On the evening of July 12th, ACI attended a Plays in the Park production of Mamma Mia! It was a fantastic night of great acting and singing the hit songs of ABBA. This musical, as with all the Plays in the Park productions, had fantastic stage design, costumes, and music. Thank you to the Plays in the Park staff for making it a great night. Lastly, thank you Jackie Neill for your years of service and all the help you have given ACI over the years!
On July 16th, dozens of disability advocates and voting rights experts will mark the annual National Disability Voter Registration Week with a kickoff event at the NJ State House Annex on 131 West State Street in Trenton. Time is set for 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm. This event is open to the public.
This purpose of the day is to underscore the importance of the disability vote in this year’s gubernatorial election. “With nearly 10% of the state’s population identifying themselves as having a disability, we need to show the candidates that our issues need to be addressed,” says Carole Tonks, Executive Director of Alliance Center for Independence.
The National Disability Voter Registration Week Kickoff event will feature noteworthy speakers on the voter rights of people with disabilities, including advocates with disabilities. Scheduled speakers include: Zach Baldwin, advocate at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) and National REV UP Organizer, Mercedes Witowsky, Executive Director of the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities, Scott Elliott, Executive Director of the Progressive Center for Independent Living, Norman Smith, Associate Executive Director, Project Freedom, Inc. Christopher Miller, representing Disability Rights NJ and Eulanda Brooks, civil rights and voting rights advocate.
Thanks everyone for coming out to the NJ Association of Centers for Independent Living first annual Legislative Day at the State House! The majority of the CILs around the state were represented. We met with many different legislators including our friend, Assemblyman Eric Houghtaling and Assemblywoman Joann Downey.
ACI welcomed Rutgers Master Gardener, Jerri Barclay, on the afternoon of June 22nd. ACI volunteers worked with Jerri to plant this years ACI tomato and vegetable garden. Thank you Jerri, for your gardening tips and help putting our garden in order. We look forward to working with her again and her fellow Master Gardner, Ann Ryder, at our next gardening event August 21st from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. If you would like to attend, please register on our website.
ACI would like to thank Nicole Tomlin, Esq. for her informative presentation on Medicaid, SSI and other important entitlements conducted on June 20th at ACI. Nicole is a staff attorney at Hinkle, Fingles, Prior & Fischer, which periodically presents workshops at ACI on issues persons with disabilities and their families.
The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) is a Center for Independent Living and a DDD Approved Fee-For-Service agency in Edison, NJ. ACI provides Support Services in Middlesex, Union and Somerset counties.
We are currently seeking a Direct Support person for consumers in Middlesex/Somerset/Union Counties who is enthusiastic about assisting people with Developmental Disabilities/Intellectual Disabilities in being independent and reaching their employment and independent living goals.
Our Disability Voter Registration Week Kickoff event is fast approaching! We are still looking for passionate speakers, musicians, and other talented people with disabilities to participate. If you are part of a disability organization or a voting rights organization, email us to set up a table at the event!
Do you have a skill or an idea for a service not on list above? Email us anyway to see if it is something we could use!
The event is on Monday, July 16th from 12:00 to 2:00 PM at the State House Annex in Trenton. Hope to see you there!
