On September 9, NJ Department of Human Services Deputy Commissioner McGuire and Assistant Commissioner Seifried toured The Arc of Atlantic County, met with individuals, spoke with staff, and presented hardworking DSPs with a proclamation from Governor Phil Murphy in honor of Direct Support Professional Week. DSP Recognition Week is an important chance to celebrate and honor the incredible workforce that does so much each and every day to support people with IDD and their families. We thank the Department of Human Services for helping us celebrate this occasion. To view more photos, click here. In addition to this wonderful event, The Arc of New Jersey and local county Chapters of The Arc used the hashtag #NJDSPweek2022 to highlight DSPs and local celebrations and recognition events taking place all around New Jersey. Celebrations included giving out gift cards, lawn signs recognizing DSPs, catering breakfasts and lunches, a virtual recognition board, a full page ad in a local newspaper thanking DSPs, posting testimonials on social media, gifts, chocolate, and more!

Each year, The Arc of New Jersey puts together a voting guide to assist families and self-advocates as Election Day approaches. We are proud to share with you our 2022 GOTV Guide which outlines all the ways in which you can cast a ballot and which emphasizes the importance of voting and making your voice heard in the upcoming election. Also, we have created a companion GOTV website which includes the links to candidate pages, national voting resources and information about registering and how to find your polling location. In addition, we hear from a family member and a self-advocate about why voting matters and why it's a critical part of the democratic process. To download your copy of the Guide, make sure you visit www.gotvnj.com today to learn more about the voting process (drop-boxes, early voting, mail-in ballots!) and make your voice heard on Election Day!

Approximately 140 people from across the State attended the New Jersey Statewide Self-Advocacy Network's 38th Fall Conference on Saturday, October 1, via Zoom. The theme of the event, which ran from 9:30 am to 12 pm, was "Sharing Our Skills." The annual conference is an opportunity for disability advocates to network, learn about current advocacy issues and attend professional development workshops. Topics of note for the event included: supported decision making, mental health care access, and staffing issues impacting the daily lives of people with IDD across the state. Department of Human Services Assistant Commissioner Jon Seifried, The Arc of New Jersey's Board President Kevin Sturges, and Executive Director Tom Baffuto all provided opening remarks to begin the event.

Thank you to all our generous donors who, over the past number of months, have made donations to support us. These critical funds will help us in our efforts to assist individuals with IDD and their families, as well as our local county chapters. To put your donation to work for individuals with IDD and their families, click here. If you have questions or need assistance, our staff is here to help. Click here to access information about our Programs.