Dear Representative,

I urge you to support and cosponsor A-3625, sponsored by Assemblyman Louis Greenwald, which provides a plan to rebalance State resources to provide community services and supports for persons with developmental disabilities.  This historic legislation presents a fiscally sound opportunity to address the growing need for community services and supports for those living with developmental disabilities.   

People living with developmental disabilities should have the same opportunities for to live quality, engaged lives in the community, outside of the institutions and live their lives with dignity as they choose.  

This bill will move New Jersey in the direction of 47 other states and the 140 other closures that have reduced reliance on institutional care, with 10 states having no large public facilities at all.  

It will move us forward toward meeting the mandate of the federal Olmstead decision, which made it unconstitutional to segregate those living with developmental disabilities in large public institutions.  

The bill will stop New Jersey’s investment in costly and inappropriate care in large outdated public institutions that segregate people, expending 1/3 of its budget to support 8% of the people it serves.  

The plan contained in A-3625 will consolidate the State’s seven developmental centers and use the savings to invest in community services and supports. A-3625 will help end the wait for more than 8,000 people wait on a community services waiting list, and over 80% of people in institutions that have been assessed as ready for community living.  

The people in community services programs have the same challenges as those who live in the developmental centers and can be safely cared for in the community.  

Under the plan in A-3625, twice as many people can be served with the same dollar, which is consistent with the need to use State resources more efficiently in these economically tough times.  

Community services and supports are already serving people living with even the most difficult challenges. This bill would provide the funding necessary to strengthen these services with the additional expertise of the “staff without walls” approach.  

With the bill’s staff without walls approach, New Jersey’s developmental center workforce will be redeployed into the community while retaining their state status. Their expertise will be utilized to provide OT and PT therapy services, community case management and related health services.  

Do not let costly, outdated institutionalization be the only choice for thousands of people who are waiting for community services.

Help New Jersey follow the path of most other states and position itself fiscally and organizationally to meet the growing need for services and supports. By supporting and/or cosponsoring A-3625, you are laying the foundation to provide appropriate services, supports and the opportunity to live quality engaged lives fro thousands of people. Again, I urge you to move New Jersey in the direction of most other states and support A-3625. 

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