Department of Human Services | Disability Health & Wellness Initiatives

The New Jersey Disability Health & Wellness (DH&W) program serves to consult and collaborate on projects that seek to promote healthy living and prevention of secondary conditions for people with disabilities. As such, the Division works to identify gaps in the State healthcare system; improve state surveillance activities; and facilitate partnerships between state agencies, community organizations, service providers and individuals with disabilities.

The DH&W program staff work with policy makers, health educators, public and private agencies, and experts in the field of health and wellness to brainstorm and implement ways to integrate health and wellness options for people with disabilities into the general health promotion activities in existence within the state. DDS is currently in the process of developing a Disability Health and Wellness Advisory Council to assist in this task.

TRAINING & EDUCATION

The DH&W program has been the successful recipient of several training and education grants. Through these grants, DDS has researched, developed and administered education/training programs on various topics related to the health and wellness of people with disabilities living and working in New Jersey.

The educational opportunities below are currently available and can be customized to fit any specific needs of your group or session timeframes. If interested in scheduling a training, please contact the Program Manager noted at the bottom of this page:

Preventing Violence and Abuse Against Women with Disabilities
Intended Audiences: women with various disabilities, healthcare providers, Division of Developmental Disabilities Support Coordinators, domestic violence and/or sexual assault workers

Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities
Intended Audiences: people with various disabilities, shelter planners and workers.

Health and Wellness
Intended Audiences: people with various disabilities; residential facility and day program staff; family/guardians/friends of people living with disabilities

CURRENT AND UPCOMING DH&W PROJECTS

The Unheard Voice: Addressing Violence Against Women with Disabilities

The Division has received a multi-year grant from the STOP Violence Against Women Act and is working collaboratively with its sister agency, the Division of Developmental Disabilities, and two of the state’s leading agencies focusing on domestic violence and sexual assault of women, The New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence and the New Jersey Coalition Against Sexual Assault, to adapt and deliver existing training material.

The target audiences for this project will include women with more severe cognitive/intellectual disabilities, direct support staff, professionals working with women with disabilities, and domestic violence and sexual assault professionals throughout the state.

As materials are adapted/created, they will be posted here.

Related Materials:

The Unheard Voice: Handbook for Healthcare Providers (English) (Spanish)

The Unheard Voice: Handbook for Women with Disabilities (English), (Spanish)

Violence Against Women with Disabilities: Spot the Signs, Ask the Questions (English), (Spanish)

Emergency Planning and Disaster Preparedness for People with Disabilities

When addressing the health and overall wellness of a person with a disability, disaster and emergency preparedness must be taken into consideration. It is important that people with disabilities and their family members make plans to protect themselves in the event of disasters.

With two sub-grants awarded by the Department of Law and Public Safety's Office of Emergency Management, the Division was able to develop materials designed to educate people with disabilities in disaster preparedness, host training sessions in locations throughout New Jersey on the topic, and distribute up to 2,000 emergency supply kits or “go bags” to attendees.

A “go bag”, an important item when ensuring emergency preparedness for everyone, and especially individuals with disabilities, is a bag packed with essential items, kept ready for use in the event of an emergency evacuation of one's home.

Related Materials:

NJ Office of Emergency Management: Your Kit/Your Plan

NJ Office of Emergency Management-For Access & Functional Needs

Health and Wellness Guides

In collaboration with the Division of Developmental Disabilities' Office of Prevention, DH&W produced the following wellness guides. The guides offer health, fitness, and nutritional information and are designed to familiarize people with disabilities with the basic elements of a healthy lifestyle.

Related Materials:

Eat Well, Live Well, Be Well: A Guide to Healthy Living for People with Disabilities

Your Body is Where You Live: A Guide to Healthy Living for People with Disabilities - Volume II