Vitale Bills Update: Read Our Statement
Core Principles and Legislative Recommendations
We want to thank you all for your patience as the Leadership and Legislative team worked diligently on creating a statement regarding Vitale Bills S3750 and S3752.
Highlights of our recommended amendments
This statement is the result of insights gathered from the survey distributed to all members of the NCSA NJ chapter, consultations with the Department of Health and Human Services, discussions with Paul Aronsohn (the NJ Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families), as well as interviews with providers, Direct Support Professionals (DSPs), and other key disability groups across New Jersey. Our newly formed Advisory Board also had an opportunity to review and comment last week.
The result is the attached Summary Statement and Exhibits. We did our best to try and keep it short and all recommendations target the following core principles which were the themes we heard over and over again from all of you:
Dignity and Respect for All: Individuals with IDD deserve the same dignity, care, and respect as all other residents of our state and country, irrespective of their age, race, or disability status.
Transparency and Accountability: Enforced transparency, accountability, and ethical conduct are essential to fostering collaborative relationships among all stakeholders, including individuals served, families, providers, and state agencies. These measures are critical to achieving the desired outcome of eliminating abuse and neglect within state-licensed residential placements.
Preventative Measures and Incentives: Statewide, mandatory preventative measures, along with financial and other incentives, are necessary to prevent abuse and neglect in state-licensed residential placements.
Making Direct Support a Career Path: The role of Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) must be elevated to a legitimate career, rather than a temporary, low-paying job. Comprehensive training programs, competitive salaries, and structured compensation ladders are essential for making DSP roles attractive and competitive, helping to retain qualified staff.
The Summary Statement and Exhibits. are what we as the NCSAutism NJ Chapter would like to see added to these 2 bills and what we will share with legislatures when we meet with them. o
As always if you have questions or comments feel free to reach out to us. EMail