Autism

Home » View Story

NJ's Self-Directed Rights Act Signed Into Law

Published January 13, 2009 @ 09:30PM PT

I've written about my wish for my son to live among us in the community rather than in a residential facility. Yesterday, January 12th, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine signed The Self-Directed Rights Act (AA259), which gives individuals with developmental disabilities who choose self-directed supports through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) the same rights as those who are in state facilities. "Self-directed support services" are further defined as:

........ an arrangement in which funding is made available by the department, through the Division of Developmental Disabilities or any other division in the department, to a person with a developmental disability or person who has been authorized to serve as a fiduciary of the person with a developmental disability, who is living in his own home, the home of a family member or guardian, or some other similar living environment. The purpose of the arrangement is to support the needs of the person with a developmental disability by allowing the person, or his family or guardian, or both, to determine the nature and scope of services to be provided, in lieu of the department placing the person with a developmental disability in a residential program operated by the department directly or by contracting with a residential provider of services for persons with developmental disabilities.

Along with another proposed piece of legislation, NJ De-Institutionalization Bill A3625, which calls for five of the state's seven state developmental centers to be closed within five years and the resources currently used for these centers to instead to be used for community housing----and certain events that are to occur next week (as in next Tuesday, in Chicago)---I'm starting to feel downright hopeful here at home in the Garden State.

Spread the Word

More You Can Do

Get action and news alerts about Autism »
Browse top Autism organizations to support »
Find out more about Autism and what you can do to help »

Comments (4)

The inauguration is in DC, not Chicago. I should know - I'll be attending. :)

Posted by The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network on 01/13/2009 @ 11:06PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
Reply to thread
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by The Autistic Self-Advocacy Network
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
That's great news- the more choices that people have, the better for everyone!

Posted by Jen Niebler on 01/14/2009 @ 03:12AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Jen
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
just giving the Windy City its due!

Posted by Kristina Chew on 01/14/2009 @ 07:03PM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by Kristina
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply
What does this mean for a 34 year old in terms of getting appropriate services. He is laid off, has no insurance, no job, no services and lives at home after being employed for 12 years in low paying jobs. He wants a life,, but is not able to create it on his own and we his parents have no clue where to turn. Any ideas?

Posted by chayarisha hollander on 02/02/2009 @ 10:42AM PT
- Report close
  You must be signed in to report content.
- Reply
- Like
For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment. In the process we will also create a Change.org account for you so you can track this and future conversations. Don't worry - we won't spam you. We just want to promote constructive dialogue and find that people are more respectful when they are not anonymous.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

reply to thread started by by chayarisha
Check Spelling
- Email me when there are new posts to this thread
- Comment Policy
Cancel Reply

Add a Comment

For your comment to be published, you will need to confirm your email address after submitting your comment.

If you already have an account, click here to log in.

First Name:

Last Name:

Email:

Create Password:

Comment

Check Spelling

Email me when there are new posts to this thread
Comment Policy

Comments on Change.org are meant for further exploration and evaluation of the ideas covered in the posts. To that end, we welcome constructive comments. However, we reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive, abusive, or off-topic; that contain ad hominem attacks; or that are designed to subvert or hijack comment threads rather than contribute to them. Repeat offenders may be permanently removed from the site at our discretion.

Author

Kristina is a Classics professor in Jersey City, New Jersey, a blogger (formerly at AutismVox), a translator (of Virgil), and an advocate every day for her son, Charlie.