The Arc of New Jersey Family Institute provides caregivers with the necessary resources and education to access the appropriate supports and services for their loved ones with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
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March is #DDAwarenessMonth2021 |
In celebration of Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month, we encourage everyone to use social media to educate others and spark discussion about people with developmental disabilities! This year's theme is Advocacy: Anytime, Anywhere. We'd love to hear about the ways that you practice self-advocacy in your everyday life! There are no limits, self-advocacy can happen in your home, at work, in the community, or even online. Each week, we will highlight a different way to stay active in self-advocacy on a variety of topics including:
Week 1: Identifying and Reaching Out to Your Legislators
Week 2: Registering to Vote Online
Week 3: The role of testimony in the Legislative Process
Week 4: Technology Needs and Tutorials
Feel free to join us by using THIS TEMPLATE. Write a message and post to your social media platform of choice, such as Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. Be sure to include #DDAwarenessMonth2021 and this year's theme, #AdvocacyAnytimeAnywhere. We encourage you to tag The Arc of NJ and the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project in your posts!
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Official Proclamation From Governor Murphy and DHS
We would like to formally thank Governor Murphy and the New Jersey Department of Human Services for officially proclaiming March as Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month in NJ. This proclamation is a commitment to promoting quality support, and increasing community living and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. It also recognizes the remarkable resilience displayed by people with I/DD, and DSPs alike, in the face of a global pandemic.
We are proud to support this proclamation, and we will continue to promote the respect of individuals with I/DD, raise awareness to the barriers faced by these individuals, and foster inclusivity in schools, the workplace, and the community as a whole.
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Governmental Affairs Update |
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Governor Murphy delivered his annual Budget Address last month, and we're very pleased to report that his funding blueprint includes approximately $100 million in new monies within the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) to support people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD). This is a tremendous commitment to our community and an important recognition of the needs of those we represent.
In light of the financial difficulties facing the state brought about by COVID, we are especially appreciative that the Governor and his Administration heard our advocacy calls and prioritized people with I/DD in the proposed State Budget.
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Special Education Webinar Series |
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Preparing for Postsecondary Programs
Thursday, March 11th, 1:00pm - 2:00pm
Dr. Susan Onaitis, Manager of the DREAM Program and Ancillary Support Services at Mercer County Community College
Graduating high school is a major accomplishment and a defining moment in a person's transition into adulthood. It marks the end of an individual's relationship with the IDEA, and presents the question: "What to do next?" For individuals and their families considering postsecondary education, there are a number of options available.
This webinar will give attendees an overview of postsecondary education programs for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and how students can prepare for these programs. Dr. Onaitis will discuss the supports available to students in postsecondary programs, and a student from the DREAM program will share information about the college experience.
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"Dear Parents and Caregivers:
PerformCare recommends that applications for CSOC Summer Camp Services be submitted online through the Family Portal.
Applications completed online will be processed faster at this time.

Please note that the Family Portal only supports Internet Explorer version 11 or greater. Download Internet Explorer on Microsoft's website.
In addition, before applying for Summer Camp Services, please make sure to direct specific questions about camp facilities and COVID-19 safety to your preferred camp."
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Online Fun with the Chicago Academy of Sciences
The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum is offering virtual tours and videos to help children become more in touch with nature. Kids can learn how butterflies eat, identify bird species in their own backyard, and participate in virtual storytime. The museum will also offer live videos of employees feeding and caring for the museum's animals.
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ABLE Accounts Go Bag
The ABLE Act (Achieving a Better Life Experience) was signed into federal law on December 21st, 2014. ABLE Accounts allow individuals with disabilities and their families to save for long-term needs, via 529-style savings accounts, without jeopardizing an individual's eligibility for critical federal entitlement programs like Social Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid. Our ABLE Accounts Go Bag provides information about eligibility, qualified expenses, and IRS tax guidance. Don't forget to check out our ABLE Account fact sheet!
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From Our Local Chapters of The Arc |
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Empowering Parents: United States Supreme Court Demands More from School Districts. What Parents Need to Know
Wednesday, March 10, 7:00pm
Presented by Jared Oberweis, Esq.
Parents of children with disabilities have just been empowered by a unanimous United States Supreme Court to demand more of their school district. The recent Supreme Court decision in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District, clarifies what it means for districts to provide a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). For decades, some districts have argued students only need to make "some" progress which is "merely more than de-minimis." However, according to the Supreme Court, "The IDEA demands more. It requires an educational program reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances."
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U.S. Census Bureau Recognition |
The Arc of New Jersey has been recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as an invaluable member of the 2020 Census Community Partnership and Engagement Program. Participation in this program required educating people about the 2020 Census, fostering cooperation with census workers, encouraging self-response, and engaging with groups that have been historically underrepresented in census data.
Thank you to all of our staff, self-advocates, local chapters, and community partners; your tireless effort was the driving force behind our participation in this program. While recognition from the U.S. Census Bureau is an achievement in itself, the true award will be census data which helps improve the lives of individuals with I/DD, their families, and DSPs across the state of New Jersey.
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