'Tis the Season to Celebrate With Family and Friends | |
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This time of year brings warm memories of time spent with family and friends, and that is certainly what Carmelys Vincent thought about when she invited her friends, including our CLEP Team, for a āFriendsgivingā celebration at her home. She and her housemates opened their home to us on December 10 for a wonderful luncheon. Isabella, the house manager, prepared a feast for us all to enjoy as we gathered around the table to share.
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Carmelys (pictured above in pink) leads a person-centered life with determination. You may remember her as one of the stars of our 2022 documentary, "From Possibility to Reality," and our August 2024 edition of "My Life Now." Carmelys draws strength from those who support her and shares herself with everyone she meets. Thank you, Carmelys, for bringing us together in celebration!
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Upcoming Events From Our Partners | | |
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Get to Work! Employment Supports and Services for Adults with Disabilities in NJ
Join the Family Resource Network for a webinar to learn about employment supports and services for adults with disabilities in NJ.
Tuesday, December 17
12:00 - 1:00 PM
Virtual
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Myths About Working While Receiving Disability Benefits
Hosted by the Social Security Administration Ticket to Work Call Center.
Wednesday, December 18
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM
Virtual
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Jingle All the Way Sensory Extravaganza
Join YO SOY ASI for their Jingle All the Way Sensory Extravaganza in Clifton.
They are excited to invite the special needs community to a sensory-friendly holiday celebration! This event is free of charge for special needs children and their families.
Donāt miss out on this amazing opportunity to experience a joyful, inclusive, and sensory-friendly celebration.
Sunday, December 22
Session 1 (for ages 3-14): 10:00 - 11:30 AM
Session 2 (for ages 14+): 12:00 - 2:00 PM
In-Person: Clifton
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Dungeons and Dragons
Join the NJ Self Advocacy Project to play the cooperative tabletop roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons! Play as a powerful hero and use your wits or might, along with teamwork, to save the day from all manner of man and monster. Games will be beginner friendly!
Register to play for two hour-long sessions. Players will select a character type and receive simplified character sheets to reference during the game. All rules will be explained at the start of the adventure and our "Dungeon Masters" will guide you in playing. There will be an 8 player maximum per adventure.
If you register, PLEASE be sure to attend both sessions you sign up for.
Tuesday, January 7 and January 14
11:00 AM
Virtual
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US Seeks to End Sub-Minimum Wage for Workers with Disabilities
The Department of Labor is proposing to abolish below-minimum-wage pay for people with disabilities, targeting a long-controversial program whose fate will now rest with the incoming administration.
Since the New Deal, federal law has authorized the department to permit paying particular employees a lower āspecial minimum wageā on the grounds that their disabilities impair their productivity. That law, passed half a century before the Americans with Disabilities Act, was meant to shield people with disabilities from being deemed too expensive to employ. But itās been denounced by advocates as a form of legalized discrimination that rips off and marginalizes those it purports to protect.
In a proposed rule being announced Tuesday, the Biden administration says the Labor Department should phase out the exemption over three years, first ceasing to issue new certificates allowing employers to pay less than the normal $7.25 hourly wage floor, and then requiring those already providing subminimum compensation to end that practice.
Many self-advocates and their families would like to see the subminimum wage eliminated but not all do. They argue that those with significant support needs benefit from the work and would not be able to compete in the workplace.
Worth noting for New Jersey is that we are an Employment First State since 2012. If you are interested in learning more about competitive employment, please click here to learn about NJAPSE, the NJ chapter of The Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), whose mission it is to advance equal employment for people with disabilities.
APSE is the only national membership organization focused exclusively on Employment First to facilitate the full inclusion of people with disabilities in the workplace and community.
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Lights! Camera! (Social) Action!
The 12th Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge is set for 2025! More than sixty million Americans have a disability but fewer than 3% of film or television characters with speaking roles are disabled characters. Many, too, are played by non-disabled actors. The Easter Seals Disability Film Challenge spotlights roles, characters, and creators with disabilities.
Registration opens January 25, 2025.
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Applications Open for EmployAbility Program
The Family Resource Network is excited to announce that they are now accepting applications for our EmployAbility Programāa FREE initiative designed to empower individuals with disabilities to achieve meaningful employment.
Through small-group training, hands-on job experiences, and exciting career opportunities, participants will:
- Learn valuable workplace skills
- Explore career options that fit their interests
- Earn while they learn with paid internships
- Transition to part-time or full-time jobs
Classes are held in Mercer County on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 AM to 3 PM during select program weeks. Plus, internships are designed to be close to home, making them convenient and accessible.
Are you ready to take the next step toward your career goals?
Email Employment@familyresourcenetwork.org to get started today!
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New Legislation for IDD Service Safety and Accountability
The Department of Human Services Commissioner, Sara Adelman, and NJ State Senator Joseph Vitale announced a comprehensive package of legislation to enhance safety and accountability in services to people with developmental disabilities. Senator Vitale, chair of the Senate Health Committee, introduced the package which includes seven bills. Click below for a press release regarding the DHS announcement.
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If you missed these recent live webinar discussions, we invite you to watch them and our other recordings on theļ»æ Community Living Education Project's Youtube Channel. | | |
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Trauma Risk and Recovery: A Workshop for Families and Caregivers
Presented by Melissa Cheplic, MPH, NADD-CC
Senior Training and Consultation Specialist, The Boggs Center on Disability and Human Development
Webinar Date: December 5, 2024
Watch now
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Assistive Technology "Open Mic"
Presented by Mike Marotta, ATP
Director, The Richard West Assistive Technology Access Center
Webinar Date: November 21, 2024
Watch now
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Assistive Technology for Community Living: Enhancing Independence
Presented by Mike Marotta, ATP
Director, The Richard West Assistive Technology Access Center
Webinar Date: October 30, 2024
Watch now
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If you or someone you know have an intellectual and/or developmental disability and live in New Jersey, we can help -- FREE! We work one-on-one with individuals and families as mentors and guides to navigating all the different services, programs, and options available to you. From where to live to setting up services, to pursuing hobbies and interests, we'll help you make informed decisions that will allow you to live as integrated members of your community.
Please get in touch if we can help you!
Email us at clep@sph.rutgers.edu or call (732) 235-3277
Let's continue the conversation on social media! Please follow us and let us know how we can best be of assistance to you and/or your loved ones.
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Please forward this email to your friends, colleagues, and families, and encourage them to subscribe and visit our website. Together we can make New Jersey a vibrant place for people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive!
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