|
COUNCIL NEWS
THE NEW JERSEY COUNCIL ON DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES STATEMENT ON
THE CREATION OF OFFICE OF AUTISM SERVICES
November 2009
In October 2009, the Governor’s Adults with Autism Task Force released
its
report and recommendations for designing and funding effective service
delivery systems for the autism community. These recommendations include
a
call for the creation of an Office of Autism Services that would be
housed
in the Department of Human Services (DHS) in its Division of Disability
Services.
The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (Council) agrees
with
the Adults with Autism Task Force that there is a compelling and urgent
need to increase services and supports for individuals with autism and
other developmental disabilities. The Council commends the Task Force
for
bringing attention to the fact that the current system of service
delivery
is not meeting the disability community’s needs for medical, behavioral,
residential, educational, career and vocational needs. The Council joins
in the recommendation that the State act immediately to address
longstanding resource gaps, waiting lists and systemic failures.
While the Council welcomes the work of the Adults with Autism Task Force
that identifies needed reforms in the State’s developmental disabilities
service system, the Council does not believe services and supports for
the
broad community of people with developmental disabilities should be
funded
and delivered based on the specific diagnoses of eligible recipients.
Instead, the Council believes that the identified reforms must be
implemented in a way that equitably serves the entire developmental
disabilities community based on person-centered assessments of
individual
support needs. For these reasons, the Council does not support the
creation of an Office of Autism Services.
Discussed and approved by the Executive Committee, November 4, 2009.
|
 CHARITY RACING DAYS
COMMUNITY CALENDAR
EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
PRESS
RELEASES
Position Statements
|
INFORMATION & NEWS