Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

Ombudsman in the News

School bus safety bill focused on special education students clears NJ Senate (3/24/2025)
NJ school bus reforms haven't protected kids with disabilities. Mom asks ‘How many more?’ (2/26/2025)
Guardianships for those with disabilities draws debate (10/14/2024)
Severe autism, frantic families (10/2/2024)
NJ wants new penalties to fight abuse in group homes for people with disabilities (10/2/2024)
N.J. announces major overhaul to stop abuse in group homes (10/1/2024)
Housing crisis for some adults with disabilities (9/25/2024)
Fed-up families say N.J. ignores abuse in group homes. But that may change soon (9/18/2024)
NJ watchdog says residents with disabilities face ongoing abuse and neglect (8/12/2024)
Urgent call for reform: NJ disability ombudsman highlights abuse in state-run homes (7/23/2024)
Emergency housing for NJ kids with disabilities is so scarce 'families often just give up' (6/20/2024)
Why it's harder to care for a disabled child in NJ: State funding is 'broken,' parents say (4/25/2024)
Demand better oversight of homes for the disabled (2/16/2024)
Disability programs face 'severe' labor shortages in NJ, nation. Here's how to fix it (3/10/2024)
N.J. leaders vow to toughen group home oversight after NJ.com report (2/08/2024)
Alone, autistic and afraid (2/02/2024)
Statewide disabilities champion from Ridgewood honored for advocacy work (10/10/2023)
Thousands of NJ families frustrated by long wait for disability services (8/21/2023)
Gov. Phil Murphy names July Disability Pride Month in New Jersey (7/10/2023)
A Q&A with New Jersey Disability Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn (6/8/2023)
NJ Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families releases 2022 annual report (6/5/2023)
FACT Conference Offers Greater ASD Programming Opportunities (4/7/2023) Shortage of emergency housing for NJ kids with severe disabilities
Private School for Autistic Children Expands to Franklin Lakes (3/27/2023)
Couples with disabilities risk benefits with marriage (2/16/2023)
NJ couples with disabilities rally at Montclair State to protest the ‘marriage penalty’ (2/13/2023)
Inroads To Opportunities (OCUC) Hosted Casino Night and Award Presentation Ceremony in Celebration of National Disabilities Employment Month (10/31/2022)
Disability community wants more from Trenton, commemorates COVID deaths (9/20/2022)
75 years ago, these NJ parents ignited a national movement for kids with disabilities (8/16/2022)
Ombudsman Report Cites Continued Abuse in Group Homes (8/1/2022)
Plan NJ Holds 2022 Celebration of Abilities (6/7/2022)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn’s 2021 Annual Report highlights abuse and neglect in group homes (5/27/2022)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn’s 2021 Annual Report Urges N.J. to expand care for residents with developmental or intellectual disabilities (5/24/2022)
Abuse of disabled people in N.J. group homes persists as accountability lags: Issues discussed in Ombudsman’s 2021 report (5/24/2022)
Push for pay increase: Shortage of aides hurts quality of life for disabled NJ residents (4/29/2022)
Disability advocates warn Murphy vaccine mandate will aggravate labor shortages (1/24/2022)
President Biden Announces Key Appointments to the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities (3/11/2022)
Shopping Cart Theory and Practice (6/8/2021)
How accessible are NJ COVID vaccine sites for people with disabilities? Here's what we found (5/25/2021)
This school for students with autism stayed open during pandemic and had no COVID cases (3/21/2021)
Pull Over Properly: Community initiative teaches new drivers with special needs what to do at a traffic stop (2/8/2021)
NJ residents with disabilities begin to get COVID-19 shots (1/25/2021)
Advocates for disabled offer fix for poor pandemic response (11/25/2020)
Advocacy Groups Speak at League of Women Voters "RBG’s Legacy Rally" in Plainfield (10/18/2020)
Face masks present a new challenge for people who read lips (7/20/2020)
How Autism Health Care In Jersey Falls Short (1/30/2020)
People with disabilities are being included in emergency drills — and exposing big flaws (11/18/2019)
NJ official says state disabilities system in 'considerable disrepair' (3/13/2019)
NJ Ombudsman for disabled understands family struggles; former mayor is first to hold state post (7/8/2018)
Governor Murphy Announces Paul Aronsohn to Lead the Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families (4/19/2018)

Op-Ed

Candidates for NJ governor, please make people with disabilities a priority (1/3/2025)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn examines why words matter. We should stop using 'rehabilitation' when discussing disabilities (10/2/2024)
Keep Seeing – Reflections of a Grandfather’s Love and Transformation in the Wake of Disability (6/14/2024)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn contemplates the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s “Olmstead” decision (6/11/2024)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn acknowledges that it's not always easy to feel thankful at the holidays (11/20/2022)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn expresses his thoughts on Joe Biden (9/29/2022)
Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn celebrates brother, Robert Zuckerman’s life (7/12/2022)
Our leaders must raise the voices of Americans with disabilities (6/15/2021)
Candidates, Make Disability Rights a Priority (8/25/2020)
Giving Thanks (11/24/2019)
3 Things Everyone in N.J. Should Know About Disability Employment In Our State (10/31/2018)
Celebrate, Strengthen a Disability Rights Law (10/6/2018)
Celebrating a Milestone for Disability Rights (6/19/2018)
2018: Hope for Parents of Disabled Children (12/26/2017)

Ombudsman’s Public Event Addresses

Ombudsman Paul Aronsohn’s address from the Rowan University Steve Sweeney Center for Public Policy Housing Conference (9/24/2024)

Podcasts

Air Date: (2/12/2024)

Air Date: (7/10/2021)

Download

Videos

2023 Self-Direction Conference Keynote Speaker

2023 Youth Transition Conference Keynote Speaker

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities: Community Discussion on Transportation

Ocean County Library Autism Resources Fair 2023 Keynote Speaker

Talking Truth to Power: Paul Aronsohn, New Jersey's Ombudsman for I/DD

Couples with disabilities risk benefits with marriage

NJ Youth Transition Conference 2022 Keynote Speaker

Panel Discussion for Families of Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in a facility

NJTV: Some with disabilities frustrated with vaccination program

NJTV: COVID-19's disproportionate damage to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Ombudsman on Disability Employment Awareness Month

Parent Empowerment Conference

NJTV: Is legal guardianship necessary for adults with developmental disabilities

NJTV: NJ's most vulnerable residents: Understanding the challenges of a dual diagnosis

NJTV: Is NJ prepared for more developmentally disabled adults living into their senior years

NJTV: Meet the man who's helping people with disabilities get the services they need

Ombudsman’s Written Testimony and Corresponding Legislative Committee Hearing

March 17, 2025: Senate Education Committee (Ombudsman’s Testimony)

NJ Senate Education Committee (Full Hearing Audio Recording)

December 19, 2024: Senate Committee of Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens (Ombudsman’s Testimony)

NJ Senate Committee Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens regarding abuse and neglect legislation (Full Hearing Audio Recording)

June 16, 2021: Assembly Women and Children Committee Hearing Regarding DCF’s Supports and Services for Children with I/DD

NJ Assembly Women and Children Committee Hearing Regarding the Department of Children and Families’ Supports and Services for Children with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

October 22, 2020: Assembly Human Services Committee Hearing on Abuse and Neglect

NJ Assembly Human Services Committee Regarding Abuse and Neglect of People with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities

October 21, 2020: Assembly Health Committee Hearing on Medical Complexity

NJ Assembly Health Committee Hearing Regarding Supports and Services for People with Medical Complexities

August 20, 2020: Assembly Committee on Women and Children Hearing on Covid-19

NJ Assembly Women and Children Committee Hearing Regarding Supports and Services for Children During the Public Health Emergency

June 25, 2020: Assembly Human Services Committee Hearing on Covid-19

NJ Assembly Human Services Committee Regarding Covid-19

September17, 2018: Assembly Human Services Committee Hearing on the status of services for persons with developmental disabilities

NJ Assembly Human Services Committee Hearing on the Status of Services for Persons with Developmental Disabilities

Links to Other Legislative Committee Hearings

NJ Assembly Human Services Committee Regarding the Use of Electronic Monitoring Devices (Video) in Congregate Settings (December 10, 2020)

Official Site of The State of New Jersey

Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals
with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

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Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families

Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals
with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families