RELEASE: February 7, 2005

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TRENTON -- Department of Human Services (DHS) Commissioner James M. Davy met one-on-one today with a family including their developmentally disabled daughter to discuss the Department's new approach to more specialized services for people with developmental disabilities.

The Furrer family invited Commissioner Davy to their Delran home to share their views about Division of Developmental Disabilities' (DDD) new self-directed approach called Real Life Choices.

Real Life Choices was developed in response to the need for more choice regarding services for people with developmental disabilities. It follows a national trend that promotes services that allow people with developmental disabilities to live with their families.

“ Real Life Choices allows us to offer more options than group homes or other residential programs,” said Commissioner Davy. “It gives us an opportunity to give family members what they've been asking for.”

The Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) serves more than 35,000 people statewide. Approximately 9,000 people receive community-based services such as group homes or supervised apartments.

Another 3,100 are requesting immediate services. An estimated 60 percent of those 3,100 do not want traditional community-based residential services.

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DHS rolled out this new approach during Spring 2003. About 100 families are enrolled in Real Life Choices in 11 counties including Burlington , Camden , Cape May and Atlantic , Bergen and Passaic counties.

Eligible participants are given a budget to create their services. Funding ranging from $14,000 to $63,000 a year can be used for services such as transportation, aides to help with in-home care or home renovations.

“Real Life Choice helps to empower our families, while providing more creative and cost-effective in- home service options,” said Davy.

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