Assemblywoman Huttle aims to improve the lives of developmentally disabled

BY SALVATORE PIZZURO

COMMENTARY

Last week, Chris Christie signed into law a bill designed to “help ensure Developmentally Disabled are properly informed about available State services”.

Primary sponsors of the bill, Assembly Valerie Vainieri Huttle, Upendra Chivukula and Ruben J. Ramos Jr. seek to have people with developmental disabilities and their families become more aware of the State services that are available to them.

It has been a growing concern of the disability community that families of disabled persons do not acquire services that the disabled member desperately needs because they were unaware that the services exist. The Huttle, Chivukula, and Ramos bill will change that.

According to Assemblywoman Huttle, "New Jersey provides some absolutely wonderful support and quality of life improvement services for individuals with developmental disabilities,"….. Unfortunately, we're not that wonderful at informing residents about these programs."

Currently, the State faces a crisis in which people with developmental disabilities rarely leave their family member’s home. In essence, they are without socialization, are largely unemployed even when they are capable of holding a job, do not have access to appropriate health care, and are without long-range housing options when the family members die or are no longer able to care for them.

Under the law, a data base will be created that will include the names of New Jerseyans with developmental disabilities. Over a 12 month period, the list will be updated and the disabled individuals and their families with be informed of pertinent information, including:

• “The services currently being received from the division;

• The individual's status on any waiting lists;

• The best way for an individual to update their vital statistics; and

• Information about where to find services.”

Creation of the data base will be the responsibility of the State Division of Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Human Services.

Valerie Huttle’s goal has been to make the lives of people with developmental disabilities more similar to the lives of the non-disabled population. Hopefully, the new law will do just that.

Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro, a Disability Policy Specialist, holds a doctorate in Developmental Disabilities from Columbia University and an advanced degree in Disability Law from New York Law School