ACI calls on the state Department of Human Services and NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities to make COVID-19 testing of all residents of group homes, SNFs and developmental centers, and other housing programs operated by DDD a priority, whether symptoms are present or not. You can read the letter that ACI recently sent to Carole Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, at the link below.
Posts filed under Advocacy
Nursing Home Liability in NJ
ACI continues to advocate for the health and safety of residents in nursing homes and similar facilities during the coronavirus pandemic. Our concerns were heightened when news broke of the deaths of 17 residents from coronavirus at the Andover Subacute Rehabilitation Center. We recently sent a letter to Governor Murphy expressing our concerns about the Governor's Executive Order regarding limiting liability of healthcare facilities, which he signed on April 1st. You can read the letter at the link below.
Addressing Food Insecurities of People with Disabilities During Pandemic
People with disabilities are impacted by stay at home orders and limitations on grocery delivery options due to COVID-19. SNAP online delivery is not an option available at all supermarkets. ACI has contacted the following supermarkets with suggestions on addressing the food insecurities of people with disabilities: ShopRite, Stop&Shop, Wegmans, ACME, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, ALDI and Walmart. You can read the letter and responses at the links below.
Hospital Visitation Policy
The NJ Department of Health (DOH) issued the hospital visitation policy for people with disabilities effective April 25, 2020.
DOE now considers a designated support person essential to patient care people with disabilities. As a result, hospitals must allow a designated support person to be with the individual during hospitalization. The policy needs to be broader including all disabilities that may require a support person. Please send your concerns to jean.devitto@doh.nj.gov
ACI, as well as many other advocacy groups and individuals, have been advocating on this issue for the past month. Thank you to all of those who sent letters to the Governor. Thank you to Paul Aronsohn, Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families and Christine Bakter, Associate Director who ensured our emails made it to the Governor's desk. We appreciate your efforts!
Be sure to read the letters that ACI sent out regarding this policy at the links below.
ACI and Advocates Provide Input on COVID-19 Policy
ACI was given the opportunity to provide comment on the document entitled, "Allocation of Critical Care Resources During a Public Health Emergency" issued by the NJ Department of Health on April 11, 2020. As the Health Department is finalizing its policy on how critical care resources are distributed during the coronavirus crisis, ACI and its partner advocates provided needed input to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities and their families/guardians are included.
Below is the letter that ACI sent to the Department of Health.
Concerns NJ Disabled Face During Coronavirus...Let Governor Murphy Know!
The Alliance Center for Independence and its allies have compiled a list of some of the most pressing issues facing people with disabilities in NJ (based on our contact with our constituents) and have presented them to state emergency, legislators and human services officials. We recently submitted the list to Governor Murphy. (See below)
We are urging people with disabilities and their family members to write to Governor Phil Murphy to let him know of the issues you are facing during this crisis. During most crises, the issues facing people with disabilities are often crowded out by others...but we can change that!
Alliance Center for Independence Responds to the Coronavirus Crisis
As many businesses, schools and organizations throughout the state and the country have temporarily closed because of the COVID-19 (Coronavirus), the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) is staying open as long as it can to respond to the needs of our disabled community.
“We are taking all the necessary precautions to keep our staff safe, while assisting our constituents during these difficult times,” said Carole Tonks, Executive Director of ACI. “We have suspended our programs and activities, and told our volunteers to stay home, but we haven’t stopped helping as many as we can.”
Staff at ACI have been calling every person on their mailing to ask if they are ok, to offer assistance, and provide a much needed reassuring voice. “People really appreciate that we are calling them and that we are thinking about them,” says Rachel Gabrilowitz, Employment Coordinator. “Many people are isolated in their homes and are fearful.” Since Tuesday, ACI has called 382 people.
