Department of Human Services

222 South Warren Street
Trenton, NJ 08625

Contact: Ed Rogan
Pam Ronan
(609) 292-3703

RELEASE: December 11, 2003

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Commissioner Harris to Honor Parents for Designing New Option for People with Disabilities

Trenton- Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner Gwendolyn L. Harris will honor family members who helped in designing new service options for people with developmental disabilities living at home, on Dec. 15, at 1 p.m., at the DHS building, 222 S. Warren Street, Trenton. The honorees are members of a committee guiding the development and implementation of the new service option, called “Real Life Choices,” for families on the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) waiting list.

Real Life Choices offers families the choice of the type of services, as well as the provider of the services, for their family member with a developmental disability living at home. “Many of these family members have been advocating for options other than group homes, and they came to the table with excellent ideas,” said Commissioner Harris.
“They have done a remarkable job to fine-tune this new service option for the division.”

Commissioner Harris will award Certificates of Recognition to:

Ellie Byra, Flemington	Gail Frizzell, Branchville
Lorraine D'Sylva Lee, Changewater	Marilyn Kuna, Somerset
Walter Fernandez, Barnegat	Mary Knuer, Farmingdale
Regina Tegler, Bridgewater	Eileen Coyne, Brick
Natalie Trump, Brick	Monique Wilson, Freehold

Real Life Choices:

	Gives families a choice of services and supports.
	Increases services for people with developmental disabilities living at home.
	Includes lifelong planning for individuals with developmental disabilities.
	Increases federal reimbursements to be reinvested in more services.
	Brings equity to the service system.

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