34 Years After Passage of Americans with Disabilities Act, Data Sheds Light on Those with Disabilities

Last Friday marked the 34th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guaranteeing equal protection for people with disabilities.

Modeled after the 1964 Civil Rights Act, the ADA provides equal access to government services, schools, buildings, private employers and commercial facilities. But some disability rights activists say the law doesn't go far enough to protect those living with disabilities.

To read more on the legacy of the ADA and what the latest data shows about Americans with disabilities, click here.

NJ Dept. of Human Services Launches NJ Disability Information Hub in Celebration of the Americans with Disabilities Act Anniversary

On July 25, Commissioner Sarah Adelman and Chief Innovation Officer Dave Cole with The NJ Department of Human Services announced the launch of the NJ Disability Information Hub, an accessible website that brings together resources from across state government into one place for New Jersey residents with disabilities and their families, caregivers, and advocates. The announcement commemorates Disability Pride Month and the 34^th anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

To view the recorded announcement on YouTube, click here.

Resources

Next Step to Get Underway in Rutgers DDPI Research Study of NJCAT

The Rutgers Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute (DDPI) is conducting a research study to identify areas of the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) NJ Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJCAT) that might benefit from improvements. The first step of the Rutgers DDPI study was completed last fall and involved collection and analysis of stakeholder feedback about the NJCAT through a series of small focus groups and a system-wide stakeholder online survey.

The NJCAT assessment determines eligibility for DDD services and helps support coordinators and providers understand what services are needed. 

Using the collected feedback to inform the process, DDPI has drafted a revised NJCAT, referred to as the Study-NJCAT, and will begin testing of this draft tool with a random sample of about 5,000 individuals served by DDD. (Please Note: the NJCAT currently in use remains unchanged.)

The DDPI will begin emailing selected individuals or their legal guardian(s) in early September 2024, in small groups of 100 – 500 people at a time over a 12-to-18-month period, to invite them to voluntarily participate in testing of the Study-NJCAT. The support coordinators for the selected individuals will be copied on those invitation emails.

For more in this study, and to learn who among those currently served by the DDD might be contacted to participate in the study, click here.