New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc.

New Jersey's designated protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities

Advocating and advancing the human, civil and legal rights of persons with disabilities

Priorities

Protection and advocacy program goals and priorities ensure that the needs of the most vulnerable populations are served and the most critical, far-reaching issues are addressed. Goals and priorities also assist NJP&A as it faces a demand for representation that often exceeds the resources of the P&A system.

NJP&A began a new priority cycle in the fiscal year starting October 1, 2005. In preparation for the development of new priorities, NJP&A distributed new priority rating surveys and conducted focus groups of people with disabilities, their families, professionals, health care and service providers and others about the needs of people with disabilities and the barriers to addressing those needs. The data collected was shared with our advisory groups and staff for development into priorities, goals and objectives, and finally approved by the NJP&A Governing Board at its September 2005 meeting.

If you would like to be provided with surveys, or if your group would like to host a focus group to help NJP&A modify or update its goals and priorities, please contact NJP&A's outreach office at 609-292-9742.

Goals and priorities in effect through the 2008 fiscal year are listed below. Comments or questions regarding NJP&A's current priorities should be directed to NJP&A at 609-292-9742.

GOAL 1 - ABUSE AND NEGLECT

PRIORITY: HEALTH AND SAFETY

To ensure that individuals with disabilities in institutional and community settings are not subject to abuse and neglect.

PRIORITY: UNUSUAL AND SUSPICIOUS DEATHS

To ensure that unusual and suspicious deaths of persons residing in state-operated or sponsored institutions and programs are appropriately investigated and responded to.

PRIORITY: INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS

To ensure that the rights of individuals with disabilities in institutional and community settings are protected.

GOAL 2 - DISCRIMINATION

PRIORITY: VOTING

To ensure that people with disabilities have the opportunity and can exercise the right to register and vote.

PRIORITY: EMPLOYMENT

To ensure that people with disabilities experience decreased employment discrimination and gain increased opportunities.

PRIORITY: HOUSING

To ensure that people with disabilities have greater access to accessible, affordable housing and experience decreased housing discrimination.

PRIORITY: PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS AND GOVERNMENT SERVICES

To ensure that people with disabilities have non-discriminatory access to public accommodations and public entities.

GOAL 3 - COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES

PRIORITY: COMMUNITY-BASED SERVICES AND SUPPORTS

To ensure that people with disabilities have access to appropriate community-based supports and services to promote integration and independence.

PRIORITY: ACCESSIBLE TRANSPORTATION

To improve the availability of accessible transportation for people with disabilities.

PRIORITY: EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLANNING

To ensure people with disabilities are included in and accounted for in emergency preparedness planning.

GOAL 4 - HEALTH CARE

PRIORITY: HEALTH CARE

To ensure that people with disabilities have access to appropriate health care services.

PRIORITY: INFORMED DECISION MAKING

To ensure that the rights of individuals with disabilities are protected through informed individual and/or surrogate decision making.

GOAL 5 - EDUCATION

PRIORITY: INCLUSIVE EDUCATION

To promote inclusive education for children with disabilities in least restrictive environments consistent with and appropriate to their needs.

PRIORITY: UNINTERRUPTED SERVICES

To ensure that students with disabilities receive uninterrupted educational services and programs consistent with federal and state laws.

PRIORITY: TRANSITION PLANNING

To promote the development and implementation of transition planning for students with disabilities.

PRIORITY: CHILDREN IN INSTITUTIONS

To ensure that children with disabilities in institutions and residential programs receive educational services consistent with federal and state laws.

PRIORITY: EARLY INTERVENTION

To ensure that families and children eligible for New Jersey's Early Intervention Program have access to and receive early intervention services.

GOAL 6 - ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

PRIORITY: STATE LEVEL ACTIVITIES

To conduct state level activities to increase awareness and acquisition of assistive technology.

PRIORITY: STATE LEADERSHIP ACTIVITIES

To conduct statewide leadership activities to increase awareness and enhance the use of assistive technology.

PRIORITY: COMMUNITY CHOICE FUND

To facilitate the discharge of people with disabilities and elderly residents of nursing homes to the community through access to assistive technology devices and services.

PRIORITY: ADVOCACY

To increase access to assistive technology through individual advocacy and legal representation.

GOAL 7 - WORK AND VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION

PRIORITY: REHABILITATION SERVICES

To ensure that people with disabilities receive vocational rehabilitation services on a timely basis consistent with the Rehabilitation Act.

PRIORITY: WORK-RELATED OVERPAYMENTS

To assist beneficiaries of Social Security Disability and Supplemental Security Income who receive notices of work-related overpayments to contest disputed overpayment claims and obtain waivers of repayment as appropriate.

GOAL 8 - CONSUMER EDUCATION AND TRAINING

PRIORITY: UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS

To increase services to historically underserved urban, rural and minority persons with disabilities.

PRIORITY: EDUCATION AND TRAINING

To promote the education of consumers and their families regarding disability rights and issues.

PRIORITY: SELF-ADVOCACY

To promote consumer participation in self-advocacy and rights education and training.

PRIORITY: PUBLIC AWARENESS

To increase general awareness of New Jersey's P&A and its mission.

PRIORITY: INFORMATION AND REFERRAL

To provide information and referral services for people with disabilities in New Jersey.

GOAL 9 - QUALITY ASSURANCE

PRIORITY: CLIENT SATISFACTION

To develop and maintain activities promoting assessment of client satisfaction.

PRIORITY: CLIENT GRIEVANCE AND APPEAL

To ensure that NJP&A's clients receive information regarding NJP&A's procedural protections.

PRIORITY: CULTURALLY COMPETENT SERVICES

To ensure that NJP&A provides culturally competent services.

PRIORITY: CLIENT SUPERVISION

To ensure appropriate oversight and supervision of NJP&A's client services.

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NJP&A encourages the widest possible sharing of news and information regarding the rights of people with disabilities. All material published in this website may be redistributed. We encourage you to let us know when you do at advocate@njpanda.org.