Thank you to the Council on Airport Opportunity (CAO) for their recent workshop on employment with the airport industry. There are many job openings at airports in the NJ/NY area. CAO acts as the human resource department for the airport industry. Interested in working for an airport? Call 973-622-4537 or visit caonynj.com.
CJ Dodge, ACI and Donald Campbell, Atlantic County Center for Independent Living, testifying at the Assembly Budget Hearings on behalf of the NJ Association of Centers for Independent Living. The 11 CILs are advocating for a 4 million dollar line item in the state budget. If you would like to help, please contact us.
Michael Pearson, the Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator for the New Jersey Self-Advocacy Project, recently came to ACI for a workshop on stress. Participants in the class learned about various tips and techniques to manage stress including diet, breathing exercises, and meditation. This workshop was a part of ACI’s Health and Wellness program.
On the evening of March 13th, Amateur Astronomers, Inc. came to ACI to do a wonderful interactive presentation on the night sky! The participants listened to presenter, Mike Gironda, talk about not only how to find things in the night sky, but expanding on last year’s event by teaching information about aspects within constellations and fun facts about our galaxy. The second presenter, Jim Nordhauser, brought equipment for participants to learn about and interact with. He had different types of telescopes and binoculars as well as a huge telescope that he built himself. Before and after going outside to look at the night sky, participants enjoyed cups of hot cocoa. Thank you to Mike, Jim, and Mary of Amateur Astronomers, Inc. who made the night entertaining and informative!
Disability advocacy organizations, including ADAPT and ACI have been advocating for passage of the federal Disability Integration Act of 2019. This proposed federal legislation ensures that any insurance company willing to provide institutional support would also be required to cover home and community based support for individuals with long term services and supports. When enacted, this law will allow individuals the option of obtaining those needed services in their home or community rather than in an institutional or segregated residential setting. In January, the Disability Integration Act was reintroduced in US Senate (Bill no. S 117) and in the US House of Representative (Bill No. H.R. 555).
Visit disabilityintegrationact.org for more information.
Senator Cory Booker, and Representatives Donald Payne Jr., Bonnie Watson Coleman and Chris Smith have signed their names onto this important bi-partisan (support from Republicans and Democrats) legislation, and we want to thank them. However, several lawmakers from NJ who have not yet publicly supported the Disability Integration Act, including Senator Robert Menendez, Rep. Frank Pallone (6th Congressional District) and Rep. Mikie Sherril (11th Congressional District).
The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) is a Center for Independent Living and a DVRS vendor and a DDD approved Fee-For-Service agency in Edison, NJ. ACI provides support services in Middlesex, Union and Somerset counties. ACI supports the philosophy of independent living for all persons with disabilities.
We are currently seeking a pre-employment instructor. This person will be primarily responsible for working with high school students with disabilities to provide pre-employment instruction, as well as support in applying for jobs/college. Instruction is individualized as well as group-based, and takes place at our center in Edison, and at high schools throughout Middlesex, Somerset, and Union counties.
In the past 5 years, over 650 people with disabilities have been murdered by their parents/caregivers. 184 new murders this year. Disabled lives cannot be valued less than the lives of those without disabilities. It cannot be excused, minimized or normalized. On the night of March 1st, we honored the victims by reading their names out loud. Rest in peace...you are remembered. Thank you to those who joined us on this difficult evening.
