:
• Assess and create a database of current training programs and materials available to self-advocate and families about inclusive education and transition to adulthood.
• As needed develop complimentary cognitively accessible resources and tools for self-advocate and families to understand their rights to an inclusive school environment and transition to adulthood.
• Utilizing all means of technology develop user friendly access to information and training resources for transition from school life to adult life.
• Collaborate with NJ Department of Education and implement an advocacy strategy to support the distribution of information and coach child study teams statewide.
• Assist under-served school districts in forming Special Education Parent Advisory Councils to assist students and families to effectively advocate for appropriate support.

Employment

Goal: Advance New Jersey’s practices/performance as an Employment First state considering all individuals with developmental disabilities.

Implementation Targets:
• Evaluate New Jersey’s Employment First policies and practices compared to best practices across the county.
• Support pilot programs utilizing identified best practices to determine the effectiveness of these practices in New Jersey.
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies for employment from best practices.
• Develop and implement an advocacy plan to increase day programming opportunities for individuals unable to obtain competitive employment.

Transportation

Goal: Advocate statewide for clear policies based on the principle that transportation should be available to accommodate the lives of people with disabilities.

Implementation Targets:
• Survey and publish the results of accommodations and services for persons with disabilities on fixed-route rail and buses, Access Link, and paratransit services in each county.
• Using survey results develop and implement a transportation advocacy plan that ensures transportation is available to accommodate the lives of people with disabilities.
• Support pilot programs utilizing identified best practices to determine the effectiveness of these practices in New Jersey.

Health and Wellness

Goal: Advocate for individuals with developmental disabilities to have the same access to quality healthcare as their peers.

Implementation Targets:
• Support the development and training of healthcare providers throughout the state on individuals with developmental disabilities.
• Develop materials and trainings that enable families and self-advocate exercising their right to appeal adverse health care decisions in the various systems.
• Facilitate/support the assembly and maintenance of a database of healthcare programs, providers, resources, materials beneficial in serving individuals with developmental disabilities.

Housing

Goal: Advance New Jersey’s practices/performance in the provision of housing for all individuals with developmental disabilities.

Implementation Targets:
• Evaluate New Jersey’s Housing policies and practices compared to best practices across the country.
• Support pilot programs utilizing identified best practices to determine the effectiveness of these practices in New Jersey.
• Develop and implement advocacy strategies for housing from best practices.
• Develop and implement an advocacy plan to increase housing options for people with developmental disabilities.