ACI calls on the state Department of Human Services and NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities to make COVID-19 testing of all residents of group homes, SNFs and developmental centers, and other housing programs operated by DDD a priority, whether symptoms are present or not. You can read the letter that ACI recently sent to Carole Johnson, Commissioner of the Department of Human Services, at the link below.
Nursing Home Liability in NJ
ACI continues to advocate for the health and safety of residents in nursing homes and similar facilities during the coronavirus pandemic. Our concerns were heightened when news broke of the deaths of 17 residents from coronavirus at the Andover Subacute Rehabilitation Center. We recently sent a letter to Governor Murphy expressing our concerns about the Governor's Executive Order regarding limiting liability of healthcare facilities, which he signed on April 1st. You can read the letter at the link below.
Addressing Food Insecurities of People with Disabilities During Pandemic
People with disabilities are impacted by stay at home orders and limitations on grocery delivery options due to COVID-19. SNAP online delivery is not an option available at all supermarkets. ACI has contacted the following supermarkets with suggestions on addressing the food insecurities of people with disabilities: ShopRite, Stop&Shop, Wegmans, ACME, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, ALDI and Walmart. You can read the letter and responses at the links below.
Transparent Masks for Sale
FOR SALE: Transparent masks for individuals who lip read or have hearing loss.
$8.00 each
$7.00 for bulk orders over 10
Free shipping from NJ
Masks must be hand washed.
For questions and ordering information, please contact dmask477@gmail.com
Hospital Visitation Policy
The NJ Department of Health (DOH) issued the hospital visitation policy for people with disabilities effective April 25, 2020.
DOE now considers a designated support person essential to patient care people with disabilities. As a result, hospitals must allow a designated support person to be with the individual during hospitalization. The policy needs to be broader including all disabilities that may require a support person. Please send your concerns to jean.devitto@doh.nj.gov
ACI, as well as many other advocacy groups and individuals, have been advocating on this issue for the past month. Thank you to all of those who sent letters to the Governor. Thank you to Paul Aronsohn, Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families and Christine Bakter, Associate Director who ensured our emails made it to the Governor's desk. We appreciate your efforts!
Be sure to read the letters that ACI sent out regarding this policy at the links below.
ACI and Advocates Provide Input on COVID-19 Policy
ACI was given the opportunity to provide comment on the document entitled, "Allocation of Critical Care Resources During a Public Health Emergency" issued by the NJ Department of Health on April 11, 2020. As the Health Department is finalizing its policy on how critical care resources are distributed during the coronavirus crisis, ACI and its partner advocates provided needed input to ensure that the rights of people with disabilities and their families/guardians are included.
Below is the letter that ACI sent to the Department of Health.
Celebrate Earth Day 2020 with ACI and Help Save the Monarchs! Our Gift to You!
While we are all practicing social distancing, we could not celebrate Earth Day together. ACI wanted to give you a way to celebrate Earth Day in your own backyard.
Celebrate Earth Day this year by saving our monarch butterfly! Planting milkweed is a great way to spend time with loved ones and give back to our planet. Send us your name and home address and we will send you out a packet of milkweed seeds to plant. It is our way of wishing you a Happy Earth Day.
Stay well, we hope to see you soon!
