Finding programs for the Developmentally Disabled in NJ is
getting more difficult as programs have reached their full capacity. Some
families are taking it upon themselves to gather funds, buy property, hire
lawyers and do fundraising to create their own programs. Some of the more rural
areas are lagging behind other more populated areas for programs. These
programs are vital for these consumers aging out of school. Jobs for this
population are scarce and most of these consumers need more skills and
training. All that is remaining as a service is having respite workers give
parents a break by taking the consumer out for recreation. This gives some
socialization skills, but does not replace an appropriate program with their
peers to further grow and develop and gain vocational skills.
Another issue is finding appropriate programs for different
levels of functioning. Parents have to
do their homework to find what is most appropriate. Some programs have many issues that parents
should be warned against, if there was such a warning system in place. There
are issues with cleanliness is some of these day programs. Also, it may be very hard to know exactly
what is going on with your adult child in these programs. You put trust in these facilities, but things
can happen, that are immoral and unethical.
It can take a long time to learn that unorthodox events have been
occurring that has put your loved one at high risk.
What is happening now is that, due to the poor economy,
staff is not reporting events to the proper authorities when they witness these
events in fear of job loss. The State
DHS-DDD should make workers more comfortable with reporting events without the
fear of losing their jobs.
Changes in your adult child’s personality can result from
the misinterpretation of what they see and hear from peers and workers. The influence by others can have a negative
impact on your disabled adult child because of how naïve and vulnerable they
are.
There are some very heart-breaking stories that have
occurred from negative influences on this innocent population. All we are left with is “hope” that things
will get better over time. We, as
parents, can just do what we feel is for the best, but it doesn’t always turn
out that way in the long run.
