Ombudsman’s Fourth Annual Report Recommends Better Connections

Established in 2017, the Office of the Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families was designed to offer a central place within State government for individuals and families to turn with questions and concerns about how to obtain the services and supports they need.

Last month, Paul Aronsohn, who has held the role of Ombudsman since the office was created, released his 2021 Annual Report to the Governor, the Legislature, and the Commissioners of the Department of Human Services and the Department of Children and Families. This fourth annual report focuses on key themes and observations on how the State’s system of care is currently serving the disability community.

Within his key themes, Mr. Aronsohn acknowledged a number of Autism New Jersey’s priorities by highlighting the need to increase the quantity and quality of services for individuals with severe challenging behavior, concerns with Managed Care Organizations under New Jersey’s Medicaid Program, and the ongoing staffing crisis within the disability community.

Mr. Aronsohn concludes his report by making two straightforward recommendations that he believes would help improve the system and create better connections between policy makers and the disability community:

1. People in authority should personally spend time with people with disabilities and their families.
2. People in authority should hire and appoint people with disabilities and their families.

Autism New Jersey supports these recommendations and looks forward to continuing to work with Mr. Aronsohn to move towards making them reality.

Visit the Office of the Ombudsman’s website to learn more about their work.

Experience Our Power of Connection

If you are looking for assistance in navigating these very complex systems Mr. Aronson addresses in his report, call our 800.4.AUTISM Helpline, email information@autismnj.org, or use the chat/messaging feature at the bottom of your screen.