A shout to friends and supporters of
Autism New Jersey (formerly COSAC), about a difficult situation facing this group that has served as a vital resource to those in New Jersey with developmental disorders and their families, and how you can help. Please share this news item and action alert. Thanks.
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Important Message about NJ State Budget Cuts
Dear Friends & Supporters:
On February 11, 2010, [New Jersey] Governor Chris Christie announced that he had signed an Executive Order cutting spending in 375 line items, via cuts, freezes, or elimination of existing programs across all aspects of State Government. The emergency spending reductions amount to over $2 billion during the remaining months of the current State Fiscal Year.
Unfortunately, one of the budget cuts was $155,000 in funding slated to be provided to Autism New Jersey under an existing, longstanding contract with the State's Division of Developmental Disabilities ("DDD").
As I recently wrote to Governor Christie,
"This contract has allowed the State to compassionately support and expertly guide parents at the frightening moment of initial diagnosis. It has helped families improve their children's behavior and access life-changing services. And when parents are no longer able, it has helped brothers and sisters navigate the complex human services system on behalf of a sibling with autism. Overall, it has directly benefited thousands of children and adults who struggle with the devastating impairments of autism every moment of their lives."
Let there be no doubt. There will be a direct and substantial impact on families in need of support as a result of this cut. 1 in 94 individuals in New Jersey are diagnosed with autism.
The services we offer are available to as many as 80,000 children and adults with autism spectrum disorders in New Jersey.
We have planned more than twenty workshops for parents and professionals with close to 1,000 people expected to attend. And the funds allow us to offer a timely response to 4,500 individuals who reach us via telephone, and 2,000 individuals who receive printed support and guidance materials. Those are all in jeopardy today.
What you can do: While we are already doing -- and will continue to do --- everything in our power to continue to provide services, I am writing to ask for your personal involvement in making the case that this cut should be reversed.
We at Autism New Jersey recognize the enormous fiscal challenges facing Governor Christie, and our State as a whole. And we appreciate his commitment to setting our State on a strong course for the future. But we also believe that, in such trying times, it is all the more essential that limited resources be invested in unique, successful programs such as ours -- that make a tangible difference in people's day to day lives. That is what this grant allows us to do. Thank you for your continued support of Autism New Jersey and our mission.
Sincerely,
Linda S. Meyer, Ed.D., MPA, BCBA-D, CPT Executive Director
www.autismnj.org
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© 2010 Regina G. Claypool-Frey
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