Four years ago the COVID-19 pandemic struck our nation…33,000 New Jerseyans lost their lives! An independent review of NJ's response to the emergency concluded that the state was grossly unprepared. How were you affected?

What lessons have we learned? Are we prepared for the next health crises?

• Learn about the services offered by the county public health departments

• Learn about what your county is doing to prepare for the next health emergency

• Learn what you can do to prepare

• Provide valuable input into how health services can be provided

Who should attend this meeting? People with disabilities, family members, and their allies.

First 15 people who sign up get a $20 ShopRite gift card!

Rutgers University is partnering with the State Policy Lab on a study that looks to increase access to nature and outdoor spaces for people with disabilities. The research study focuses on understanding how people with disabilities can have more opportunities to engage in outdoor recreation through changes in programs and policies, communications and information, and increased accessibility at activity sites. This initiative will help us learn about challenges people with disabilities may experience when taking part in outdoor recreational activities, and ways to reduce those obstacles.

ACI will be hosting a “focus group” discussion with people with disabilities who are interested in or already enjoy outdoor activity - whether active, like hiking, paddling, or swimming, or less physically demanding, but still satisfying, like fishing, birding, or just taking a walk.

The session will be an hour or so and participants will receive a $30 gift card!

This is an in-person event. Limited to 10 Individuals.

For more information, please contact Luke Koppisch at lkoppisch@adacil.org

“Youth Excelling in Leading & Learning”

The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) is actively recruiting youth and young adults, with and without disabilities and/or special healthcare needs, ages 16 – 24, for our advisory council the NJ YELL.

NJ YELL provides the opportunity for training in advocacy, participation in regional meetings, teleconferences, webinars and events that are dedicated to improving transition to adult life.

NJ YELL members receive stipends for participation in face to face meetings.

SPAN's goal is to promote the voice of youth, build advocacy skills and increase participation in leadership roles to improve the systems that impact their lives in education, healthcare, and independent living.

For questions, accommodations and to RSVP, please email eseigh@spannj.org or call 973-642-8100.

Come join REV UP NJ in planning a kick off for National Disability Voter Registration Week at the State House Annex on Monday, July 16th. We will also be discussing ways to increase voter registration prior to the midterm election.

The REV UP Campaign aims to increase the political power of the disability community while also engaging candidates and the media on disability issues. REV UP stands for Register! Educate! Vote! Use your Power!

Lunch will be served.

The New Jersey Statewide independent Living Council (NJSILC), in conjunction with the Directors of Centers for Independent Living, the NJ Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired, has drafted a new three year State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL).

Feedback is invited from IL consumers, their families, advocates, service providers and other interested parties, especially regarding SPIL goals; underserved areas/populations; and expansion of the CIL Network should additional funding become available.

Public Forums will be conducted from Noon to 2 p.m. on April 25 and 26, 2016 at two locations:

Monday, April 25 – Heightened Independence & Progress-Bergen, 131 Main Street (Suite 120), Hackensack, NJ 07601

Tuesday, April 26 – Alliance Center for Independence, 629 Amboy Avenue (Lower Level), Edison, NJ 08837

These sites are physically accessible.

If you require other accommodations, such as deaf language interpreters, you must email or call the SILC Coordinator with your request by April 8. After that, time may be too short to arrange accommodations.

Feedback may also be given via letter, email and telephone from April 25 through the 29th.

Letter: please mail to NJSILC Coordinator 25 Caroline Drive South River, NJ 08882

Email: please send to SILC Coordinator to meneary@njsilc.org

Phone: please call the Coordinator at 732-254-2484 M-F between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. to dictate your remarks (if no one is available, your call will be returned if you leave your name and number)

Letters, emails and calls MUST be received by 4/29/16 in order to be included in the Forum report that will be sent to the Council and CIL Directors for their final review the new State Plan.

To read the draft State Plan for Independent Living, please go to the NJSILC website or, to review a hard copy, visit or call your local Center for Independent Living.

The NJSILC website address is www.njsilc.org. The home page will describe how to access the electronic version of the Plan and also can direct you to contact information for each of the State’s Centers for Independent Living.

If you plan to attend a Forum, please tell the Coordinator (meneary@njsilc.org or 732-254-2484) and, if possible, bring a written copy of your remarks for the record; however, neither advance notice nor a written commentary are required for you to participate. Just join us if you can!

This meeting is open to all Middlesex county residents with disabilities. Our focus has been to advocate with businesses to ensure compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

For the meeting in August, we will be putting together letters to the editor in protest against Princeton University Professor, Peter Singer!

Please RSVP by filling out the form below. New members are always welcome!

Are you a person with a disability living in Middlesex County? Are you concerned about disasters? Join us for the next meeting of the Core Advisory Group (CAG). This is a great opportunity to work together with emergency managers and FEMA to make effective changes in how emergency services are provided to people with disabilities in the event of a disaster. We need your input!

In 2010, FEMA began hiring disability integration specials to help make disaster response efforts fully inclusive of all people in the community. They developed a model called Core Advisory Group (CAG). Middlesex County will be the first county in New Jersey to form CAG. We are inviting people with disabilities who are interested in a balanced approach to emergency management for ensuring full inclusion.

For this month's meeting, PSEG and the Division of Disability Services, NJ211 will be joining us to discuss services provided to individuals with health issues prior to disasters.

If you need accommodations, please contact us as soon as possible. Light snacks will be served.

RSVP by filling out the form below. For Middlesex County residents only.

ACI is partnering with the NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities in forming a Middlesex County chapter of People First New Jersey.

People First is an international advocacy movement organized exclusively by and for people with disabilities. People First advocates believe no matter what the disability, everyone is capable of taking charge of their own goals and their own life choices.

If you would like to learn more about People First, come join us on Friday, June 5th from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM in the ACI conference room. Jaymes Brill and Frank Latham from NJCDD will be our guests. Vist njcdd.org for more info.