Legislative and Advocacy Round-up for March 2023

Legislative and Advocacy Round-up

To inform brain injury advocates about

grassroots advocacy and public policy

March 2023

Upcoming Events

April 5
May 6
June 3
July 8
August 5
September 9
October 7
November 4
December 2

Brain Injury Resource Center

Whether you have a brain injury or concussion, are a caregiver or a professional, the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey has resources available for you. If you’re in need of further assistance, please contact the Helpline at 1-800-669-4323, or info@bianj.org.

Visit the Resource Library

Brain Injury Support Groups

Brain injury support groups allow people with brain injuries and their family members to meet others in similar situations. They gain valuable emotional support, form friendships, obtain information, and discuss a variety of brain injury topics.

Find a Support Group

CARES Program

The BIANJ CARES (Care, Assistance, Resources, Education and Support) Program supports individuals and families impacted by brain injury through care management. This program focuses on assessing current needs and developing a plan to help individuals achieve greatest potential and improve quality of life.

More about CARES

Support Coordination

The Alliance is an approved Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) /Medicaid-approved Support Coordination agency. Support Coordinators provide care management services to adults 21 + who are eligible for DDD services. Individuals and their families are assisted in identifying services and developing individualized plans based on a person’s needs.

Alliance Hosts 4th Virtual Brain Injury Awareness Month Event

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey held its 4th virtual brain injury awareness month event on Wednesday, March 22, 2023.

The overall purpose of the event was to raise awareness of brain injury amongst elected officials, staff, and the general public plus educate attendees about the services the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey provides.

Steven Benvenisti, Esq., President of the Board of Trustees for the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey, welcomed guests and read a proclamation issued by New Jersey governor, Phil Murphy. An overview of the Alliance was then presented by Rita Steindlberger, CEO, Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey.

The director of the New Jersey Division of Disability Services, Peri Nearon, followed with an overview of the Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Fund which included a video.

The main focus of the event was on Community Services and how these services benefit the brain injury community. Dr. Barbara Chabner, PsyD, Director of Education and Outreach, provided a comprehensive overview of Community Services.

Alliance staff then spoke about other services of the Alliance. Nicole DeLorenzo spoke about Support Coordination and Stacy Lyons about CARES / Helpline / Support Services.

The last segment of the event focused on informal discussion which included a question and answer period.

You may access a recording of the event by clicking HERE.

New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus Meets to Discuss Access to Healthcare

The New Jersey Legislative Disabilty Caucus met in late February to discuss issues associated with access to healthcare. A recording of the meeting can be viewed HERE.

The Caucus serves as a bipartisan

forum within the Legislature for lawmakers and their staff to consider the impact on the disability community when shaping all public policies in the Garden State.

Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community Partners with

Kessler Foundation on Panel Discussion

Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community and Kessler Foundation held a Mike-at-the-Mic panel discussion, "Transition to the World After Brain Injury," on Friday, March 24, 2023.

The objectives of the discussion were:

◄To learn of challenges people with brain injury faced when transitioning to the world upon sustaining a brain injury.

◄To seek out how people with brain injury endeavored to address challenges with transitioning into the world.

◄To define what services and supports were helpful to people with brain injury as they transitioned into the world.

Mike-at-the-Mic is a panel discussion led by Michael Greeenwald, EdM, a long time board member of the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey and member of Voices. Discussions focus on some aspect of brain injury that can be of interest to the overall brain injury community.

Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community's mission is to champion and publicize the advocacy, rights, and needs of people who have survived a brain injury. The group is supported by the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey. Membership is open to anyone interested in brain injury but is geared toward those directly impacted by brain injury.

By joining the Voices Advancing the Brain Injury Community you can:

· Make your voice heard

· Define your elected officials and their contact information

· Discuss your views on brain injury public policies

· Stay updated on brain injury bills and legislature

· Learn more about the legislative process

· Become a stronger brain injury advocate

To learn more, contact us directly at 732-745-0200 or at tgrady@bianj.org. You may also register at https://www.bianj.org/advocacy/

Thank You!

The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey supports a broad range of legislation that relates to brain injury. We appreciate those members of the State Legislature or the United States Congress who support bills by registering as a cosponsor of or introducing legislation. We would like to publicly thank the following member(s) for sponsoring the following bills:

In the State Legislature

A468 - Requires State agencies to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities and on mobile devices.

Assemblymembers John McKeon, Yvonne Lopez, Gabriela Mosquera, Michele, Matsikoudis, Pamela Lampitt

A4017 - Establishes minimum NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for traumatic brain injury special care nursing facilities; establishes enhanced NJ FamilyCare reimbursement rate for nursing facilities under certain circumstances; makes an appropriation.

Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson

S2789 - Requires certain permit holders to complete practice driving hours to obtain probationary driver’s license.

Senator Patrick Diegnan

Legislation that Advanced

Legislation listed below has advanced in the New Jersey State Legislature. Please contact Tom Grady, Director of Advocacy and Public Affairs if you would like more information about these bills at tgrady@bianj.org and/or whether you would like to contact your elected representatives to express your views on these bills.

In the State Legislature

S2961 - Extends protected tenancy period for certain tenants who are senior citizens and certain tenants with disabilities.

S1318 - Provides for increase and annual adjustment in allowance paid to veterans with certain wartime service-connected disabilities.

S3689 - Creates office to advocate for consumers on insurance issues.

S3702 - Creates State contract set-aside program for businesses owned and operated by persons with disabilities.

S3711 - Revises "Paratransit Services Improvement Act"; transfers $6 million from NJT to DHS.

A468 - Requires State agencies to make their websites accessible to people with disabilities and on mobile devices.

A1174 - Requires certain documentation of needs of students with disabilities during school security drills and emergency situations and in school security plans; requires staff training on needs of students with disabilities in emergency planning.

A4746 - Requires availability of accessible mail-in ballot for voters with disabilities.

A5260 - Requires availability of outside voting process for elderly or voters with disabilities when their assigned polling place does not meet accessibility requirements.

Join the United States Brain Injury Alliance as an Advocate Member

The United States Brain Injury Alliance (USBIA) invites those with an interest in brain injury to join the Alliance as Advocate Members! Persons with brain injury, family members, caregivers, and medical professionals are all encouraged to join USBIA and be a part of a nation-wide community of advocates seeking to prevent brain injury and improve lives!

Click HERE to fill out the form to join USBIA as an Advocate Member.