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Spring Transition Fair Season
The arrival of Spring brings a lot of things. There is an excitement of change and growth. The school year is winding down and people with disabilities and their families are planning for a major life transition. “Transition” is the process when someone with a disability graduates from high school and moves into adulthood. This usually […]
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Making An Impact with Self-Direction
Our Commitment to Self-Determination Values Into Action is about self determination: choice, authority, freedom, responsibility and self advocacy. We exist because we learned to follow the lead of people with disabilities and their families. The best thing for professionals to do is to offer information, resources and help. As professionals we can help people use […]
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Together We Stand: Supporting ACL and Our Communities
The dismantling of the Administration for Community Living (ACL) was announced last week. It is unfortunately not a surprise given other recent policy changes. People with disabilities and elderly people are particularly vulnerable in our society. Thanks to the ACL, there have been innovations and improvements to community-based services. This has enabled so many disabled […]
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Medicaid: Understanding the Past to Inform the Future
People are talking a lot about potential Medicaid changes. This includes whether the federal government might give less money for it in the future. In New Jersey, people with disabilities need Medicaid to get important help from DDD services. Even though many people have protested and told the government, “No Cuts, No Caps” and “Hands […]
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Honoring the Anniversary of the Capital Crawl
As we celebrate 20 years of Values Into Action, we are reflecting on the pivotal events that came before us. Also, the opportunities to inform policy that are ahead. The Capitol Crawl: A Tribute to Disability Rights Activists On March 12, 1990, a pivotal moment in the fight for disability rights unfolded on the steps […]
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Youth Transition Resource Spotlight Sessions
The Youth Transition Conference (YTC) began as an idea in 2021 by Values into Action. Responding to the changes we were all facing due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The goal was to support people with disabilities, their families, caregivers and professionals. We had connected in person before the pandemic, but everything had to go virtual. Values […]
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Creating a Budget for the New Year: How We Make Our Annual Budget at Values Into Action
Creating a personal budget is an important task for everyone to consider as we enter the new year. I thought it might be helpful to share how we create our annual budgets at Values Into Action. The budget is essential because it helps us plan how to meet our everyday needs and achieve our mission. […]
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Unlocking Support: How to Find Disability Resources That Work for You
Taking control of your life means using services that help you reach your goals. These services can support different aspects of your life, such as your career, health, or personal growth. But where should you start? Finding the right services can sometimes feel overwhelming, like navigating through a maze. It’s hard to know where to […]
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Supporting Your Self-Directed Life
Self-direction means choosing where and with whom you live with, with supports you direct! This is different from more traditional, provider managed services. Self-Direction & You Ask yourself – When you think of your life: Your Support Coordinator has tools that can help you to think about and plan for your future. These tools can […]