TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senate President Steve Sweeney that would help young adults with developmental disabilities transition to adult employment cleared the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today.
“There are many services that are provided to children with developmental disabilities to help them get through school, but those services don’t always continue once they reach adulthood. Establishing a center in each county will ensure that these young people are given a chance to enter the workforce well prepared and can become successful adults,” said Sweeney.
The bill, S611, would require the governing body of each county to establish, by resolution or ordinance, a county-based center to help a young adult with a developmental disability (up to the age of 24) transition from secondary school to adult employment. Each center would be required to ensure that young adults with developmental disabilities are given mentoring, job coaching, skill training, or any other appropriate services to help achieve a successful transition into adult work life.
Many young adults with developmental disabilities are not able to realize their full potential as working adults because the educational and related services that are provided to them during their school years end abruptly once they leave the secondary school system.
Gloucester County recently established the Adult Center for Transition, which works closely with the Gloucester County Office of Disability Services to facilitate linkages and referrals to agencies, organizations, and educational and training opportunities in order to assist young adults with disabilities successfully transition to adult life.
The legislation now heads to the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.