Disability Rights Advocates Cheer Christie's Reforms
New Jersey has a bad reputation in the disability community. It is being sued for violating The Supreme Court’s em>Olmstead decision< and some N.J. institutions are responsible for the injuries and unwarranted deaths of several residents. N.J. also has the highest rate of autism diagnoses in the United States. According to the 2009 census, out of 8.7 million residents, over 1.3 million are disabled. Enter Republican Governor Chris Christie.
Let’s face it; Gov. Christie doesn’t have to do much to improve on past administrations. But will he go beyond that and begin to solve the problems that are worsening with each passing decade? There are many disability advocates keeping an eye on this since New Jersey institutionalizes more disabled citizens than almost every other state — the exceptions being Texas and California. Ethan Ellis, one of the state’s most respected and involved disabled citizens is watching and reporting. Mr. Ellis recently analyzed a report released by Gov. Christie’s office that outlined their plan over the next 4 to 8 years. There are definitely promising aspects.
The Governor plans on closing New Lisbon and Woodbridge Developmental Centers and putting the money into community supports. This represents a start in New Jersey catching up to the rest of the country in treating its disabled citizens with dignity and respect. Another highlight is the governor’s plan to combine the Division of Disability Service; an agency that deals with adult onset disabilities, with The Division of Developmental Disabilities that deals with children’s disabilities. According to Ellis, this merger “reflect(s) our growing understanding that it is more efficient, effective and equitable to organize supports by functional need, not diagnosis or age.”
The Governor’s team plans to follow through on the former Children and Families commissioner, Kimberly Ricketts’ idea to phase out 18 schools serving disabled children, teen parents and children with behavioral problems. Rather than being a simple cost-cutting measure, including students with disabilities in the same schools as their non-disabled peers removes barriers and enables all students, including previously excluded groups, to learn and participate effectively within the general school system. Former Governor Jon Corzine blocked this as part of a deal to protect union jobs.
Forward thinking? Yes. Is it a step in the right direction? You bet. Keep it up Gov. Christie and you might move N.J. up more than just one rung on the disability ladder.