Summary of support group meeting held October 11, 2013
Guest speaker: David Sommers, Business Manager, New Beginnings at
Joey’s Place, LLC.
A support group meeting was held at the Hickory Corner Road branch of Mercer County
Public Library in East Windsor, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon on Friday, October 11,
2013.
This meeting was primarily devoted to a presentation by David Sommers, Business
Manager, New Beginnings at Joey’s Place.
Web site: http://www.newbeginningsatjoeysplace.com
New Beginnings at Joey’s Place is a new day program that is expected to be open for
business before the end of 2013 in Neptune. David provided brochures and folders with
detailed program information for each of the attendees at this meeting. The entire
Neighbours community will soon be receiving notification of the Grand Opening/Open
House.
The program’s founder is Angela Di Taranto, mother of Joey, who is also doing self-
directing through Neighbours. Angela and David are putting together a very ambitious
and creative program. Please see the web site above for details.
Joey’s Place will be DDD-contracted, and will include many opportunities for
wholesome, physical activity. The program plans to accommodate up to 85 clients over
the age of 21, with a staff to client ratio of 1:6. The facility itself is a 12,000 sq. ft.
building, with a separate dining hall. Joey’s Place will not be limited only to clients on
the autism spectrum, and can accommodate up to Level 3 Behaviors. Some of the
features of Joey’s Place include:
An indoor swimming pool and inground trampoline
Access to a local farm where clients can work with animals and acquire new skills
Music therapy
Before/after program (especially helpful for parents who work)
Opportunities to do volunteer work (and acquire job skills)
Respite care
Weekend programs
Field trips and recreational activities
Regular consultations with behavioral specialist
Summer camp
Livestream video (except in the swimming pool), so parents can see their child while he
! is in program
Able to accommodate Asperger’s clients
Joey’s Place is wheelchair-accessible, but is not able to accept medically fragile clients.
There will be no nurse on the premises.
Eventually Joey’s Place hopes to be able to offer residential placements in group
homes.
AWESOME!
