The Work Beyond the Ballot

This week, I’m sharing something close to my heart. It’s an initiative I’m deeply proud of, but I can’t take full credit for it—it was truly a collective effort. I want to talk about the New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus, which we launched in December 2020.

Think back to December 2020. The nation was locked in relentless political debate—red vs. blue, election arguments, constant noise. But while politicians argued, people with disabilities still needed services, healthcare, and baseline access to live healthy, productive lives.

I’ve often said the biggest flaw in our political system is that elected leaders don’t talk to each other. So, alongside dedicated partners—most notably the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities—we built a space to fix that.

The New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus was created as a bipartisan effort to shape proactive policy. Our goal was simple: get lawmakers at the same table before legislation is written, ensuring disability is never treated as an afterthought. The reality is that disability touches every single family at some point. When we design laws proactively with accessibility in mind, we create a country that works better for everyone.

Since we started, this state initiative has driven meaningful policy forward across New Jersey:

• Employment First: Incentivizing competitive, meaningful employment for disabled individuals.
• Health & Safety: Policy targeted at preventing abuse and neglect of people with disabilities.
• Transportation Accountability: Legislation to improve safety and accountability on school buses.
• Transition Planning: Dedicated sessions helping young adults with disabilities transition out of the school system into independent adulthood.

Because we launched during the pandemic, the Caucus started on Zoom—and that virtual format remains one of its greatest strengths. Quarterly sessions are archived online so constituents can watch their elected officials work in real time.

I encourage you to look into your own state leadership. Other states have caucuses like this too, so search for your local legislative disability caucus and get involved. Keep on rolling, keep on living!

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