State senator: Closing institution would harm workers, residents
February 15th, 2009From the Vineland [NJ] Daily Journal:
New Jersey state senator Jeff Van Drew opposes closing his state’s institutions for people with developmental disabilities. The Vineland Developmental Center is among the largest employers in his senatorial district, with 1,796 workers serving 447 residents.
An excerpt:
It would be callous to look at the treatment of the developmentally disabled simply with dollar signs in our eyes.
Obviously, we need to do what’s best for the people receiving treatment, not just the people providing treatment. But any plan that fails to adequately account for the transition of jobs from developmental centers to a community care model, and ensure zero net loss in jobs for care workers, should be rejected outright.
Earlier post here.

