Following is the letter I faxed to Disability Rights New Jersey requesting an advocate

with regard to my rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act against the Hudson
County Board of Social Services. Included with that fax was a copy of a September 15,
2010 from the Attorney General’s Office to the Court Clerk. Following this letter is a
copy of the Disability Rights New Jersey describing their duties under the Protection and
Advocacy for Individual Rights Program per the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1993.

Reference: OAL Dkt. No: HPW 05363-10; Agency Dkt No: GA404541; 09-2860-cv

Disability Rights NJ website: http://www.drnj.org/index.htm

September 28, 2010

Robin Pugh
232 Bidwell Avenue Apt 2
Jersey City, NJ 07305

Disability Rights New Jersey

210 South Broad Street, 3rd Floor
Trenton, New Jersey 08608

To Whom It May Concern:

The purpose of this letter is to follow up on the intake that was done yesterday,
September 27, 2010 in order to ensure that my rights are protected under the PAIR
Program. This was the second intake done. The first occurred around September 9th or
10th after my car was towed for being unregistered. I am a disabled 54 year old woman
with a condition known as charcot foot. My left ankle is dislocated w/complications
from diabetes. I have high blood pressure which remains elevated because of the undue
stress I am continually being subjected to.

I am facing significant problems related to access to services, access to housing and

housing discrimination, and access to appropriate and less restrictive residential
placements, accommodations, transportation as the Hudson County Board of Social
Services has denied me access to all of the above services. My request for services from
DRNJ is based on my understanding that the PAIR program will assist individuals with
disabilities of all ages in understanding and protecting their rights, accessing available
resources to achieve greater independence and integration into communities, and
enhancing opportunities for increased productivity.

The result of the actions of Hudson County Social Services has left me confined to an
apartment that was non-handicapped accessible, filthy and not up to code from day one.
On those occasions that I have ventured out, it has always been at the cost of great
physical pain and deterioration. As stated above, my car was recently towed and because
of this, I have absolutely no current or future options for independent movement. The
agency discontinued my food stamps without notice in August and has refused to
reinstate them with my fair hearing request on the matter. It is my understanding that all
of the above actions are violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Food
Stamp Act.

I have attached a copy a letter from the office of the Attorney General with regard to the
administrative review of the June 2010 Fair Hearing decision addressing the fact that I
have been forced to pay 65% of my welfare cash grant towards my rent for an apartment
that social services referred me to which is not only not handicapped accessible, the
apartment was filthy and not up to code. Since then my food stamps have been terminated
without explanation and my housing subsidy is at risk for termination by October 6, 2010
due to social services requiring that I provide them information from the Social Security
Administration that may not be possible to provide at this time. From day one, Social
Services has disregarded the fact that I am disabled, thus positioning me for increased
health problems. Because of their actions, approx three weeks ago, I lost my minivan for
failure to register it. I called this office at around the same time.

I am faxing this letter in an effort to expedite some assistance on my behalf as a follow up

to the phone intake done yesterday as stated above. I may be contacted at 347-598-1079.

Sincerely,

Robin Pugh

cc: DSNJ (609) 777-0187 (Fax)

Senator Robert Menendez
Advocating and advancing the human, civil and legal rights of persons with
disabilities

formerly known as New Jersey Protection and Advocacy, Inc.

|
Protection and Advocacy for Individual
Home Rights (PAIR)
|
What is PAIR?
About DRNJ
The PAIR program was created to ensure that
| individuals with disabilities who are not eligible for
other protection and advocacy program services have
Programs
access to advocacy services and legal representation
| offered by protection and advocacy programs.
What's New The PAIR program was established by Congress as a
|
national program under the Rehabilitation Act, as
amended in 1993. Although PAIR is funded at a lower
Priorities level than PADD and PAIMI, it represents an
important component of a comprehensive system to
|
advocate for the rights of all persons with disabilities.
Publications The system designated to serve as the PADD program
in each state and territory is also responsible for
|
operating the PAIR program.
Frequently Asked
Questions The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, Rehabilitation Service Administration (RSA)
| administers the PAIR program.
Contact DRNJ
PAIR Services
|
Individuals with disabilities often face significant
Useful Links
problems related to employment discrimination,
access to services, access to health care and medical
insurance, access to housing and housing
discrimination, access to appropriate and less
restrictive residential placements, accommodations,
transportation, and education.

The PAIR program at DRNJ provides comprehensive

protection and advocacy services, including targeted
outreach to traditionally underserved minority groups,