Good morning, gentlemen [written to NJ Advance Media reporters who attend Governor Murphy's briefings, Brent Johnson (Bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com) and Matt Arco marco@njadvancemedia.com, Republican Governor Candidates: Hirsh Singh info@hirshsingh.com, Jack Ciattarelli fixnj@jack4nj.com, and Phil Rizzo info@jerseyrizzo.com],

I am asking you help me and thousands of families affected by the unrealistic, unfair, discriminatory reopening guidelines set forth by the DDD (department of developmental disabilities). Congregate day programs for adults with disabilities are the ONLY institution in NJ that is required to follow the CALI report for reopening and staying open. If a day program is located in a county where the CALI report is orange or red, the day program is not allowed to reopen OR if it has reopened, regardless of the program covid19 status, it must close in 48 hours if the county turns orange or red. As of Thursday of this past week, the entire state is in orange and therefore closed. Please understand that these programs ARE CLOSED. While Assistant Commissioner Seifried has said that these programs could open in March, this metric prevents the ENTIRE STATE from opening. Why not have the day programs on the same opening status as public schools from the same district?
This "rule" does not apply to any other school, university, business, no one except congregate day programs for adults with disabilities. This is in violation of their civil rights and completely ignores the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990). This rule treats disabled people different than typical people, that goes against everything the ADA stands for.
Hundreds of families have been desperately reaching out to our legislators, governor, the DDD, the DOH, Paul Aronsohn trying to get this issue resolved. Senator Bucco wrote a letter to Governor Murphy that I have attached for your review.
Senator Kristin Corrado has voiced her support for this issue via a senate newsletter https://www.senatenj.com/.../corrado-calls-on.../52887
This is a link for an article published this morning on this issue: https://www.northjersey.com/.../nj-day.../4804918001/
My older sister Barbara has autism and a seizure disorder and wanders around the house looking for something to do. I work full time and my widowed mother is Ba's caregiver and companion. Yet day camps, sports fields, and schools for neurotypical and disabled minors are permitted to open. HOW IS THIS NOT DISCRIMINATION?
To begin to explain the horror so many of our kids and families have endured would be pointless. I'm not looking for sympathy, I'm trying to give my sister and thousands of her peers some stability, some hope, some happiness back. You can help us by asking Governor Murphy about his administration’s continued active discriminatory practices. He should be held accountable for this crisis that impacts thousands of families in this state. Please also remind him that this is an election year and that these same families are reaching out to the republican candidates for their stance and support. If he is unable to give an explanation for the closure of the day programs, please follow up by asking him if these programs can reopen immediately and what is stopping him from allowing this.
I appreciate any help you can give to NJ's most vulnerable population. Your jobs are incredibly important to making a difference and I have faith in your integrity.

All the best,
Christine Migton, sister of Barbara Migton