January 15, 2025 | Issue 66

The collection of helpful resources, how-to guides, links, and sample documents will soon be organized in a way that will make locating the information you need more efficient and accessible. In the meantime, here are are a few of the recently created resources you may find helpful:

Transition and Self-Advocacy: How to Best Support Students

Webinar Recording 10.30.24

This webinar was designed to help high school students and their families understand the meaning of Self-Advocacy and its importance in Transition Planning in the high school years and beyond, providing practical strategies on how to become a stronger self-advocate or how to assist someone in developing their self-advocacy skills. Featuring useful information about transition planning, viewers will be introduced to the ASPYIR Transition Planning Tool – a self-assessment resource created by Disability Rights New Jersey to empower students to take the lead in planning for their futures.

2024 Update to NJ Family Care 1115 Waiver

Webinar Recording 9.24.24

This webinar was created for individuals with I/DD, and their families, and parents of youth with disabilities to review updates to the New Jersey FamilyCare 1115 Comprehensive Demonstration, also known as 1115 Waiver, which provides Medicaid coverage to individuals with disabilities who might not otherwise be eligible for traditional Medicaid.

In 2023, CMS granted approval for the continuation of this waiver with some changes for five years. This webinar will discuss some of the key changes in the 1115 Waiver, the implementation status of the changes, and how the changes will impact individuals with disabilities. Specifically, this webinar will discuss the changes to eligibility for the Children’s Support Program, the changes to eligibility for the Supports and Community Care program for 18-21 year olds, and the new housing and nutrition supports program.

2024 Medicaid WorkAbility Updates

Webinar Recording 9.27.2024

If you have questions about NJ Workability, also known as Medicaid Buy-In, and if it could be an option for you because you work full-time or part-time, this webinar could be right for you.  This webinar will provide an update about the expansion of NJ Workability Medicaid eligibility and the implementation of program changes, including the premium structure now applied. Presenters will share tips and tricks for applying for the Medicaid program and what you need to know!

The Sarah W. Mitchell Summer Public Interest Internship Program is seeking candidates for Summer 2025.

Disability Rights NJ is hiring interns to work alongside our attorneys and advocates championing the rights of children and adults with disabilities across diverse practice areas.

This opportunity is open to law students and undergraduate or graduate students in social work, human services, or psychology fields of study.

Interns will work directly with our teams to fight for justice and equity for people with disabilities, and gain invaluable hands-on experience in disability advocacy.

This is a unique opportunity to build your skills, support a critical mission, and make a difference in lives of New Jerseyans with disabilities.

Full details of the opportunities available can be found on our website.

Legal Interns: Deadline for Applications is Friday January 17, 2025

Key Details:

• Duration: 10 weeks
• Schedule: Only 4 required in-person days for the entire summer! Fully remote for the rest of the internship.
• Paid, based on level of education

The 2024 Annual Report: Advancing Rights

for a Brighter Future for New Jerseyans with Disabilities

In our 2024 Annual Report, we proudly share our presentation of the biggest achievements throughout the fiscal year. These highlights are just a sampling of our successes, and by no means a complete list of the tremendous work of our advocates and attorneys on behalf of New Jerseyans with disabilities.

Inside, you'll find a collection of accomplishments spanning across our teams, and in some cases, years in the making.

In an effort to bring our work to life before your eyes and share stories in a more accessible way, videos have been added throughout many of the highlights. The animated arrow will connect you with links to news articles and new features on our website.

Disability Rights New Jersey applauds New Jersey’s Office of the State Comptroller’s investigative report uncovering millions of dollars of Medicaid fraud by owner and operators of New Jersey nursing home.

The OSC report details how the owner and operators of SJEC engaged in Medicaid fraud by stealing millions of dollars for personal use at the expense of the residents of their nursing home. While the owners profited personally, residents of New Jersey’s worst-rated nursing home languished in an understaffed and under-resourced facility.

While Disability Rights New Jersey applauds this investigation and the action taken by the Comptroller to suspend SJEC, Sterling Manor, and the individuals involved, we know through our work that this investigation unfortunately highlights a problem not unfamiliar to New Jersey.

Find the full press release here.

Disability Rights NJ is funded by the Department of Health and Human Services: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services - Center for Mental Health Services; Administration for Community Living - Administration on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities; Center for Integrated Programs, through the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, U.S. Department of Education: Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the Social Security Administration