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Students RISE to Higher Education
Purpose of Proposed Legislature: Providing students with disabilities better access to accommodations in Higher Education. Background: There is concern about how accessible universities are to students with disabilities. Universities and colleges need current documentation of disabilities for students to receive accommodations. They do not accept IEP and 504 plans from K-12 education. S.2550, the RISE […]
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The Importance of Having a Vision for Your Life
Social Role Valorization (SRV) is a set of principles used to help make positive changes in our lives. The use of SRV benefits those who are often disadvantaged because of social status. SRV is often used when planning ways to support children and adults with impairments. SRV can also be used to impact the social […]
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Honoring a Black Leader in our Disability Community
Have you met LeDerick Horne or heard of his advocacy efforts yet? We, at Values Into Action, connected with Mr. Horne when we learned of his work with NJ schools and transitioning into adulthood community. We discovered that he, along with Bill Davis, were awarded a grant from the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities. […]
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How I Retained Staff When the World Turned Upside Down
Last year, Marian presented at the Reinventing Quality Conference in Baltimore. She asked me to share some comments on how I retained my staff during the pandemic. I’d like to share them with you now. Below is my power point slide and the comments I shared. Hey everyone. I’m Robert. I was asked to talk […]
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Adapting in Partnership
An accidental fall and fractured hip changed Elissa’s life within minutes. Yet, through her recovery, Elissa demonstrated perseverance that was nothing short of incredible. Elissa’s Support Partners played an essential role in this recovery. During Elissa’s time in the hospital, her Support Partners brought a sense of normalcy to an unfamiliar setting. They brought smiling […]
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Holding Space for Lived Experience
We talk a lot about the importance of shared lived experience. But why is this so important? If we want to partner with individuals to support them in their vision for a good life, we need to know what they want and need. The shared lived experience of disability can help us understand. It can […]
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The Path to Subsidized Housing
Affordable housing is necessary for an integrated and fulfilled life. Yet, finding and securing affordable housing remains a real challenge for most. This is especially true for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Good news is that the Division for Development Disabilities (DDD) funds rental subsidies. For many, applying for subsidies can be confusing. Thankfully, […]
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ODP Waivers Renewed
The Office of Developmental Programs (ODP) recently announced three waiver renewals. These include the Consolidated, Community Living, and Person/Family Directed waivers. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) administers these waivers. The effective date is January 1, 2023. The Office of Developmental Programs recently announced the renewals. A bit of background on the process. […]
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Preparing to Transition Into Adulthood
A period of transition begins once we know a change is coming. And for adolescents, transition into adulthood is a right of passage and time of great importance in one’s life. The planning a person does or doesn’t do can make or break a smooth transition process. Disability or not, transitioning into adulthood can be […]
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Moving Forward, Together.
As we move into 2023, I felt compelled to reflect on what has passed and to share where we are headed as an organization. The last couple of years have been challenging for many. We’ve experienced loss like we’ve never faced before, an on-set of new requirements, and new faces. With each challenge, I kept […]