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Disability Rights New Jersey

Disability Rights New Jersey Advocating and advancing the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities in New Jersey.

Disability Rights New Jersey (DRNJ) is a private, non-profit, consumer-directed organization established to:

Advocate for and advance the human, civil and legal rights of citizens of New Jersey with disabilities;

Promote public awareness and recognition of individuals with disabilities as equally entitled members of society;

Advise and assist persons with disabilities, family members, attorney

s and guardians in obtaining and protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities; and

Provide education, training and technical assistance to individuals with disabilities, the agencies that serve them, advocates, attorneys, professionals, courts and others regarding the rights of individuals with disabilities

Operating as usual

To all our friends, partners, fellow advocates, and clients, we wish you joyful and peaceful holidays. We look forward t...
12/23/2022

To all our friends, partners, fellow advocates, and clients, we wish you joyful and peaceful holidays. We look forward to connecting in the new year!

A reminder: Our office is closed and staff is on holiday break from 3pm today and returning Tuesday, January 3rd!

The work of Disability Rights NJ has never been more important. Our mission to promote self-determination, independence,...
12/22/2022
Imagine Inclusivity Without Boundaries - Our 2022 Annual Report

The work of Disability Rights NJ has never been more important. Our mission to promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration into all facets of community life was evident in all of the work undertaken by our dedicated staff this year. We continue to be at the forefront of systemic change throughout the state, on every level, working tirelessly to ensure all New Jerseyans with disabilities are free from abuse and neglect. As you read this report, we hope you will be inspired to help us move the needle closer to our vision of inclusivity without boundaries.
https://conta.cc/3v9YKzh

As we close out the year, we take a moment to reflect on the accomplishments and endeavors of 2022 and thank all who have generously supported our work, through partnerships, collaborations, and donat

12/20/2022
The first meeting of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance Access Nature Forum for 2023 will be January 11 at 7:00 PM.The ...
12/20/2022

The first meeting of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance Access Nature Forum for 2023 will be January 11 at 7:00 PM.

The Access Nature Forum was created to bring together a diverse selection of like-minded individuals to have conversations about improving access to natural places. We aim to engage those with disabilities, their families, caregivers, veterans' groups, assisted living organizations, advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, state, and local officials, and agencies in a public discourse that identifies public interest, concerns, and ideas, and join their voices for improving access to natural places.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this public forum. For more information and to sign up for the meeting https://bit.ly/3FIIkD5

12/19/2022
‘Somebody should care about these patients...’ It was called one of the worst nursing homes in N.J, Why did it take so l...
12/19/2022
Sharing Our Expertise | Disability Rights New Jersey

‘Somebody should care about these patients...’ It was called one of the worst nursing homes in N.J, Why did it take so long to shut it down? NJ.com

Susan K. Livio, NJ Advance Media
Ted Sherman, NJ Advance Media

"By the summer of 2021, Disability Rights New Jersey resumed making in-person visits to nursing homes, including the now renamed Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center. Jill Hoegel, the group’s director of investigations and monitoring, said on their first trip back, concerns were growing about the number of people there with disabilities — the largest number ever with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.

“That was a red flag for us. They didn’t appear taken care of,” she said. “People were dirty, disoriented and seemed over-medicated. They were not coherent and shuffling around. Nobody was going outside and nobody was able to leave. They had been imprisoned inside.”

https://disabilityrightsnj.org/how-we-help/sharing-our-expertise/

View interesting articles and stories from Disability Rights New Jersey. Contact us for more information.

12/16/2022

📣📣📣 SPECIAL EDUCATION ALERT‼️

Reminder for students and guardians! A new law came into effect in January 2022 that required school districts to hold an IEP meeting no later than December 31, 2022, for every special education student to determine whether they need make-up education services (called compensatory education) relating to education services missed during the COVID period (March 2020 through September 2021).

If you haven’t heard from your district about this meeting, email your IEP case manager to set up an IEP meeting to discuss the need for COVID compensatory education.

If you did have this meeting, the district should have sent you a written notice of the team’s decision on compensatory education. If you disagree with the decision, you can file for Due Process.

👉The deadline to file for Due Process is September 1, 2023!

Disability Rights NJ Advocate Assistant, Barbara Coppens, was interviewed this week for Everything Special Needs radio w...
12/15/2022

Disability Rights NJ Advocate Assistant, Barbara Coppens, was interviewed this week for Everything Special Needs radio with Sue Shilling about her advocacy work on behalf of people with disabilities that lead to being awarded the 2022 President's Award from the The Arc of the United States.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ga-B74ynSIJ_LXBCD6wyyK1BaZ4nLHGT/view

Imagine inclusivity without boundaries... or borders...or oceans. 🌎 Today, we recognize International Day of Persons wit...
12/03/2022

Imagine inclusivity without boundaries... or borders...or oceans. 🌎 Today, we recognize International Day of Persons with Disabilities.

Today is ! We hope that you will choose to celebrate altruism today by donating to Disability Rights New Jersey. ❤️Durin...
11/29/2022

Today is ! We hope that you will choose to celebrate altruism today by donating to Disability Rights New Jersey. ❤️

During this season of giving, we are asking for your support in funding some of our youth programs, which are designed to help with fight the barriers that legal and social systems may place on them. Our Juvenile Justice Project and our TRAILblazers Youth Transition Program are making great strides in this area, and we need your help to further extend their reach.

For more information on these programs or to make your first donation visit https://disabilityrightsnj.org/donations/donation-form/

Giving this season is as easy as 1-2-3 when you shop at AmazonSmile. Choose Disability Rights New Jersey as your charity...
11/28/2022

Giving this season is as easy as 1-2-3 when you shop at AmazonSmile. Choose Disability Rights New Jersey as your charity of choice and Amazon.com will send us donations for your purchases. You can help support our important work at no cost to you.

Tomorrow is the day that we have been waiting for! It is your chance to embrace the  of  and  our  at Disability Rights ...
11/28/2022

Tomorrow is the day that we have been waiting for! It is your chance to embrace the of and our at Disability Rights New Jersey. By making a you can support the programs which touch the lives of with in our community.

Here at Disability Rights NJ we believe in without qualification, without restriction, and without boundaries. In order to achieve this reality, we need your help to knock down the barriers unjustly placed on our community members with disabilities.

Visit our website https://lnkd.in/g7iwAFCn to make your donation.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂
11/23/2022

Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂

We are happy to announce the official launch of our  campaign! This year we would like to highlight the work that we are...
11/22/2022

We are happy to announce the official launch of our campaign! This year we would like to highlight the work that we are doing for the with in our communities.

When you donate to Disability Rights NJ, you are supporting our . This program fights the school-to-prison pipeline by offering support to youth with disabilities who are navigating the legal system. We advocate to ensure youth in the juvenile justice system are continuing to receive proper services, and raise awareness that youth with disabilities are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system.

When you donate to Disability Rights NJ, you are also supporting our . This program helps youth ages 14-22 navigate difficult systems and transition to adult life after graduating high school. Our support includes connecting youth and their families to appropriate agencies and providing legal representation to guarantee that transition rights are protected.

When you to Disability Rights NJ, you are helping us knock down the barriers that youth with disabilities face. Help us imagine inclusivity without boundaries and visit our website https://disabilityrightsnj.org/ to make your donation. ❤️

Barb Coppens, advocate assistant for Disability Rights NJ received the President’s Award from The Arc of the United Stat...
11/14/2022

Barb Coppens, advocate assistant for Disability Rights NJ received the President’s Award from The Arc of the United States at the National Convention in Denver! This is a well-deserved recognition of all of Barb's outstanding advocacy on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We're so proud to work alongside you, Barb!

We are excited to welcome Ruby Kish, accomplished legal advocate and Skadden Fellow, to our Youth Practice Group, as par...
11/10/2022

We are excited to welcome Ruby Kish, accomplished legal advocate and Skadden Fellow, to our Youth Practice Group, as part of our Community Inclusion legal team directed at special education advocacy and The Juvenile Justice Project.

Ruby graduated from Rutgers Law School, Newark in May of 2020, after transitioning from a career in microbiology and eventually joined the Education Law Center as a Skadden Fellow focused on providing educational advocacy to court-involved youth in Essex County. Ruby’s path to becoming an attorney and advocate began with her own experiences at home and in her community where her advocacy efforts on behalf of her son inspired her to create a Special Education Parent Advisory Committee and become a volunteer special education advocate. Ruby’s decision to attend law school was motivated by the desire to extend these advocacy skills towards young people impacted by the School-to-Prison pipelines in communities where access to pro-bono legal services was scarce. An internship at the juvenile public defender's office during law school solidified this commitment and was the impetus for the fellowship project.

By joining the Disability Rights NJ’s Community Inclusion team, Ruby aims to continue providing advocacy for court-involved youth, both through individual representation and by taking on the systemic forces that lead to the disproportionate involvement of youth with disabilities in the juvenile justice system.

In her free time, Ruby enjoys spending time with her family and remains an active participant in her community where she serves on the local Board of Education.

Save the date for this Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022!  is a Global Day of Giving that began in 2012 to inspire and c...
11/09/2022

Save the date for this Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022!
is a Global Day of Giving that began in 2012 to inspire and celebrate generosity.♥️

At Disability Rights New Jersey, we have been imagining a world where inclusivity can exist without boundaries, and we need your help to make these dreams a reality. Disabilities should not be a limiting factor for kids like Ashton (pictured). Our youth need support - like our , , and programs - to protect their rights and help them thrive in a world where inclusivity is not yet limitless. If you would like to join the generosity movement, please consider our organization on this GivingTuesday.

👉Visit our website (https://disabilityrightsnj.org/) to learn more about who we are and what we do, and save the date for November 29, 2022.

The disability community lost one of its greatest heroes over the weekend. Pioneer Lois Curtis was most recognized for h...
11/08/2022

The disability community lost one of its greatest heroes over the weekend. Pioneer Lois Curtis was most recognized for her transformative contribution to the disability rights movement as the plaintiff L.C. in the landmark Olmstead decision. Curtis’ unyielding advocacy as a young woman was instrumental in the Supreme Court’s decision to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Her bravery helped solidify the rights of people with disabilities to live in their own homes and receive services in their own communities.

"Lois Curtis truly changed history," said HHS General Counsel Samuel Bagenstos. "By fighting for her right to live in her own home, she established a precedent that has improved the lives of thousands of other people with all types of disabilities–and that precedent continues to underpin the fundamental principle that disabled people have a right to the services they need to live flourishing lives alongside their fellow members of the community."

By pushing her self-advocacy all the way to the Supreme Court of the United States, Curtis not only won her fight for independence, but the hearts of supporters around the country. Advocates following her trail recognize her effort and salute her memory as she passes on to the next world.

Early voting ends tomorrow, Saturday, November 6th and Vote-by-Mail Ballots are also still available. Avoid long lines a...
11/04/2022
Early Voting Ends Sunday, November 6th!

Early voting ends tomorrow, Saturday, November 6th and Vote-by-Mail Ballots are also still available. Avoid long lines at your polling place on Election Day, November 8th. If you are a registered voter in NJ, you can vote early, in person or by mail. https://conta.cc/3DYmLP9

November 2, 2022 | Issue 28 Early Voting Ends November 6th Vote-by-Mail Ballots Also Available Avoid long lines at your polling place on Election Day, November 8th. If you are a registered voter in N

11/04/2022
Disability Rights NJ is proud to share the first episode and a preview of Choose To Include, a video series created by o...
10/27/2022
Choose To Include: Episode One Vote Your Voice

Disability Rights NJ is proud to share the first episode and a preview of Choose To Include, a video series created by our staff advocate Jessica Lax, centered on inclusion of people with disabilities in a variety of disability-related topics. The goal is to encourage conversation, awareness, and positive growth in our communities on the subject of disability. The series will continue in the new year.

Just in time for Early Voting to begin in NJ this weekend, we present Choose To Include, Episode One: Vote Your Voice.

Please like and share to deepen our reach ❤️

https://youtu.be/vcpcUdTLFuE

Choose To Include is a video series on a variety of disability-related topics. The goal is to promote the inclusion of people with disabilities and encourage...

Disability Rights New Jersey is thrilled to congratulate our longtime board member Carolyn Hayer for her promotion to Ex...
10/14/2022

Disability Rights New Jersey is thrilled to congratulate our longtime board member Carolyn Hayer for her promotion to Executive Director of SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, Inc.

Carolyn was an absolute asset to us, serving with passion and dedication. We are certain she will be an exceptional leader as SPAN continues to evolve and broaden its reach into the future for children with special needs in New Jersey and around the country.

We wish Carolyn all the best! 🎉

To view the news release:
https://spanadvocacy.org/blog-post/carolyn-hayer-promotion-to-executive-director/

Our team is at the  2022 Disability Connections Event at Middlesex College from 10am-1pm today! Stop by!
10/14/2022

Our team is at the 2022 Disability Connections Event at Middlesex College from 10am-1pm today! Stop by!

It was a beautiful autumn night to celebrate service to the disability community and honor our state leaders for their c...
10/14/2022

It was a beautiful autumn night to celebrate service to the disability community and honor our state leaders for their collaboration and transparency throughout the pandemic on behalf of people with disabilities.

Congratulations 🎉🎉🎉

Jennifer Langer Jacobs - Assistant Commissioner
Department of Human Services, Division of Medical Assistance and Health Services

Christopher Morrison - Assistant Commissioner
Department of Health, Division of Behavioral Health

Jonathan Seifried - Assistant Commissioner
Department of Human Services, Division of Developmental Disabilities

The evening included a special dedication of our Summer Public Interest Internship Program in honor of Disability Rights NJ's founder and first Executive Director, Sarah W. Mitchell.

Thank you to everyone that shared the evening with us, our colleagues, partners, staff, and sponsors.

NJ Department of Human Services
New Jersey Department of Health

10/13/2022
Please join us in congratulating Bren Simonson for their promotion to Managing Attorney of our Institutional Rights team...
10/07/2022

Please join us in congratulating Bren Simonson for their promotion to Managing Attorney of our Institutional Rights team.

After graduating from Villanova School of Law, Bren clerked for the Hon. Joseph L. Rea, J.S.C. in Middlesex County, then the Office of the Public Defender in the Office of Parental Representation until joining Disability Rights NJ as a staff attorney in April 2022, where they have taken on a unique project for individuals with I/DD residing in nursing homes.

On a personal note, Bren enjoys spending their free time traveling, cooking, and watching reality TV with their partner. They are also a coach for the Rutgers Mock Trial Association.

We're proud to have Bren leading our advocacy efforts in institutional rights!

Come out and see us at  Fall Fest 🍂🍁 from 10-2 at Cadwalader Park in Trenton! What a gorgeous autumn day!
09/29/2022

Come out and see us at Fall Fest 🍂🍁 from 10-2 at Cadwalader Park in Trenton! What a gorgeous autumn day!

09/22/2022

Join us today at the 6th Annual New Jersey AT Summit at The Conference Center at Mercer. The conference is FREE and will be held from 8:30 to 3pm.

The 6th Annual New Jersey AT Summit is about to get started...in person at The Conference Center at Mercer. The conferen...
09/22/2022

The 6th Annual New Jersey AT Summit is about to get started...in person at The Conference Center at Mercer. The conference is FREE and will be held from 8:30 to 3pm today!

This event will bring together AT and Community Living Professionals, individuals with disabilities and their family members, and representatives from State Agencies to share ideas and strategies to increase independence.

We are all set up and ready to go for the REV UP New Jersey event today - 12 to 5pm at the Statehouse Annex! ✅ Come out ...
09/19/2022

We are all set up and ready to go for the REV UP New Jersey event today - 12 to 5pm at the Statehouse Annex! ✅ Come out and show the Power of the Disability Vote! 💪🇺🇸🗳

❤️ A Time to Remember: Covid-19 Pandemic and People with Disabilities 📆 Monday, September 19, 2022 Join us as we  and  l...
09/16/2022

❤️ A Time to Remember: Covid-19 Pandemic and People with Disabilities

📆 Monday, September 19, 2022

Join us as we and loved ones with disabilities and their caretakers lost to the Covid-19 Pandemic. If you lost or wish to honor someone, please bring a photo of them to our temporary gallery.

We remember our veterans, people with disabilities, caretakers, staff, and medical personnel who died in the community, congregate settings or other institutions.
The Memorial will feature speakers, performances, prayers, and meditations.

To RSVP or for more information, email Javier Robles at [email protected] or call 732.887.8722.
Location and Time

NJ State House Annex
Time 3 PM to 5 PM
131 – 137 State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608

📌Are you looking for a position that makes a meaningful difference? Consider a career in public interest working for Dis...
09/14/2022
Careers in Disability Rights | Disability Rights New Jersey

📌Are you looking for a position that makes a meaningful difference? Consider a career in public interest working for Disability Rights NJ.

A career at Disability Rights NJ is an opportunity to do meaningful work with a significant impact on the of people with disabilities. We focus on effecting through and where appropriate. We also serve individuals whose issues fall within our current priorities, from advice and brief services through representation in court proceedings or administrative hearings and appeals. As a protection and advocacy organization, we reports of abuse and neglect and monitor facilities that serve individuals with disabilities.

Disability Rights NJ’s staff work under a policy, generally with two days in the office or field depending on work demands. We strive to offer salaries and benefits that are comparable to other New Jersey non-profit organizations.

Successful candidates demonstrate interest in the community (including prior work or lived experience), a strong commitment to social justice, and a passion for excellence.

Open positions:
Staff Attorney: Community Inclusion Team
Administrative Assistant / Intake Specialist
Advocate / Investigator - with a Nursing Background

Apply Today!

https://disabilityrightsnj.org/get-in-touch/careers-in-disability-rights/

A career at Disability Rights New Jersey is an opportunity to do meaningful work with a significant impact on the civil rights of people with disabilities.

Make your voices heard!! ✊
09/14/2022

Make your voices heard!! ✊

❗️ In recent weeks, our Intake Team at Disability Rights NJ has been besieged by calls meant for the NJ Department of La...
09/09/2022

❗️ In recent weeks, our Intake Team at Disability Rights NJ has been besieged by calls meant for the NJ Department of Labor & Workforce Development, Division of Temporary Disability, of which we are NOT connected to or affiliated with in any way.

Disability Rights New Jersey is a private nonprofit organization designated as the state's Protection and Advocacy agency.
We cannot help with payments and/or debit card issues. Our team is not able to provide any information on these matters.

We appreciate your understanding.

Are you a legal guardian and/or family member of an individual with I/DD residing in a nursing home? We want to hear fro...
09/06/2022
Your Input is Needed on I/DD Residents in Nursing Homes, Plus Check Out Our Upcoming Events!

Are you a legal guardian and/or family member of an individual with I/DD residing in a nursing home? We want to hear from you! Disability Rights New Jersey, in partnership with the New Jersey Council on Development Disabilities, are currently working on a project focused on individuals with I/DD living in nursing facilities. We are writing a report to understand the needs of these individuals. Complete our survey if you want to share your story! https://conta.cc/3Ql3ESi

September 6, 2022 | Issue 24 Are you a legal guardian and/or family member of an individual with I/DD residing in a nursing home?   We want to hear from you! Disability Rights New Jersey, in partnersh

Address

210 S Broad Street
Trenton, NJ
08608

General information

COMMENTS POLICY: We encourage relevant, concise, engaging and diverse commentary. Spam, personal attacks, racial, religious, ethnic, or other slurs are not permitted; promotional content, petitions, and inappropriate comments will be removed. NOTE: Opinions expressed in status updates or in posts we link to belong to the authors alone.

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+16092929742

Products

DRNJ operates the following programs:

Protection and Advocacy for Persons with Developmental Disabilities (PADD) program was established to protect the legal and civil rights of individuals with developmental disabilities.

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Mental Illness (PAIMI) program protects and advocates for the rights of persons with mental illness and investigate reports of abuse and neglect.

Protection and Advocacy for Individual Rights (PAIR) programs were established to protect and advocate for the legal and human rights of persons with disabilities who are not eligible to be served in the CAP, PAIMI, or PADD programs.

The Client Assistance Program (CAP) advocates for and protects the rights of individuals with disabilities who are seeking or receiving rehabilitation services.

Protection and Advocacy for Individuals with Traumatic Brain Injury (PATBI) program ensures that individuals with TBI and their families have access to: information, referrals and advice; individual and family advocacy; legal representation; and specific assistance in self-advocacy.

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries of Social Security (PABSS) provides education and training on employment and Social Security Work Incentives, and provides assistance to SSDI and SSI beneficiaries seeking vocational rehabilitation, employment and other support services to secure, retain or regain employment.

The Richard West Assistive Technology Advocacy Center (ATAC) provides assistance to persons with disabilities to obtain assistive technology devices and/or services.

Protection and Advocacy for Assistive Technology (PAAT) program provides legal and non-legal advocacy services for individuals with disabilities who are denied access to assistive technology devices and/or assistive technology services.

Protection and Advocacy for Voter Access (PAVA) program ensures that every qualified person with a disability has the opportunity to vote on Election Day.

Protection and Advocacy for Beneficiaries with Representative Payees (PABRP) program monitors how representative payees are administering Social Security funds for the benefit of individuals receiving SSI and/orSSDI.

Intake and Referral Services

All requests for assistance are processed by DRNJ's Intake Office. The vast majority of requests for assistance are received and processed by telephone or online. The Intake Office is available to perform telephone or in-person intake interviews Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Disability Rights New Jersey posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to Disability Rights New Jersey:

Videos

Our Story

Each and every day in New Jersey, individuals with disabilities face barriers of discrimination and segregation. Despite their strides, people with disabilities continue to experience discrimination in schools, in places of employment, and within the community. They continue to reside in institutions against their wishes. Others are subject to abuse and neglect by their caregivers. Still others face the challenge of obtaining the supports and services they need in order to fully participate in their communities.

Since 1994, the advocate and legal staff of Disability Rights New Jersey has been committed to addressing these barriers and ensuring that these critical issues affecting people with disabilities are addressed. As the State’s protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities, DRNJ serves a unique purpose in the struggle for the right to equality of opportunity.

Our impact on the community is far-reaching. With a staff of just under forty, DRNJ provides, in a single year, case advocacy services to over 1,300 individuals, information and referral to over 2,500, and outreach, education and training to over 10,000. DRNJ’s clients represent every age group and reflect the state’s diversity of gender, race, ethnicity, and culture. DRNJ also engages in policy and legislative activities impacting large groups of people with disabilities.


Comments

To all our friends, partners, fellow advocates, and clients, we wish you joyful and peaceful holidays. We look forward to connecting in the new year!

A reminder: Our office is closed and staff is on holiday break from 3pm today and returning Tuesday, January 3rd!
The work of Disability Rights NJ has never been more important. Our mission to promote self-determination, independence, productivity, and integration into all facets of community life was evident in all of the work undertaken by our dedicated staff this year. We continue to be at the forefront of systemic change throughout the state, on every level, working tirelessly to ensure all New Jerseyans with disabilities are free from abuse and neglect. As you read this report, we hope you will be inspired to help us move the needle closer to our vision of inclusivity without boundaries.
https://conta.cc/3v9YKzh
The first meeting of the Pinelands Preservation Alliance Access Nature Forum for 2023 will be January 11 at 7:00 PM.

The Access Nature Forum was created to bring together a diverse selection of like-minded individuals to have conversations about improving access to natural places. We aim to engage those with disabilities, their families, caregivers, veterans' groups, assisted living organizations, advocacy groups, nonprofit organizations, state, and local officials, and agencies in a public discourse that identifies public interest, concerns, and ideas, and join their voices for improving access to natural places.

Everyone is welcome to participate in this public forum. For more information and to sign up for the meeting https://bit.ly/3FIIkD5
‘Somebody should care about these patients...’ It was called one of the worst nursing homes in N.J, Why did it take so long to shut it down? NJ.com

Susan K. Livio, NJ Advance Media
Ted Sherman, NJ Advance Media

"By the summer of 2021, Disability Rights New Jersey resumed making in-person visits to nursing homes, including the now renamed Woodland Behavioral and Nursing Center. Jill Hoegel, the group’s director of investigations and monitoring, said on their first trip back, concerns were growing about the number of people there with disabilities — the largest number ever with serious mental illness, intellectual disabilities, and traumatic brain injuries.

“That was a red flag for us. They didn’t appear taken care of,” she said. “People were dirty, disoriented and seemed over-medicated. They were not coherent and shuffling around. Nobody was going outside and nobody was able to leave. They had been imprisoned inside.”

https://disabilityrightsnj.org/how-we-help/sharing-our-expertise/
📣📣📣 SPECIAL EDUCATION ALERT‼️

Reminder for students and guardians! A new law came into effect in January 2022 that required school districts to hold an IEP meeting no later than December 31, 2022, for every special education student to determine whether they need make-up education services (called compensatory education) relating to education services missed during the COVID period (March 2020 through September 2021).

If you haven’t heard from your district about this meeting, email your IEP case manager to set up an IEP meeting to discuss the need for COVID compensatory education.

If you did have this meeting, the district should have sent you a written notice of the team’s decision on compensatory education. If you disagree with the decision, you can file for Due Process.

👉The deadline to file for Due Process is September 1, 2023!
Disability Rights NJ Advocate Assistant, Barbara Coppens, was interviewed this week for Everything Special Needs radio with Sue Shilling about her advocacy work on behalf of people with disabilities that lead to being awarded the 2022 President's Award from the The Arc of the United States.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ga-B74ynSIJ_LXBCD6wyyK1BaZ4nLHGT/view
Imagine inclusivity without boundaries... or borders...or oceans. 🌎 Today, we recognize International Day of Persons with Disabilities.
Today is ! We hope that you will choose to celebrate altruism today by donating to Disability Rights New Jersey. ❤️

During this season of giving, we are asking for your support in funding some of our youth programs, which are designed to help with fight the barriers that legal and social systems may place on them. Our Juvenile Justice Project and our TRAILblazers Youth Transition Program are making great strides in this area, and we need your help to further extend their reach.

For more information on these programs or to make your first donation visit https://disabilityrightsnj.org/donations/donation-form/
Giving this season is as easy as 1-2-3 when you shop at AmazonSmile. Choose Disability Rights New Jersey as your charity of choice and Amazon.com will send us donations for your purchases. You can help support our important work at no cost to you.
Tomorrow is the day that we have been waiting for! It is your chance to embrace the of and our at Disability Rights New Jersey. By making a you can support the programs which touch the lives of with in our community.

Here at Disability Rights NJ we believe in without qualification, without restriction, and without boundaries. In order to achieve this reality, we need your help to knock down the barriers unjustly placed on our community members with disabilities.

Visit our website https://lnkd.in/g7iwAFCn to make your donation.
Wishing everyone a safe and happy Thanksgiving! 🦃🍂
We are happy to announce the official launch of our campaign! This year we would like to highlight the work that we are doing for the with in our communities.

When you donate to Disability Rights NJ, you are supporting our . This program fights the school-to-prison pipeline by offering support to youth with disabilities who are navigating the legal system. We advocate to ensure youth in the juvenile justice system are continuing to receive proper services, and raise awareness that youth with disabilities are disproportionately represented in the juvenile justice system.

When you donate to Disability Rights NJ, you are also supporting our . This program helps youth ages 14-22 navigate difficult systems and transition to adult life after graduating high school. Our support includes connecting youth and their families to appropriate agencies and providing legal representation to guarantee that transition rights are protected.

When you to Disability Rights NJ, you are helping us knock down the barriers that youth with disabilities face. Help us imagine inclusivity without boundaries and visit our website https://disabilityrightsnj.org/ to make your donation. ❤️
Barb Coppens, advocate assistant for Disability Rights NJ received the President’s Award from The Arc of the United States at the National Convention in Denver! This is a well-deserved recognition of all of Barb's outstanding advocacy on behalf of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

We're so proud to work alongside you, Barb!
We are excited to welcome Ruby Kish, accomplished legal advocate and Skadden Fellow, to our Youth Practice Group, as part of our Community Inclusion legal team directed at special education advocacy and The Juvenile Justice Project.

Ruby graduated from Rutgers Law School, Newark in May of 2020, after transitioning from a career in microbiology and eventually joined the Education Law Center as a Skadden Fellow focused on providing educational advocacy to court-involved youth in Essex County. Ruby’s path to becoming an attorney and advocate began with her own experiences at home and in her community where her advocacy efforts on behalf of her son inspired her to create a Special Education Parent Advisory Committee and become a volunteer special education advocate. Ruby’s decision to attend law school was motivated by the desire to extend these advocacy skills towards young people impacted by the School-to-Prison pipelines in communities where access to pro-bono legal services was scarce. An internship at the juvenile public defender's office during law school solidified this commitment and was the impetus for the fellowship project.

By joining the Disability Rights NJ’s Community Inclusion team, Ruby aims to continue providing advocacy for court-involved youth, both through individual representation and by taking on the systemic forces that lead to the disproportionate involvement of youth with disabilities in the juvenile justice system.

In her free time, Ruby enjoys spending time with her family and remains an active participant in her community where she serves on the local Board of Education.
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