According to an article in the Associated Press by Bruce Shipkowski and reported on phillyBurbs.com, the New Jersey Assembly is slated to vote today on two measures that will expand support for autistic adults in the state of New Jersey as well as more broadly targeting discrimination against autistic individuals.
Shipkowski describes measure A-4225 as an effort to create a state registry that autistic people may voluntarily register for. The purpose of the registry according to state officials would help to improve planning and support for people diagnosed on the autism spectrum. Adults may register personally or be listed by a health care or service provider, Shipkowski states.
Measure A-4226 would revise the state's discrimination laws to specifically prohibit discriminatory acts against people with autism according to Shipkowski and a press release covering the autism measures issued November 23rd by New Jersey Assembly Democrats. The press release further specifies that the state's Law Against Discrimination, "prohibits discrimination in housing, employment and public
accommodations" and the bill proposed by by Legislation Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts would extend those rights specifically to autistic persons.
Both New Jersey and Pennsylvania have signed into law, acts and measures that require insurance providers to cover autism therapies and treatments. New Jersey also has laws that enable teachers to receive autism awareness training and support for early detection of autism in young children.
Should measure A-4225 pass, this is an option that Phily-area parents residing in New Jersey may want to be aware of for their older children who may be nearing the age of majority. The modifications to the Law Against Discrimination proposed in measure A-4226 affect all and may provide parents of autistic kids with an extra leg to stand on should they face discrimination when seeking housing. Pennsylvania's anti-discrimination laws generally provide for persons with disabilities, however, they do not address autism specifically as the state of New Jersey proposes to do.
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