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                                          -- Charities & Associations

​                                                - Disability/Special Needs Support ​



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A doctor shown examining a baby at the migrant farm workers' camp in Bridgeton in 1942. Image: Library of Congress

​​Charities 
*  Overview    * Cardiac/Cancer/Diabetes  * Physical Disabilities
​*  Developmental Disabilities/Mental Health  
​* Disability Support  *  Special Needs Recreation *  AIDS/HIV  
*  Addiction  *   First Response/Law   *  Homeless/Food Banks   
*  Adoption/Family Services  *   Wildlife/Animal Welfare ​​

- Disability Support

Family Resource Network (Trenton)
Umbrella organization comprised of network of over 50 programs and services available for NJ residents living with epilepsy, autism, developmental disabilities and chronic illness. Originally known as Epilepsy Foundation of New Jersey, providing support for those with special needs and their families since 1970.

Disability Rights New Jersey  (Trenton)
Incorporated 1994, subsequently designated by state government as NJ's protection and advocacy system for people with disabilities. Operates nine federally funded programs to advocate for  citizens with disabilities; promote public awareness; advise and assist  disabled, family members, attorneys and guardians in protecting legal rights; and to provide education, training and technical assistance to individuals with disabilities. 


Spectrum for Living (River Vale)
Organized 1978 by small group of Bergen County parents of children with a developmental disability who had grown to adulthood seeking options for their care. In 1983, opened first facility in Closter housing 84 persons, now operates 29 sites in four NJ counties serving upwards of 800 people. Offers group home living, supervised apartments, and network of adult training centers with educational and recreational opportunities.


​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.

Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) (Newark)
Advocates and partners in improving education, health, and mental health outcomes for infants, toddlers, children and youth. Training, information and referral center for parents of children with disabilities, special health care needs, or special emotional disabilities.  Programs in NJ and throughout US, operates four national technical assistance centers funded by US Department of Education and US Department of Health and Human Services. Directly assists over 25,000 families each year, workshops on educational rights and advocacy, collaboration, and leadership skills for over 10,000 parents, educators and other professionals, and community organizations annually. Chapter of national Federation of Families for Children's Mental Health.

Children’s Aid and Family Services (Paramus)
Child welfare and family services includes adoption and adoption support services, therapeutic foster care for vulnerable children, child care and early education, drug and alcohol abuse education and prevention, eldercare, special needs housing, and educational programs and workshops. Group homes for children in Bogota, Clifton, Paramus, Ridgewood, and  West Orange. Developmental disability community residences in Fair Lawn, Maywood and Park Ridge.


VSA New Jersey-The State Organization on Arts and Disability 
Founded 1978, promotes creative power of people with disabilities. Sponsors curriculum-based projects at host schools involving visual arts, theatre, creative writing, dance, and music for skills development and reinforcement of academic content knowledge. Part of international VSA (Very Special Arts) network, an affiliate of John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
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North Jersey Elks Developmental Disabilities Agency (Clifton)
Established 1947, wide range of special education services, therapies, and support for children, teens and adults with cerebral palsy and other complex developmental disabilities. Board of Trustees comprised of representatives from local Elks Lodges. Elementary and Middle School Program serves students ages five through 14 who have complex developmental disabilities with special education, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy. Community-based job training at local stores, hospitals, and agencies.

Partnerships for People (Florham Park)
Founded 1983, works to form connections or partnerships between individuals, organizations and businesses with disabled and people with other special needs to live and work in homes and communities of their choosing. Comprehensive support network throughout most of Northern and Central NJ. Provides residential and community supports, in-home supports, supported employment, life skill management, and transitional services for individuals.
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​Pathways for Exceptional Children (Montville) 
Seeks to overcome low expectations of children with special needs, promote inclusion in school, community activities. Advocates for expanded educational and social programs for children with disabilities, trains communities throughout state in children teaching children model for children from age 3 to adulthood. Array of programs provide early intervention, meet three to five times a week, incorporate essential skills to be implemented at home, school, or community settings. 
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Easterseals New Jersey (East Brunswick)
​NJ chapter of national organization founded in Ohio in 1919 as National Society for Crippled Children, first organization of its kind. Launched first "seals" campaign 1934 as fundraiser, became highly popular stamp for letters, cards, in 1967 changed organization name to "Easterseals," now serves 1.4 million children and adults with disabilities and their families at 74 affiliates nationwide. NJ residential group homes located in Ocean County; also provides adult day care, other residential and family support programs in Essex, Hunterdon, Monmouth, Somerset, and Warren counties.

New Jersey Institute for Disabilities (Edison)
Operates schools for ages 3 through 21, day programs,  more than 25 group homes and apartments, other support throughout NJ for more than 1,500 infants, children and adults with developmental disabilities. Affiliate of Cerebral Palsy Association of Middlesex County.
 
ECLC (Chatham)
Acronym for offering "Education, Careers & Lifelong Community" to children and adults with special needs, including autism, Down syndrome and other developmental disabilities. Founded 1970 as  "Early Childhood Learning Center" by a group of parents and others to provide early-intervention services to handful of pre-school children, now educating students ages 5–21 with severe learning and/or language disabilities, autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome or multiple disabilities at two schools in Chatham and Ho-Ho-Kus, other programs for nearly 700 adults and children with special needs from 11 NJ counties. A separate entity called Community Personnel Services provides post-graduate transition services and job placements to any special-needs adult, while another offshoot, P.R.I.D.E. program, offers vocational training, independent living skills and more.​


Resources for Independent Living (Burlington City)
One of 11 Centers for Independent Living in NJ emerging from federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to promote independent living of those with all types of disabilities. Serves disabled, family and caregivers in Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland and Salem Counties with independent living skills training, information and referral, transition, peer support, and advocacy. Incorporated 1993, main facility in Burlington City includes on-site computer lab and recreational center. 

Disability Services & Advocacy (South River) (South River)
Established 2001, assists people with disabilities and their families with planning, financial applications and support services in active case management, support brokering and financial coordination services to people with developmental disabilities, brain injury, significant physical disabilities, and mental illness. 

Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (Hamilton)
Umbrella organization which lobbies for member charities and other nonprofits for expanded government, private support for those with multiple physical and developmental disabilities. Members serve some 10,000 people with developmental disabilities and their families statewide.

​DAWN Center for Independent Living (Denville)
Incorporated 1997, one of 11 Centers for Independent Living in NJ emerging from federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to promote independent living of those with all types of disabilities. Serves over 3,000 people annually in Morris, Sussex and Warren counties. Main office in Denville, other locations in Sparta and Hackettstown. Works with disabled to advance their independence to address entire lifespan needs, facilitates transition of individuals with significant disabilities from nursing homes and other institutions to home and community‐based residences, assists individuals with significant disabilities who are at risk of entering institutions to remain in community. 
 
Enable (Princeton)
Founded 1989, helps individuals with with cognitive and/or physical disabilities live full and independent lives in communities. Services, resources and support for adults and children with disabilities and seniors throughout NJ. Programs include community group housing; in home support services;  range of outside programs; variety of services for seniors to ensure ability to age in place, including meal preparation and feeding, grooming assistance, errands and bill paying.
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