Please join us for a workshop on the HomeSharing Program.

HomeSharing is a statewide nonprofit agency headquartered in Bridgewater that helps to match individuals who want to share their homes with individuals seeking alternative affordable housing. Steven Nagel, Executive Director of HomeSharing Inc., will be coming to ACI to discuss the agency's services.

Light refreshments will be served.

Accommodations made upon request.

Register by January 12th.

Jared Oberweis, Esg. from Hinkle, Prior & Fischer will be doing a presentation via Zoom about Working & Government Benefits. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.

You can attend this workshop from the comfort of your home!

NOTE: This event has been cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

Jared Oberweis, Esg. from Hinkle, Prior & Fischer will be doing a presentation via Zoom about Demystifying Special Needs Trusts. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.

You can attend this workshop from the comfort of your home!

NOTE: This event is currently full and registration has been closed.

Preston is an ACI employee who is studying Fine Arts at the Rutgers Mason Gross School of the Arts. Come and learn the joy of painting under his guidance! All participants will keep their painting!

Please wear old clothing or bring a smock to protect your clothes. Paint is washable acrylic.

Space is limited.

If you have any questions, please contact promanienko@adacil.org

Jared Oberweis, Esg. from Hinkle, Prior & Fischer will be doing a presentation via Zoom about the Role of a Guardian & Trustee. There will be a Q&A session at the end of the presentation.

You can attend this workshop from the comfort of your home!

The Zoom link will be emailed to you after you register via the link below.

Let's get together and make some sticker art!

Lots of designs to choose from! After creating your art piece, we will back and frame it. Take it home and add your new decor to your living space!

NOTE: This event is currently full. Fill out the form below to be added to the waiting list.

Presented by Cristine Chickadel, ABLE Program Representative from the NJ Department of Human Services

For too long, people with disabilities could not save for the future out of fear of losing their benefits.

Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act is a federal law providing tax-advantaged savings programs so individuals with disabilities can save and invest money without jeopardizing eligibility for public benefits.

For information, contact Victoria Romanienko at 732-738-4388 or vromanienko@adacil.org

NOTE: This event is currently full and registration is closed.

Come to ACI and create your own Father's Day card! There will be many designs to choose from! You get to decide which fun decorations and adornments you will use to make your own one-of-a-kind card!

Space is limited. Masks are optional.

Consumer scam artists are more active than ever…don’t get scammed!

A representative from the Middlesex County Division of Consumer Affairs and Weights & Measures will be coming to ACI to speak about how to avoid getting scammed.

Topics will include:

• Contractor Fraud

• Timing Devices

• Verify Gas/Fuel Prices

• Accuracy of Scales

• Accuracy of Commodity Pricing

• Lottery Scam

• Grandparent Scam

• Identity Theft

• Phone Calls

• Emails

• Door-to-Door

Presented by Jason Boff

Join us for a presentation on the ending of WW2 in Europe (which we celebrate on May 8th as Victory in Europe Day) as well as the life and legacy of our 32nd President, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

This hybrid workshop is a learning opportunity for consumers and parents of consumers with a DDD budget. Melissa Soules from All Heart and Soul will present information on how to self-advocate for services within your budget. Learn what you can ask for!

Space is limited.

For more information, contact Victoria Romanienko at vromanienko@adacil.org

NOTE: This is a hybrid workshop. You can join the workshop via Zoom by visiting this link (please register for the password).

Create your own masterpiece to add to your personal landscape and connect with nature!

NOTE: This event is currently full. Fill out the form below to be added to the waiting list.

Join us for Sexual Assault Awareness Month. We'll discuss how sexual violence impacts us all. Then we'll celebrate empowerment!

We will decorate rocks with your favorite affirmation, a special quote or image that represents positivity.

In times when we feel disempowered, words of affirmation and positive imagery can help us feel connected with who we truly are and help us to feel empowered!

Light refreshments will be served.

Kindly let us know if you have any accommodation needs and/or dietary restrictions.

Reach new heights with an exciting career working for an airport. Airports hire hundreds of people in the areas of customer service, maintenance, security and retail. Good paying jobs are waiting for you!

ACI will host a presentation by Amber Pierce and Saundra Rogers from the Council on Airport Opportunity to discuss applying for jobs and working at the region's airports.

Do you or a family member wish to go back to work, but are unsure how your SSI, SSDI or your health insurance benefits will be affected?

The Social Security Administration has rules set up to provide incentives to allow people to work, earn a paycheck and still collect SSI and SSDI. These incentives also allow recipients to keep their Medicare and Medicaid.

Join us on Tuesday evening, November 29th for a presentation on SSI and SSDI work incentives conducted by Inroads to Opportunities (Occupational Center of Union County Inc).

Presented by Luke Koppisch and Jason Boff

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, TX. People who were alive then, still recall what they were doing the moment they heard the news.

Join us for an interactive workshop to discuss this tragic event and examine the different theories around it. We will also discuss JFK’s presidency and its mystique that lasts to this day.

If you are old enough to remember, please come and share!

Presidential trivia and prizes! Snacks and shepherd's pie will be served.

Join us for a presentation and discussion of the major events, cultural trends, music, movies, and politics of the year 1972. If you were around then, please share your recollections and experiences!

Featuring trivia, free giveaways, snacks, and fun!

This presentation is part of a series of workshops and discussion groups commemorating the 50th anniversary of significant years in US history.

NOTE: Due to social distancing protocols, advance RSVP will be mandatory. Masks and temperature readings will also be mandatory upon arrival.

In this 2 hour workshop, you will learn about healthy coping strategies to help you deal with stresses of everyday life and difficult situations. You will learn what strategies work best for you to help manage stress levels as well as practice different ways to help lower stress including drumming out your feelings and a mindful meditation session.

NOTE: Due to social distancing protocols, advanced registration will be mandatory and limited to the first 8 people. Masks and temperature readings will also be mandatory upon arrival.

Sewing a button might not seem like a big deal, but once you learn, you can sew many more things! This is a helpful skill to know how to do on your own.

In this 2 hour session, you will learn a little about first aid followed by how to sew a button from start to finish. This includes threading a needle, using a thimble, and sewing a button to a piece of material.

NOTE: Due to social distancing protocols, advanced registration will be mandatory and limited to the first 8 people. Masks and temperature readings will also be mandatory upon arrival.

In honor of Black History Month, ACI will be having a presentation about the Jim Crow laws of the South and the people who fought them.

NOTE: Due to social distancing protocols, advance RSVP will be mandatory. Masks and temperature readings will also be mandatory upon arrival.

UPDATE: Due to inclement weather, this workshop has been rescheduled to Friday, March 11th from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

ACI will be welcoming guest speaker, Donald T. Brown from Special Needs Funding Coach, for a webinar on understanding ABLE accounts, special needs trusts, and guardianship.

One of the most impactful new strategies in recent years is the ABLE account. Along with special needs trusts, these vehicles are the pillars of special needs funding. Learn the differences between them and how each may be used to maximize financial resources for your loved one(s) with special needs. This includes:

• Protecting government benefit eligibility

• Eligibility requirements and guidelines for use

• Funding options

• Choosing a manager/trustee

We will also address frequently asked questions about the different options for guardianship. Gain peace of mind for the difficult question of “What will happen when I’m gone?” by learning more about providing quality of life and a lifetime of care. Participation is encouraged in this online presentation which will include time for your questions.

ACI will be welcoming guest speaker, Donald T. Brown from Special Needs Funding Coach, for a webinar on making the future more secure for your loved one with special needs.

Learn how to plan for each important stage of life. This includes:

• Protecting government benefit eligibility

• Understanding simple but important parts of your will

• Funding special needs trusts and ABLE accounts

• Writing a letter of intent

Gain peace of mind for the difficult question of “What will happen when I’m gone?” by knowing step-by-step how to provide quality of life and a lifetime of care. Participation is encouraged in this online presentation which will include time for your questions.

An interactive workshop presented by ACI and REV UP NJ in honor of National Disability Voter Registration Week!

Learn about this year's gubernatorial election, how your vote can make a difference, and the new Early Voting Law for NJ. This important election will help shape the Garden State for the next four years. Get involved by voting!

This is IN PERSON EVENT.

Free REV UP t-shirts to those who attend.

NOTE: All guests are required to wear a mask and have their temperature taken.

Are you an individual with a disability? Know your fair housing rights!

Join the New Jersey Citizen Action Education Fund (NJCAEF) & the Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) to learn how YOU are protected under the Fair Housing Act. Learn about reasonable accommodations, reasonable modifications, and more!

ZOOM link: us04web.zoom.us/j/7949306559
Meeting ID: 794 930 6559
Password: NJCA

RSVP by February 19th.

Join ACI for a Zoom webinar where we will discuss the life of our 32nd President, Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Learn about how FDR contracted polio as a young man and led the country through the Great Depression and World War II. The impact of his presidency is still being felt today 76 years after his death.

Questions? Contact Luke at lkoppisch@adacil.org

Freezing temperatures, snow, ice storms, power outages…New Jersey has had its share of harsh winter weather. Have you made the necessary preparations to survive another NJ winter?

Join us on Wednesday, December 9th from 11:00 AM to 12:30 PM for an informative and interactive Zoom webinar on emergency preparedness for the winter season. Learn how to protect yourself and be safe this winter.

Presented by ACI's Emergency Preparedness Team and guest speaker, John Ferguson of the Middlesex County Office of Emergency Management.

If you have any questions, please contact Luke at lkoppisch@adacil.org

Reaching out to all writers…do you want to share your poetry, short stories, one-act plays? Come together with your friends from ACI to workshop your writing. Please bring pictures that you have taken or found for a writing exercise that we will be doing during the group.

Representatives from the Alliance Center for Independence join NASW-NJ to discuss the voting rights of individuals with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. This discussion will promote the turn out of people with disabilities at the polls, review barriers to voting, promote accessible voting machines and polling places, and address voters' rights to participate in elections.