A Guide to Accessible Beaches in New Jersey

Memorial Day Weekend unofficially kicks off the summer season, and what summer is complete without a trip to the Jersey Shore? Monmouth County's Office on Disabilities wants to make sure no one is excluded from this quintessential NJ pastime, and has released an updated 2024 version of their Accessible Beach Guide.

This outstanding guide includes information about the County’s accessible beaches, walkways, ramps, parking, curb cuts and surf chair availability. It also provides detailed information about 2024 beach fees, lifeguard hours and amenities as of the time of publication.

The information available in this guide is subject to change, so we recommend checking the municipality website before you visit to verify that it is still accurate.  This guide is updated each year by the County’s Office on Disabilities, which is part of the Monmouth County Department of Human Services.

Ocean County also has a 2023 Accessible Beach Guide we encourage checking out!

For more summer activities, both free and with nominal costs, check out your county park system.  There are a variety of activities for families, adults only, and some activities specific to people with developmental disabilities.  

New Investment in New Jersey's Direct Care Workforce

As we continue our conversation about the Home and Community Based Services Final Rule (HCBS), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a program to strengthen the direct care workforce in response to an Executive Order from 2023. 

Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a program to strengthen our country's direct care workforce. Six states have been chosen to participate in an intensive technical assistance program, and New Jersey is one of them!

Between now and December 2024, New Jersey will receive up to 250 hours of individualized technical assistance, including a coach, and have access to subject matter experts in addressing our unique direct care workforce challenges.   The Administration for Community Living (ACL) will be providing the technical assistance through its Direct Care Workforce Strategy Center.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities' Office of Education on Self-Directed Services (OESDS) is committed to helping families gather together to learn and support each other with self-directing their services. 

The OESDS has June Family Networking Sessions for Monmouth and Mercer counties, as well as a statewide virtual session on Tuesday, June 11. Family members living anywhere in New Jersey who are supporting a person with self-directing their services are welcome to attend.

• Mercer County Family Networking Session

Tues., June 4 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM

In-Person at Mercer County Lawrenceville Library

Register Here 

• Statewide Networking Session

Tues., June 11 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM

Virtual Statewide Session via ZOOM

Register Here

• Monmouth County Family Networking Session

Tues., June 18 from 12:00 – 2:00 PM

In-Person at Monmouth County NJ DDD Freehold Office

Register Here

• Bergen County Family Networking Session

Tues., June 25 from 1:00 - 3:00 PM

In-Person at Bergen Community College

Register Here

Upcoming CLEP Events

Preparing Students for Life After Graduation: A Behavior Analytic Perspective

Life after graduation looks different! This webinar will discuss topics to consider as students with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities prepare to transition from their school entitlement to adult services through the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). This presentation will focus on skill acquisition and updating student’s goals to ease their transition to adult life, while minimizing possible behavior concerns. Relevant topics such as level of supports, adjusting to new environments, and what's expected of students as they are aging out of the school system will be reviewed.



Presenters:

Delia Sequeira, Ph.D. BCBA

Behavior Analysis Unit – Resource Team, Office of Risk Management

New Jersey Division Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

Heather VanCampbell, M.A. BCBA

Behavior Analysis Unit – Resource Team, Office of Risk Management

New Jersey Division Developmental Disabilities (DDD)

Thursday, May 30

12:00 - 1:00 PM EST

Upcoming Events From Our Partners

Health Care Advocacy 2024 Webinar Series - Webinar #3: Dual Diagnosis: Co-occurring IDD and Mental Health Issues

For individuals who face mental health and/or behavioral challenges, this presentation will include diagnosis and treatment, best practices for positive intervention and behavior change, and a discussion of mental health in relation to physical, emotional, and behavioral health

Tuesday, May 28, 2024

12:00 PM - 1:30 PM EST

Virtual

Information Sessions on Self-Directed Employee Models and Other Topics 

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) offers two Self-Directed Employee (SDE) models that individuals interested in self-directing some or all of their services can choose: the Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent Model administered by Public Partnerships, LLC, and the Agency with Choice Model administered by Easterseals NJ. We are happy to once again share the following virtual opportunities to learn about these two models. 

Tuesday, May 28

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM EST

Easterseals NJ Agency with Choice (AwC) Model Information Session

Virtual

Wednesday, May 29

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Public Partnerships Vendor Fiscal/Employer Agent (VF/EA) Model Information Session

Virtual

Art Therapy Session

The American Art Therapy Association defines Art therapy as an integrative mental health and human services profession that enriches the lives of individuals, families, and communities through active art-making, creative process, applied psychological theory, and human experience within a psychotherapeutic relationship. Materials needed: White paper, drawing tools (such as markers, colored pencils, pastels, paint etc) Whatever you have on hand should work! 

Kim Traina-Nolan, MA, LAC, LCAT, ATR-BC, ATCS is an art psychotherapist with a private practice and specialty in serving Millennial and Gen Z population in Boonton, N.J.

Wednesday, May 29

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Virtual

Montclair Art Museum's Sensory Sunday Studio

Join us on the first Sunday of the month for a special hour of Sunday Studio designed for families with members on the autism spectrum or who have other sensory sensitivities. Drop in to Geyer studio between noon and 1 p.m. for an art-making activity inspired by our current exhibitions. Each month features a different project designed by MAM Teaching Artists that is accessible to artists of all ages and abilities. This program is a great fit for people who learn best in smaller groups in a controlled environment with extra support. 

Sunday, June 2

12:00 - 1:00 PM

In-Person: Montclair Art Museum, Montclair

Save the Date!

The Collaborative NJ 3rd Annual Self-Direction Conference

October 31 and November 1

In-Person: The College of New Jersey, Ewing 

News

Call for Art

Art Ability is dedicated to creating community awareness of cognitive and physical disabilities, encouraging people with disabilities to reach beyond their limitations and find fulfillment and inspiration through art.

Artists with physical, cognitive, visual and hearing disabilities are invited to submit up to 6 (six) separate works of art for consideration to their next annual exhibit and sale. To be eligible for submission, the work must have been created after the onset of a disability or injury. Each work must also have been created within the last five years in order to be eligible. All works must be for sale. Art previously exhibited in Art Ability is not eligible for submission. Original work only; reproduction prints will not be accepted. 

Submission deadline is June 30, 2024

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Did you know the Division of Mental Health And Addiction Services (DMHAS) has an Ombudsman who can assist in navigating their programs and services?

HHS Finalizes Rule Strengthening Protections Against Disability Discrimination

Many Americans are familiar with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but perhaps not as familiar with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. 

On May 1, the Department of Health and Human Services, through its Office for Civil Rights, finalized a rule that prohibits discrimination on the basis of disability.

Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Health and Human Services Programs or Activities strengthens protections for people with disabilities under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Major provisions of interest include:

• Discrimination in medical treatment

• Community integration

• Accessibility of medical equipment

• Web, mobile app and kiosk accessibility

• Value assessment methods

If you missed these recent live webinar discussions, we invite you to watch them and our other recordings on the Community Living Education Project's Youtube Channel.

Caregiver Stress and Burnout: How To Regain a Sense of Balance in your Life

Presented by Jannell Wilson, MSW, LSW

Community Educator, Project Lifesaver & PASP Coordinator, Somerset County Office on Aging & Disability Services

Webinar Date: March 19, 2024

Watch now

Shared Care, Shared Impact: Building Connections Between Healthcare Professionals, Individuals/Families, and Support Professionals

Presented by Jennifer LeComte, DO, FACP, FAAP, Rowan-Virtua Regional Integrated Special Needs Center

Webinar Date: April 24, 2024

Watch now

Optimizing Health Outcomes for Individuals with Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities

Presented by Laura O'Reilly-Stanzilis, RN, Health and Disabilities Advocate

Webinar Date: May 15, 2024

Watch now

About Us

If you or someone you know have an intellectual and/or developmental disability and live in New Jersey, we can help -- FREE! We work one-on-one with individuals and families as mentors and guides to navigating all the different services, programs, and options available to you. From where to live to setting up services, to pursuing hobbies and interests, we'll help you make informed decisions that will allow you to live as integrated members of your community.

Please get in touch if we can help you!

Email us at clep@sph.rutgers.edu or call (732) 235-3277

Let's continue the conversation on social media! Please follow us and let us know how we can best be of assistance to you and/or your loved ones.

Please forward this email to your friends, colleagues, and families, and encourage them to subscribe and visit our website. Together we can make New Jersey a vibrant place for people with disabilities to live, work, and thrive!