(TRENTON) — Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen) had the following published Thursday in The Record of Hackensack:
“Taken at face value, the Return Home New Jersey program might sound warm and fuzzy. But for a certain group of New Jersey residents, as well as their families, this program is less like a Hallmark moment and more of a disruption to their entire way of life.
“I’m talking about the New Jersey residents who are suffering from severe developmental disabilities who have been living at out-of-state facilities for years because these facilities are designed to provide the right level of care for their unique needs. These same residents are now being ripped from the only home they’ve known for years and forced to come back to New Jersey when it might not be in their best interest.
“In Governor Christie’s recent conditional veto of a bill (A-3475) I sponsored that would place a moratorium on these types of transfers, the governor stated we must ensure individuals with developmental disabilities receive the services and support that best accommodate their unique needs in the least restrictive setting. The governor’s action proves otherwise…”
To read the rest of Assemblywoman Vainieri Huttle’s op-ed, please click here.