NJCDD Special Projects

#Save Medicaid NJ

Legislators in both the US Senate and US House of Representatives are working on legislation that includes severe cuts to Medicaid, the largest insurance provider in the country and the single most important funding source for the support services that Americans with developmental disabilities and their families rely upon to lead healthy, dignified, and meaningful lives in our communities. These cuts could potentially reach $834 billion or more over 10 years. In addition, the President’s Budget Proposal includes an added $610 billion in cuts. That’s over $1.4 trillion in Medicaid Cuts over 10 years, which would be catastrophic to our support system.

What’s Your Advocacy?

NJCDD held a series of developmental disability advocacy seminars entitled What’s Your Advocacy. More than 120 developmental disabilities advocates joined us to learn more about how to effectively speak out for their rights and support needs and the rights and needs of their loved ones, as well as to identify the issues and advocacy goals that are most important to people with developmental disabilities in New Jersey.

Community Building Awards

Each year, the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities looks to members of the community to help us identify individuals or organizations who have shown an exceptional commitment to promoting community inclusion for individuals with developmental disabilities. Whether a devoted educator, a visionary community leader, or a diligent advocate, the Council believes such individuals or organizations should be encouraged, supported, and given recognition.

Inclusive Education

The NJCDD began the R-Word campaign to raise awareness to members of the community and the media that the words ‘retard’ and ‘retarded’ are hurtful to people with developmental disabilities and their families, and to encourages the public to eradicate these words from everyday vocabulary.

R-Word Campaign

Anti-Bullying

The NJCDD is available to visit schools and community groups to address issues surrounding the Anti-Bullying and other forms of bullying. Hundreds of students across the state have already attended these insightful and engaging presentations lets to put an end to the bullying.

Emergency Preparedness

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities recognizes that it is important for people with developmental disabilities – particularly those living in independent living or group home arrangements – to be prepared if and when emergencies arise, and to have a clear idea of what to do in such a situation.

New Jersey is My Home Too

To help raise understanding among lawmakers and residents about the benefits of closing institutions and to challenge the claims made by those who wish to keep them open, the NJCDD is calling on individuals and family members to voice their support for community inclusion for all individuals with developmental disabilities.

Developmental Disabilities Awareness Day

On or around labor day weekend, the Council is joined by volunteers from across the state, including those representing Community Options, Inc., Easter Seals NJ, The Family Resource Network, Community Access Unlimited, and the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Inc. (SPAN), to meet and greet Six Flags guests and promote awareness and respect for our state’s population of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families.

Citizenship

The NJCDD encourages people with developmental disabilities to take a committed interest in how our society works. Like all citizens, people with developmental disabilities have a right and a responsibility to participate in the democratic process, to speak their minds with elected officials, and to take an active role in participating in civic dialog.