Mental Health Awareness Month
This year’s theme — More Good Days, Together — encourages us all to reflect on what a “good” day looks like, both for ourselves, and for our communities. Together, we can use that insight to connect people to the right support at the right time, and shape advocacy, education, and community engagement to make more good days possible for all.
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William's Syndrome Awareness Month
Williams syndrome is a genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. This distinct condition encompasses both medical and cognitive challenges, such as cardiovascular issues, developmental delays, and learning disabilities. Affecting 1 in 10,000 people globally, around 25,000 to 30,000 individuals in the United States are touched by Williams syndrome. It manifests equally in both males and females, transcending cultural boundaries.
On May 6th, the NJ Self-Advocacy Project (NJSAP) held a special webinar about William's syndrome. The Arc of New Jersey's Gianna Morello talks about Williams syndrome, her lived experiences, and the link to music in this special webinar event!
Watch here: https://youtu.be/5dJ9ob2zq9A?si=EGLEA1y1Gu1Vfox9
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Pap Camp: Expanding Access, Empowering Care
May 28, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
Get ready to own your next reproductive visit! Pap Camp covers everything you need to know – what to expect, who you’ll see, and how to care for your reproductive health with confidence.
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Lifelong Gynecology Needs and Hormonal Interactions with Other Common Medical Conditions for Women with IDD
June 2, 2026
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM
A presentation on the gynecologic needs throughout the life course (e.g., periods, pelvic pain, menopause, etc.) for women with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Dr. Harris will discuss how female hormone cycles may affect other conditions important to quality of life (e.g., behavioral health and seizure disorders).
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Disability Pride & The ADA Anniversary
On July 17, NJSAP will set up a table at Pier Village in Long Branch, NJ. They are inviting advocates from around NJ to come give out information on Disability Pride Month, the anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and information about NJSAP and the NJSSAN.
The table will be set up from 10am - 2pm. You can learn more here: https://www.arcnj.org/programs/njsap/ada-awareness.html
| | Save the Date for the NJSAP Fall Conference | |
Human Services Certified Home Health Aide Pilot Programs Strengthen Workforce, Certify Over 250 New Home Health Aides
Human Services’ Certified Home Health Aide Career Program, developed in collaboration with the John H. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development at Rutgers University, has certified more than 250 new Certified Home Health Aides (CHHAs), who will provide crucial support for older adults and individuals in need of home-based care. The initiative also led to increased participant confidence, professional growth, improved workforce readiness, and fewer financial and educational barriers to successful employment. Read more.
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Teaching Dental Students to Care for Patients with Disabilities
What started as a pilot program at the University of Florida (UF) College of Dentistry has evolved into a new way of training the next generation of dentists to confidently care for patients with special needs.
“Being able to build those long-term relationships with somebody I wouldn’t necessarily really meet in everyday life — and being able to impact their life in a really positive way — is probably the most special experience out of this whole program,” says Lauren Mai, a first-year dental student at UF. Read more.
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IEC Dental Toolkit
A visit to the dentist can be stressful for a lot of people, especially people with intellectual and/developmental disabilities (IDD). Communication can be challenging, and people with IDD want to be heard, respected, and cared for.
That's why IEC partnered with Delta Dental New Jersey and Michigan to create the IEC Dental Toolkit. This toolkit was made to help people with IDD, their support teams, and dental providers have more successful dental visits. Each tool is free to download and use.
For Dental Professionals
Our toolkit contains resources for dentists and their office staff, including a guide for how to avoid misunderstandings in healthcare conversations, supporting patients with complex needs, and more.
Download the Toolkit
For People with IDD
The toolkit can help prepare people with IDD for their dental visit, including an outline for what to expect during a dental visit, a plain language guide for understanding dental procedures, and tools to support communication at the dentist’s office.
Download the Toolkit
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Home and Community-Based Services Improve Outcomes While Reducing Costs
Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) support individual well-being and strengthen the broader LTSS health care system. By enabling individuals to receive services in their communities rather than institutional settings,
HCBS promotes choice, independence, and social connection. These services are associated with improved health outcomes, including fewer emergency department visits and hospitalizations, which can decrease overall health care costs.
At the same time, HCBS result in greater cost savings than institutional care. “Rebalancing” systems away from institutions and toward HCBS benefits consumers, families, health care systems, and taxpayers. Read the brief.
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Congress Needs to Hear from You about Medicaid
Imagine finally having the support you need to live in your own home and then having it taken away.
That's what's at stake for millions of people with disabilities if Congress makes cuts to Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS). These services make it possible for people to live at home, get the daily support they need, and stay connected to their communities.
Act Now to Protect HCBS
Last year, Congress made the largest cut to Medicaid in history, and now they’re considering even more changes that could make things worse.
Many states are already struggling to make up for that lost funding. People with disabilities could face longer waiting lists and less access to the services that make community living possible.
The Arc of the United States is also collecting stories that show how recent cuts are affecting people who rely on HCBS. These firsthand accounts are essential for helping policymakers understand the real world consequences.
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NY ABC-DS Research Study
Adults with Down syndrome are far more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease in middle age compared with most other people.
This research study aims to understand why some adults with Down syndrome are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than others and why some adults with Down syndrome age far more successfully.
Adults with Down syndrome who are 25 years or older are highly encouraged to join the Alzheimer Biomarker Consortium - Down Syndrome (ABC-DS) study.
| | | Free Mammogram Event for Uninsured NJ Women |
Feds To Reconsider Rule Barring Disability Discrimination In Healthcare
Just as they were set to take effect, federal officials are delaying new requirements meant to make healthcare more accessible to people with disabilities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services published an interim final rule on May 11, putting off the deadline for healthcare providers to ensure that their websites and mobile applications meet certain accessibility standards.
The new mandate was established under a 2024 regulation updating Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The web standards were one piece of the rule, which also stipulates that people with disabilities should not be denied medical treatments due to biases or stereotypes, sets standards for accessible medical diagnostic equipment and more. Read more.
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Free Tech Training for People with Disabilities
People with disabilities are three times more likely to not go online compared to people without disabilities. To help close that gap, AT&T, The Arc, and The Arc San Francisco have partnered to offer free digital skills training designed specifically for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Explore the resources yourself or share them with someone you know to build confidence using technology. Learn skills such as:
- Getting started with computers, mobile devices, and video conferencing
- Navigating websites and search engines
- Protecting against online fraud and scams
- Creating healthy relationships online
- How to find credible news and be a responsible creator
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Catching Up with Connor
The Catching Up with Connor Facebook Live series is in full swing for 2026!
Join us every other Thursday at 2:30pm for these livestream videos, featuring 10-15 minute educational talks on health care issues, news, and other key topics for individuals with IDD and their families.
No registration is required, but please leave a like and comment what topics you would like to see in the future!
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Virtual Office Hours
The Health Care Advocacy Program offers virtual office hours on Mondays from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.
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Meet with the Director of Health Care Advocacy to discuss healthcare questions or concerns, for example, regarding Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security, as they affect your family member or loved one with IDD.
Appointments are offered on a first-come, first-served basis and may be limited to 20 minutes, as needed. Please be patient, as the Director will meet with everyone who registers and joins the virtual meeting.
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