Oct. 3: Hall Institute Co-sponsors State-wide Summit on Status of Disabled New Jerseyans

Written by Hall Institute Press Office

The Hall Institute is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. Our weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

Oct. 3: Hall Institute co-sponsors state-wide summit on status of disabled New Jerseyans

"Society’s accumulated myths and fears about disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitations that flow from actual impairment."
— William J. Brennan, Jr., U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice

You are invited to join us — as we explore ways to improve quality of life
for New Jersey children and adults with special needs.

WHAT: Public Forum: “The Current State of Affairs for New Jersey’s Children and Adults with Disabilities”

WHEN: Monday, Oct. 3, 2011. 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

WHERE: Al Di La Restaurant, 1 Hoboken Rd., East Rutherford, NJ 07073. Phone: (201) 939-1128

SPONSORS: Disability Advocacy Services, Inc. and the Hall Institute of Public Policy-New Jersey

FEATURED TOPICS:

• "Housing Needs of New Jerseyans with Developmental Disabilities"
• "Emergency Preparedness for New Jerseyans with Disabilities"
• "The Plight of Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders"
• "The Plight of New Jerseyans with Physical and Mental Disabilities"

SPEAKERS:

• New Jersey Congressional and State Legislature members including:
  • Assemblyman Gary Schaer
  • Sen. Joseph Vitale
  • Sen. Barbara Buono
  • Sen. Jennifer Beck
  • Sen. Sandra Cunningham
  • Sen. Paul Sarlo
• Policy specialists in New Jersey education, employment, transportation and disability services from:
  • New Jersey Transit
  • NJ Supported Housing Association
  • NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities
  • Rutgers Law School Special Education Clinic
  • Elizabeth Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers University
  • Center for Disability Services, NJ Department of Human Services
  • Project HIP
  • University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ)
  • Dewitt and Associates
  • Bergen County Division on Disability Services
  • Association of Retarded Citizens
  • Putting the Pieces Together
  • NJ Association of County Disability Services

HOW TO ATTEND:

WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT:

1. Nearly 12% of New Jersey citizens are identified with a disability that limits their daily life activity — a population projected to grow significantly in the next decade
2. The forum brings together disability advocates and lawmakers to discuss strategies to assist disabled citizens in their efforts to become productive citizens
3. A summary of the forum proceedings will be sent to Governor Christie’s office

Dr. Sal Pizzuro, Executive Director of East Rutherford’s Disability Advocacy Services, Inc., is a specialist in Disability Law. “A harsh economic climate has made the employment of disabled individuals more problematic than ever,” he says. “People with disabilities are rapidly becoming members of society’s underclass that will experience a lifestyle distinctively separate from that of their non-disabled peers.”

The Hall Institute of Public Policy - New Jersey has published several papers on the state of the disabled in New Jersey. “Deep funding cuts are looming in the state budget,” says Hall Institute Executive Director Dr. Michael P. Riccards. “We hope this forum will find creative and viable ways to make sure our disabled citizens can lead healthy and productive lives in the years to come.”

** The Hall Institute of Public Policy - New Jersey is a non-partisan, not-for-profit foundation established to explore social, economic, educational and cultural issues. The Institute’s weekly email newsletter is sent to organizations and individuals with an interest in the material posted on our website at www.hallnj.org.

The institute has published three books — The State of the Garden State, Reaction and Reform in New Jersey, and Into The New Millennium: New Jersey and The Nation. All three are compilations of the major papers posted on our website. A fourth volume, Creating A Common Future: New Jersey and Public Policy, was published online.

Michael P. Riccards, Executive Director, oversees all operations of the organization. He came to the Hall Institute from the College Board in Washington D.C., where he was responsible for public policy analysis and liaison with government officials. The author of 15 books, Dr. Riccards previously served as the president of three colleges — Fitchburg State College in Massachusetts, Shepherd College in West Virginia and St. John's College in New Mexico. In 2008, he was appointed by Governor Jon S. Corzine as the State's representative on the national Lincoln Bicentennial Commission.

** Disability Advocacy Services, Inc. of East Rutherford, NJ is a pro bono organization of legal specialists, trained in Disability Law, who provide legal representation to individuals with disabilities at New Jersey’s Office of Administrative Law.

Dr. Salvatore Pizzuro, Executive Director, is a disability policy specialist and civil rights who has served as a consultant to members of the United States Congress on every reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act since the law was first passed in 1975. He is the author of numerous books, professional journal articles and research studies in the area of disability policy, education, rehabilitation, and community acquiescence. He holds a doctorate in Developmental Disabilities from Columbia University in New York City and an advanced degree in Disability Law from New York Law School as part of a special program for doctoral level professionals. In addition, he has served as a faculty member at New Jersey City University, Kean University and Adelphi University. In 2008, Dr. Pizzuro was appointed by Governor John Corzine to the New Jersey Council on Access and Mobility and has served as a member of the New Jersey Transit Taskforce on the Americans with Disabilities Act.