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As we celebrate 30 years as the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy system for people with disabilities, we reflect on our achievements in 2024, an exceptional year for us. We began the year with a clear agenda focused on critical investigations and systemic legal work.
Early on, we began to provide expertise and legal representation to people with disabilities facing Medicaid renewals and terminations in the aftermath of the COVID Public Health Emergency, helping to ensure that hundreds of people kept their Medicaid services. Our multi-year investigation of poor conditions in the State’s psychiatric hospitals led us to filing a federal lawsuit against the State, alleging abusive and neglectful conditions and prolonged periods of unnecessary confinement, at the State’s psychiatric hospitals. We amplified our focus on youth moving into adulthood through our focus on accessing special education and vocational rehabilitation transition services, launching our ASPYIR tool in September. We continued conducting high-quality reviews of social security representative payees, ensuring that people with disabilities were free from financial exploitation. Through our Youth Justice Project, we represented dozens of justice-impacted youth helping them access educational and community-based services. As our year came to an end, we enforced our federal access rights to conduct a thorough investigation of alleged abusive conditions at the Essex County Juvenile Detention Center. And so much more.
As we head into the new year, I encourage you to review the many ways Disability Rights New Jersey has been successful in advancing the rights of people with disabilities. We thank you for supporting our important work throughout the year. If you are moved by the impact of our advocacy, I ask that you renew your commitment for 2025 by financially supporting our mission. Your support is crucial as we navigate the next chapter of our story.
Wishing you a very happy, healthy, and peaceful 2025.
Gwen
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