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                                          -- Charities & Associations - Developmental Disabilities
 
​                                                                          & Mental Health ​
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Picture
A doctor shown examining a baby at the migrant farm workers' camp in Bridgeton in 1942. Image: Library of Congress


​- Autism

The Arc of New Jersey (North Brunswick)
State's largest organization advocating for and serving citizens with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families. Affiliated chapter of national  The Arc, also operates through network of Local County Chapters. Project HIRE program assists disabled adults in finding and maintaining competitive employment and assists middle and high school students in transition to employment; Criminal Justice Advocacy Program provides alternatives to incarceration for those with developmental disabilities facing criminal charges.

ASPEN (Edison)
​Name an acronym for 'asperger-autism-spectrum-education-network'). National organization based in NJ. Provides families and individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (Asperger Syndrome, Pervasive Developmental Disorder-NOS, High Functioning Autism), and Nonverbal Learning Disabilities with information, referrals, advocacy, social networking.

​Autism Society (Mount Laurel)
National organization founded 1965 headquartered in Bethesda, MD, NJ affiliate in Mount laurel. information clearinghouse and resource center for families dealing by providing information on legal rights, educational programs and treatment options and sponsoring lectures, social and recreation programs.
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Eden Autism (Princeton)
Founded 1975 as small, family-oriented school for individuals with autism. Now offers 12-month educational programs from age three to 21 with teaching techniques based in Applied Behavior Analysis tailoring each student’s curriculum to specific needs and abilities. Range of services, programs adopted in schools and other settings across US. Adult Services  supports adults no longer entitled to receive educational services with employment training and placement, as well as residential programs. Services include early intervention, individualized education, employment training and placement, and group residences.

Princeton Child Development Institute (Princeton)
Founded 1970, is a private, non-profit program offers range of science-based services to children, youths, and adults with autism, including treatment, education, and professional training and mentoring. Conducted research pioneering comprehensive intervention models used nationally and internationally. Programs teach young children to talk, play with siblings and friends, and read and write; adolescents continue academic and work-study programs while learning to participate in their homes and communities; adults perfect skills to maintain jobs and achieve greater levels of independence.
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Institute for Educational Achievement (New Milford)
Founded 1995, private, non-profit educational program providing highly individualized educational services to students with autism. Dissemination site of Princeton Child Development Institute. Educational program based upon science of applied behavior analysis focused on student progress. Also provides home-based programming teaching skills allowing students to complete activities with their families, to complete daily tasks at home, and to participate in typical leisure activities with others.  

Autism Family Services of New Jersey (Trenton)
Services for autistic children and adults. Programs include Kidz Connect after school care program which helps families find, pay or create after school care for children under 18, including existing after school care programs, hiring an aide to come to home or other type of after school support; after school social and recreational programs; summer camps; scholarships.  2014 report, 1 in every 45 people in New Jersey have an autism diagnosis compared to the national average of 1 in 68 people.

Autism New Jersey (Robbinsville)
Incorporated 1967 by parents concerned with lack of support in local schools as Council of Schools for the Emotionally Disturbed, further name changes until adopting current name 2009. Provides connections  to referrals, services and information; lobbies for increased government support; education and training for parents and professionals.

Newgrange School of Princeton (Princeton)
School and support programs for those with learning disabilities. Offers group and individual therapies for students in grades 2-12+ from 37 school districts including Mercer, Somerset, Monmouth, Burlington, Middlesex, and other surrounding counties in NJ and Eastern PA. Students include those autism spectrum disorders, Asperger's Syndrome, non-verbal learning disabilities, and/or dyslexia, also parental, family and caregiver support.

Association for Special Children and Families  (Hewitt)
Founded by small group of parents in 1978 to assist other parents in parenting and educating children with disabilities and other special needs. Guides and supports parents, educates about rights on how to ensure their child’s special education, works with local partner agencies toward helping children with special needs reach full potential.  Serves as Highlands Parent Center, first and only community parent resource center in NJ.

Down Syndrome Association of Central New Jersey (Ewing) 
Affiliate of National Down Syndrome Congress and National Down Syndrome Society. Parent support group established to assist families of children and adults with Down syndrome (i.e. Trisomy 21), most common chromosomal condition in humans occurring when person’s cells contain 47 chromosomes instead of 46, with 5,000 births annually in US with lifelong developmental disabilities and reduced life expectancy. Offers meetings and social gatherings; events, activities and conferences; information regarding local medical resources, conferences, and development programs. Promotes inclusion of those with with Down syndrome in schools and community.

Adler Aphasia Center (Maywood)
Aphasia acquired disorder from stroke or other brain injury which impairs ability to communicate, resulting in inability to recall or understand words, but does not otherwise affect brain functions. health care providers, and everyday life. Center founded 1970 by Mike and Elaine Adler, heads of successful mail order company, after Mike had suffered stroke and developed aphasia. Now operates facilities in Maywood and West Orange providing therapeutic programs for individuals with aphasia and their caregivers to explore alternative communication options. Also offers bi-monthly Communication Groups in Bridgewater, Hammonton, Maywood, Monroe, Morristown, Scotch Plains and Toms River.

- Mental Health/Illness

Mental Health Association in New Jersey
(Springfield)
Affiliate of national organization Mental Health America (formerly known as National Mental Health Association founded 1909), worked to promote discharge of patients confined in asylums and hospitals to relocate for community-based treatment and services. Seeks to raise public awareness and understanding towards mental health, mental illness and treatment. Sponsors community treatment and support programs; vocational and career counseling to assist mentally ill youth and young adults in identifying goals; classroom presentations for high school and college classes; training opportunities for staff of community mental health centers, hospitals, and educators, along with intensive crisis intervention training for law enforcement officers, mental health professionals and advocates. NJ affiliate offices also in Monmouth, Morris, Essex, Passaic and Haddon Heights (serving Camden, Gloucester and Burlington counties).

NAMI New Jersey (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
(North Brunswick)
Statewide affiliate of national organization seeking to improve lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness through education, support, advocacy and public awareness programs. Promotes research into  causes, treatment and recovery of mental health disorders. Founded 1985 by group of NJ family members who had loved ones with mental illness for mutual support, education and empowerment,  advocated for improved treatment and living conditions. Present organization staffed by volunteers in 21 local county affiliates   trained to assess quality of care offered to clients in mental health agencies and to patients in State Hospitals. Developed partnership with NJ Department of Education to provide K-12 educators with professional development and skills training about mental illness and strategies.

- Alzheimer's Disease/Dementia

The Alzheimer’s Association-Greater New Jersey Chapter (Marlton)
NJ chapter of national Alzheimer's Association, world's leading voluntary health organization in Alzheimer's care, support and research. Dementia general term for decline in mental ability and memory severe enough to interfere with daily life--with Alzheimer's most common type, but which also can include Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease; Down Syndrome; Huntington's Disease; Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus; Posterior Cortical Atrophy; Parkinson's Disease Dementia; and other causes of brain malfunction. Number of NJ residents living with Alzheimer's disease estimated 170,000--about 13% of seniors aged 65 and older now living with Alzheimer's--total expected to climb to 210,000 by 2025, New Jersey Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission Report August 2016. 

Alzheimer's New Jersey  (Denville)
Services include individual consultations to receive personalized, in-depth guidance to assist with planning, problem solving, referrals to community resources, clinical trial opportunities and emotional support. Sponsors annual conference on research and care, NJ’s largest dementia-specific education program for healthcare professionals.

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*  Special Needs Education, NJ Department of Education
*  Directory of Mental Health Services, NJ Department of Human Services (pdf)
*  Free Online Therapy in 2023: Does It Exist, and Where Can I Find It?, everydayhealth.com
Charities & Associations
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