Governor Phil Murphy • Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver

February 23, 2018 - DCA Awards $330,000 for People with Disabilities

FOR IMMDEIATE RELEASE: Friday, February 23, 2018

 

Grants Provide Opportunities for Sports Training and Athletic Competition

TRENTON, NJ – The New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA) today announced that four New Jersey nonprofits received a total of $330,000 in grants through the Athletics for Individuals with Disabilities program administered by DCA’s Division of Housing and Community Resources. The grants are designed to increase the availability of sports training and athletic competition for individuals with disabilities living in New Jersey. 

“Each year people with disabilities benefit from this program, allowing them to develop independence and confidence while participating in athletic activities,” said Lt. Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, DCA Commissioner. “Each grant ensures equal opportunities, regardless of ability, are made available to people with special needs throughout New Jersey.” 

A $250,000 grant will go to Special Olympics New Jersey, Inc. (SONJ) for athletic training and competition in 24 sports for up to 25,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities. SONJ provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults.

Three additional awards will go to the Wheelchair Sports Council of New Jersey, Association of Blind Athletes of New Jersey, and New Jersey Titans Team, Inc. The Wheelchair Sports Council of New Jersey will receive $20,000 to provide resources and opportunities for training, competition and development of athletic and social skills for wheelchair athletes. The funds will also be used to establish new programs for junior and adult athletes. 

The Association of Blind Athletes of New Jersey, which works with the blind and visually-impaired to provide athletic and training competition, will receive $35,000 to provide individuals with an opportunity to participate in skiing, track and field, judo, beep baseball, and goal ball. The grant will also support efforts to increase youth participation.

A $25,000 grant will go to New Jersey Titans Team, Inc., a non-profit Beep Baseball organization, which provides individuals with visual impairments and blindness the ability to engage in Beep Baseball, an adaptive version of baseball. The grant will support the team’s participation in weekly practices, local tournaments, and championship games.

The Division of Housing and Community Resources strengthens and revitalizes communities through the delivery of affordable housing, supportive services and the provision of financial and technical assistance to communities, local government and community-based organizations. The Office of Community Services distributes federal funds to community agencies that help income-eligible households with health, education, employment, and housing needs. It also oversees the Office of Recreation, which provides technical assistance on recreation. For more information about the Division, visit http://www.nj.gov/dca/divisions/dhcr/. 

The DCA was established in 1967 to improve state services to local government; address the issues at the time of urban decline and suburban development; and secure federal funds to fight poverty. Today, the Department offers a wide range of programs and services, including affordable housing production, fire safety and building safety, community planning and development, local government management and finance, and disaster recovery. 

For more information regarding the DCA, please visit http://www.nj.gov/dca/.