To: The New Jersey State House and The New Jersey State Senate
Developmental Centers Vote is a Step Backwards
I am deeply concerned about the recent ratification of Assembly Bill 3870 on April 29th, 2013. This passing of this bill abhorrently undermines Olmstead Mandate. Equally, this bill undermines the efforts of Governor Christie’s thorough task force examining state developmental centers.
Bill A3870 is a regressive policy. People with disabilities should not continue to receive care in a segregated environment when there are cost-effective and equally matched supports in the community. The representatives who have endorsed this bill have not considered the rights of people with disabilities to have fulfilled lives, including their social and emotional health.
Additionally, the Assembly support of this bill embarrasses the reputation of New Jersey and our ability and willingness to fully integrate people with disabilities in our society. With the exception of Texas, New Jersey has the largest institutionalized population of people with disabilities living in developmental centers. This begs the question: When will New Jersey join the other states that have completely eliminated institutionalization as a system of care for the disability community?
I acknowledge the concerns of your constituents and the families of individuals living in developmental centers; however, we cannot continue to let the fear of the unknown subject people with disabilities to segregation and unfulfilled lives. Community living is a tested model of supports that has been successful in all states that have transitioned from developmental centers to community supports. Moreover, closing developmental centers will allow the state to reallocate the bloated budgets of these centers to provisions in the community.
As a resident of New Jersey, I ask you to negate your support of A3780 and redefine your commitment to providing quality lives to people with disabilities. I urge you to halt the progress of this bill in the Senate and reexamine the conclusions of Christie’s task force. Please consider ways in which you can improve the lives of every citizen, rather than vacillating support of one constituent group over another.
Bill A3870 is a regressive policy. People with disabilities should not continue to receive care in a segregated environment when there are cost-effective and equally matched supports in the community. The representatives who have endorsed this bill have not considered the rights of people with disabilities to have fulfilled lives, including their social and emotional health.
Additionally, the Assembly support of this bill embarrasses the reputation of New Jersey and our ability and willingness to fully integrate people with disabilities in our society. With the exception of Texas, New Jersey has the largest institutionalized population of people with disabilities living in developmental centers. This begs the question: When will New Jersey join the other states that have completely eliminated institutionalization as a system of care for the disability community?
I acknowledge the concerns of your constituents and the families of individuals living in developmental centers; however, we cannot continue to let the fear of the unknown subject people with disabilities to segregation and unfulfilled lives. Community living is a tested model of supports that has been successful in all states that have transitioned from developmental centers to community supports. Moreover, closing developmental centers will allow the state to reallocate the bloated budgets of these centers to provisions in the community.
As a resident of New Jersey, I ask you to negate your support of A3780 and redefine your commitment to providing quality lives to people with disabilities. I urge you to halt the progress of this bill in the Senate and reexamine the conclusions of Christie’s task force. Please consider ways in which you can improve the lives of every citizen, rather than vacillating support of one constituent group over another.
Why is this important?
The conclusions of Governor Christie's Task Force on the Closure of State Developmental Centers has come under scrutiny by the New Jersey General Assembly and the employees and families of developmental center residents. Efforts are being made to rescind Christie's decision to close North Jersey and Woodbridge Developmental Centers.