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Disability Services

One Bergen County Plaza, 2nd Floor
Hackensack, NJ 07601
Phone: 201-336-6500
TTY: 201-336-6505
Fax: 201-336-6510
dkotkin@co.bergen.nj.us

Jim Thebery, MA, CSW, Director

MISSION

• Assess the needs of the County’s most vulnerable citizens with disabilities.
• Provide services that enhance the abilities of individuals enabling them to reach their full potential.
  Ensure that anyone receiving services is placed in the least restrictive / most appropriate setting.
• Manage resources to meet the overall needs of the County’s residents with disabilities.

PROGRAMS / SERVICES

The Bergen County Division of Disability Services was established by the Board of Chosen Freeholders in 1978 as the first such office in New Jersey to address and serve the needs of persons with disabilities. The Division assists Bergen County residents with disabilities to achieve their full potential, to realize their full involvement and/or inclusion in all aspects of everyday living, and to promote community-based living options. In light of this mission, the Division provides an array of programs and services that offer support to persons with disabilities and their families.

The division’s Bergen NJ Ease, information and assistance unit, is the primary access point to the many services and facilities available to residents with disabilities. The division maintains comprehensive resources and listings for purposes of responding to both inquiries about disability-related matters, and requests for program/agency referrals. This service is available to private and public sector entities and the community-at-large.

Personal assistants provide up to 40 hours per week of services such as light housekeeping, shopping, meal preparation, bathing, dressing, correspondence and shopping for self-directed individuals age 18 through 65 with permanent disabilities in the following categories: salaried employee, student pursuing educational/training opportunities related to employment, persons involved with community-based independent living: e.g., parenting, providing child care, volunteering, or board/committee member. A secondary program, where additional hours may be supplemental (if eligible), consumers may be assessed a sliding scale cost-share fee.

Click the PDF below for more detailed information on this program:

Sponsors four support groups that meet in the following municipalities: Englewood, East Rutherford, Paramus, and Maywood. Program functions include group discussions, activities geared to promote personal fitness, arts, and crafts, trivia games, exercises, speech therapy, and occasional leisure.

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Provides relief services to caregivers who need an occasional break from the stressful regimen and time commitment that is part of caring for individuals with a severe and perhaps chronic disorder. Caregivers with emergency respite needs should petition the Respite Care Program for immediate service. Program participants may be required to pay a contributory fee.

Click the PDF below for more detailed information on this program:

Provides one daily nutritious meal, Monday through Friday, to adults (age 59 and younger) by reason of a severe permanent or temporary disability, are housebound and incapable of seeing to their own basic meal preparation needs. Individuals served through this program must be on a regular diet. Weekend and Kosher meals are also available.

Click the PDF below for more detailed information on this program:

The Caregiver Education & Support Program provides in-home professional instruction and support to caregivers entrusted with the responsibilities of caring for someone with a chronic illness, disability, or disease. As there are no income guidelines to qualify, the caregiver must be unpaid and eighteen years of age or older. Among the services available are a registered nurse, occupational, physical, speech therapists, nutritionists, and a social worker.

Project makes available an ADA-related information and assistance service at no cost to private and public sector entities and the general public.

Through a Speakers Bureau, this program aims to create a more positive work environment and level of social interchange for employers/employees with and without disabilities. The Bergen County Division on Disability Services also coordinates educational activities that address issues pertaining to prevention, transition, and disability.

Makes available a host of disability related publications – e.g. pamphlets, periodicals, catalogues, study write ups, and reference-based collections – that convey information on a wide range of subjects, including, but not limited to, demographics; legislative updates; activities of local and statewide disability service organizations/agencies and disability rights advocacy groups; assistive technology; federal and state civil rights laws; accessible fine arts venues in the New York/New Jersey metropolitan area; and basic data and research updates on specific disabilities.