The good news is:  1) there are no co-pays for acute care Medicaid services (although there are co-pays for Medical Day Care); 2) there are funds in the budget for new graduates of special education needing day program services; 3) consolidating one of the Developmental Centers: 4) funds available for Olmstead, Waiting List, and people who are currently in out-of-State placements.

The concern is that there is a proposal to increase the contribution to care and maintenance, significant cuts to Personal Care Assistance Reimbursement rates, changes to the Family Cost Share in Early Intervention, elimination of the cash subsidy program for Family Support, and as mentioned earlier the co-pays for Medical Day Care.

For more information about the specific budget as it impacts people with developmental disabilities and others, please click  on FY’11 budget.  We will provide additional information and Talking Points for the Public Budget hearings as quickly as possible.

ABCD focused its testimony on: Proposals to assist providers hurt by the recession; Maintaining comprehensive Medicaid benefits, including ensuring no Medicaid co-pays; Proposal for receiving a Supplemental Rebate for Medicaid; Bulk Purchasing of Pharmaceutical and Durable Medical Equipment; Maximizing Federal Revenues; and the Future of Developmental Centers.  To read our full testimony: Click here for Testimony for Assembly Leadership Committee

He is an enthusiastic participant in any project at the center. He loves to paint, decorate the bulletin board, and of course listen to music. He is friendly towards his peers, and has many friends.

David over the years had used a computer to communicate, and now he uses a language board. He is patient and determined to express his feelings with the communication board, although it may take him a few moments. He retains a wonderful sense of humor, and is quick to laugh with those around him. He is polite and caring in his interactions with everyone. Finally, David is the first to say “thank you”whenever anyone helps him.

David has had a long history of struggling with his disability. He has struggled with swallowing food over the years, and most recently a gastronomy tube (g-tube) has been placed in him to help make it easier for him to receive nutrients. All the while, he has been brave, and positive with these changes.

David never expresses any negative thoughts at the center, although he can feel “down” at times. Yet in the end, his bright blue eyes always project love and the hope for a better tomorrow.

Randy later moved to a supervised apartment where she continues to lead a more independent life, and continues to grow. In addition to all Randy has done, she also wanted to be an active community member, attending the CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) program, where she learned basic training of how to respond in a catastrophic disaster. Randy’s impressive list of qualities and achievements goes on and on.

This is exactly why she has served as a spokesperson for Spectrum for Living. Randy is a wonderful example of someone who lives life to the fullest and motivates others about possibilities in life.

It wasn’t known as that—or at least not very readily—back in the ’60s when Natalie and Harry Shiner were trying to determine why their youngest son talked very little, screamed periodically and showed scant interest in learning. “Whenever we heard of another school, we thought maybe it was for him,” recalls Harry. “Then in 1976 someone told us about Eden. And we knew from day one we’d found the right place.”

At Eden Institute, Ariel joined the vocational preparation class; where he mastered a variety of skills—and enjoyed doing so, if the shy smiles that began to emerge were any indication. “Finally, someone understood Ari,” says his father.

The understanding was mutual. By 1980, Shiner, about to graduate from classroom programming, was a worker in need of a workplace. Enter Princeton Wawa store manager Joe Bendas and his “how can I help?” addressed to Eden founder David Holmes. The result: on the first day of spring 1981, Ari Shiner created a few firsts of his own—from Wawa’s first special needs placement to Eden’s first work placement…predating the beginnings of Eden’s Adult Employment division by more than two years. The word “pioneer” rather springs to mind.

Shiner’s duties, initially in the store’s coffee area, have grown over the years to include deli prep and general cleaning, as well as stocking shelves, pricing products and replenishing the cooler. Quiet and unassuming, he learns quickly and thrives on praise.

Shiner’s long-time supported employment teammate is Eden participant Martin Maccarone, who is also his housemate. In fact, therein lies another first, as it was Shiner and Maccarone who pioneered the supported living concept at Eden when they moved from an Eden group home into an apartment complex.

The move brought new opportunities for independence and a quieter lifestyle that suits Shiner well. He likes baking, does his own laundry and shares household cleaning tasks with Maccarone. Favorite outings involve the theater, especially musicals, and the outdoors.

Shiner has two special hobbies of long standing: word search puzzles and long stitch needlecraft. “He has the patience and dexterity for both,” says Windsor Mill Teaching Parent Margaret Swan, “and his concentration is formidable!” A recent long stitch project, depicting baseball bat and basketball hoop, was undertaken as a gift for sports fan Maccarone.

Ari’s career has been marked by Wawa with both 20 and 25 year celebrations and award ceremonies. He’s happiest, however, just to get back to work—which is a good thing, given what Princeton Wawa manager John Golias has to say. Asked about Shiner, he begins with descriptive words. “Ari is conscientious and hard-working,” says Golias, who then stops, deciding to leave adjectives behind. “Actually, I don’t think I could run the store without him.

The Governor has provided a number of changes to make up the funding shortfall.  However,  there are no cuts to community services to people with developmental disabilities in the community.  We want to thank Governor Corzine for recognizing the needs of people with developmental disabilities and not cutting any services in the community. 

Below is a brief synopsis and explanation of the changes to the budget related to services to people with developmental disabilities. 

Education:

• $222 thousand in adjusted spending projection for Extraordinary Special Education Costs Aid.  (This is not a cut, but a change in the amount of funds estimated to be expended).

 Human Services:

• Save $5.034 million in Developmental Center Operating Efficiencies (each Developmental Center will need to find savings that will not impact services to people.  This could include cuts in training budgets or whatever else Center determines is not needed).
• Save $54 thousand in uncommitted Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Capital Balances. 

 Health and Senior Services:

• $15 million in adjusted spending projection for Early Intervention. (If you remember, this happened last year as well and there were no actual cuts in services.  Instead, because of additional revenue, including additional federal Medicaid funds, the State could reduce its projected spending without impacting services). 

There are no other changes to the budget for services to people with developmental disabilities in any Department.  .

To see what the Governor’s total proposal is, go to:

http://www.state.nj.us/treasury/news/2009/p091222a.pdf

Thank you to all the advocacy organizations and to the individuals who contacted the Governor, Commissioner of Human Services, and the Legislature urging them not to cut services.  Your actions made a difference.

“Bancroft has been able to tap into their particular talents and give them what they needed,” says mom Betsey Smetona.

For instance, staff members have capitalized on Michael’s computer interest by teaching him to do research and play games on the Internet. And teachers have used Megan’s love of reading to increase her knowledge in many subjects, including world cultures and math. Plus, instruction focuses on practical skills. For instance, Megan has learned to apply math in the real world, through lessons on balancing a checkbook, paying bills, comparison shopping and the like. Opportunities for development have gone beyond the classroom, too.

Michael has competed on Bancroft’s Special Olympics teams — including bowling and track and field — for many years. Megan has performed on-stage and behind-the-scenes in Bancroft’s student opera since its inception in 2002, and she regularly participates in the annual art show.

Megan has been especially successful with her artwork, her mom notes, and recently sold nine drawings in a charity auction.

“Bancroft has really helped her develop that gift,” remarks Betsey. “It’s one of the ways she connects with people and the world.”

The twins’ needs have varied as much as their interests. For example, Michael has required help with verbal abilities, reading, and tolerating noisy environments. Megan needed to improve her social skills and reading comprehension.

Each twin also has a different diagnosis, which affects his or her educational needs. While Michael has autism, Megan has Asperger’s syndrome — an autism-spectrum disorder with fewer mental delays.

Michael has worked in a local restaurant with Bancroft’s support, and is today served in Bancroft’s Community Services for Adults Program.

“Michael’s become more independent than I thought he would be,” says Betsey. “He’s more verbal, spontaneous and social.”

Megan came to Bancroft with many abilities, but she was often overly friendly and talkative. “We give lectures on appropriate behavior,” says Nikki Hyder, Megan’s teacher. “At work versus social situations; with people we’re familiar with versus acquaintances.”

Such skills have put Megan on a positive path, with a full life of friends and activities. She also holds multiple part-time jobs: She works at a local CVS store. Plus she helps out at Haddon field’s Markeim Art Center — where she’s compensated in free studio time.

Megan credits her teachers with much of her work success. “They teach us organization, cooperation, minding your manners, being punctual,” says Megan. “They keep things stress-free.”

“I’m very proud of them,” says Betsey. “They’ve achieved so much, and it’s due to Bancroft.”

I was able to learn how to express myself again,” says the 61-year-old, who received outpatient rehab last spring from Bancroft Brain Injury Services in Plainsboro, N.J. “Bancroft has made it possible to be mentally fit to do this [work]…Otherwise I would’ve sat home, done simple chores, and become a couch potato for the rest of my life.”

Indeed, Bancroft’s outpatient services in Plainsboro, Cherry Hill and Brick help many people like Cromwell regain skills they’ve lost after a brain injury, notes staff neuropsychologist Mary Brownsberger, Psy.D. “They can come to Bancroft for speech, occupational and physical therapy,” she explains.

“We can support their desire to go back to work, and help them access supported employment and job coaching.”

For those with physical dysfunctions, Bancroft therapists can help them re-master a full range of daily living activities, from brushing their teeth to walking, cooking safely to learning to drive again.

Bancroft also offers outpatients neuropsychological testing and treatment. The testing identifies one’s cognitive, emotional and behavioral strengths and weaknesses, while the treatment addresses specific challenges and helps one adjust to these changes.

In addition, outpatients can receive cognitive rehabilitation, which teaches strategies to compensate for intellectual challenges — such as using a daily planner to keep track of activities — and strengthens the injured brain’s weaker functions through various exercises.

Plus, Bancroft specializes in addressing dysfunctional behavior, which can include training people to express emotions appropriately, control compulsive behavior, or avoid substance abuse.

“Someone with a brain injury may experience a complete personality change,” says Brownsberger. “We help them develop strategies to cope with their behavioral challenges.”

In Cromwell’s case, his focus was mainly on regaining his communication abilities and getting back to the jobs he loves. While at Bancroft’s Plainsboro program three mornings a week, he worked with several specialists, including a speech therapist and a vocational counselor.

For instance, speech-language pathologist Barbara Miller helped Cromwell improve his reading comprehension and strengthen his weakened mouth muscles and vocal cords. Vocational counselor Cindy Jerome re-taught the Plainsboro husband and father to advocate for himself and others by telephone, and arranged for Cromwell to give mock sermons to others in the facility’s lunchroom.

“That was good practice,” says Miller. “Richard did very well, very quickly.”

“I gained self-confidence,” emphasizes Cromwell, who’s learned to use notes while giving sermons, rather than speaking extemporaneously as he had done in the past.

“In all the work I did here — physical, written, spoken word, mathematics, re-
familiarizing myself with the computer and Internet…saw over time these things were coming back,” recalls Cromwell. “I was fortunate to have people around me to help me do these things.”

The Governor has announced $400 million in mid-year budget cuts. Each Department is being asked to come up with its share of the cuts. The Department of Human Services is the largest Department in the State. It is unclear how much the Department or the Division of Developmental Disabilities is being asked to cut.

We need to let the Governor and the Department of Human Services know that DD services cannot be cut!!!

We are urging: No Cuts to Services for People with Developmental Disabilities.

It is easy- use this link to send your email: Action Alert

If the link does not work by clicking on it, cut and paste it into your web-browser.