By Brenda Flanagan
Correspondent
Elated families can finally declare freedom from Return Home NJ. Carl Schulze’s son, Peter, will be allowed to stay at the special New Hampshire center that treats his seizure disorder — free of the relentless pressure to move back here.
“Delighted! The fact that my son can be at peace? That’s priceless,” Carl said.
Paul and Sue Anderson’s daughter, Kara, will remain safely at Woods — a facility in Langhorne, Pa.
“We almost couldn’t believe it. This is a two and a half year fight and there were times when we thought we were not going to get very far so this is a big, big, big victory for us,” said Sue Anderson.
Families representatives met with Gov. Chris Christie last week and implored him to suspend the Return Home program. It’s already uprooted 100 clients with severe developmental disabilities and threatened to move an additional 370. Not any more. Families will be able to write a letter opting out.
“The governor about part way through said to us, quite distinctly, that there are times when you need to know not to be stubborn. And if your policy is not meeting its own stated goals and objectives, then you’ve got to do something about it,” said Susan Henoch.
“I really could not have asked for more. Consent was such a huge issue for our families, to be able to decide for our loved ones what was really important for them, where they should live,” said Carolyn Reichenbach.
All along families kept up the pressure. Earlier, Christie vetoed a bill that would’ve imposed a moratorium on the Return Home initiative, but the Senate came within a single vote of overriding Christie’s veto. Then New Jersey’s Division of Developmental Disabilities couldn’t tell lawmakers how much money the relocation policy saved.
“They kept saying, ‘Oh, we’re gonna save a lot of money.’ In some cases, it was more expensive to bring them back to New Jersey. So that argument never sat well with me at all,” said Sen. Kip Bateman.
A new, bipartisan bill will make the policy official. A spokesperson said, “…the governor agreed with the need for sensible changes that ensure the safety and well-being of every New Jerseyan residing in an out-of-state placement. It is encouraging to see those changes are reflected in the legislation being proposed by lawmakers…”
“To bring relief to these families is one of the most satisfying things I’ve done in the Legislature in the last 10 years,” said Sen. Bob Gordon.
But now caregivers like Laura Kelley — whose autistic daughter Alexa was already forced to relocate back to New Jersey — will demand reconsideration.
“She was one of five girls that got moved out of her building and the majority of them have not done well,” Kelley said.
The bill will be voted on in the Senate Thursday, when it’s expected to pass overwhelmingly. In the meantime, the administration has put the brakes on Return Home NJ.