DSA Newsletter for August 2022

ADVOCACY RESOURCES AND NEWS

• New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities
  
  This the federally funded state operated planning body for developmental disability issues in NJ. Members are appointed by the Governor and approved by the NJ Senate. This is an important policy making organization that has significant influence on the policy and procedural initiatives undertaken by the state regarding people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Meetings are open to the public. The Council includes a broad representation of the major stakeholders involved in the developmentally disabled community including: people with developmental disabilities, parents/guardians, non-governmental service providers, and representatives of state agencies that serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To access the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities’ website, click on the link below.
  
  https://njcdd.org/

• Regional Family Support Planning Councils
  
  This sub-group of the New Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Regional Support Planning Councils (RFSPC) is a regionally based family advocacy group that provides a way for parents and family members of people with developmental disabilities to come together to exchange knowledge and information about family support services and to advocate for families and individuals with developmental disabilities at the local and state level on issues that directly impact their lives. To access the NJ Family Support Council Council’s section on the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities’ website, click on the link below.
  
  https://njcdd.org/the-regional-family-support-planning-councils/
  

• Disability Rights New Jersey
  
  Disability Rights New Jersey (DRNJ) is a private, non-profit, consumer-directed organization that serves as New Jersey’s federal funded agency established to advocate for and advance the human, civil, and legal rights of citizens of New Jersey with disabilities. Disability Rights NJ wields the power of the law to help improve the lives of people with disabilities, with the goal of creating a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive society. DRNJ advocates for and provides education, training, technical and legal assistance to individuals with disabilities, the agencies that serve them, attorneys, professionals, courts, and others regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities.
  
  In addition to protection and advocacy services DRNJ maintains the Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) which works to make assistive devices and services more accessible to individuals with disabilities throughout the state.
  
  To access the Disability Rights NJ website, click on the link below.
  
  https://disabilityrightsnj.org/
  
  
• Community Health Law Project
  
  Founded in 1976, the Community Health Law Project (CHLP) is a statewide not-for-profit advocacy and legal service organization which provides legal representation and advocacy services to low-income individuals with disabilities and the frail elderly. Services include public entitlement disputes (Social Security, Medicaid, Medicare), landlord tenant disputes, accessibility issues, family law disputes (child support, visitation domestic violence), civil law (bankruptcy, debt collection, contracts) and guardianship.
  
  To access the Community Health Law Project website, click on the link below.
  
  http://chlp.org/
  
  
• New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities Family and Provider Relations Update on Provider Complaint Retaliation
  
  Through DDD’s interactions with individuals/guardians/families DDD has heard a number of examples of and fear about provider retaliation against the individual when individuals/guardians/families lodge a complaint about care. DDD takes the topic of provider retaliation seriously and has zero tolerance where a DDD service provider engages in such a practice. Below is a link to DDD’s policy and resources when individuals/families/guardians have concerns about actual or potential retaliation from a provider.
  
  https://nj.gov/humanservices/ddd/documents/Family-Provider-Relations.pdf