Senator Anthony M. Bucco – Co-Chair
Senator M. Teresa Ruiz – Co-Chair
Senator Kristin M. Corrado
Senator Patrick J. Diegnan, Jr.
Senator Vin Gopal
Senator Linda R. Greenstein
Senator Paul Moriarty
Senator Declan J. O’Scanlon, Jr.
Senator Holly T. Schepisi
Senator Nicholas P. Scutari
Senator Troy Singleton
Senator Bob Smith
Senator Britnee N. Timberlake
Senator Joseph F. Vitale
Senator Andrew Zwicker

Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn – Co-Chair
Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald – Co-Chair
Assemblyman David Bailey
Assemblyman Clinton Calabrese
Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Jr., M.D.
Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt
Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez
Assemblywoman Nancy F. Munoz
Assemblywoman Carol A. Murphy
Assemblywoman Annette Quijano
Assemblyman Alex Sauickie
Assemblyman Gary S. Schaer
Assemblyman William W. Spearman
Assemblywoman Shanique Speight
Assemblyman Anthony S. Verrelli

The following agencies signed on to support New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus. They are available to serve as resources for NJ legislators and their staff.
Download a list of the Supporting Agency Directory

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities Mercedes Witowsky, Executive Director Mercedes.Witowsky@njcdd.org (800) 792-8858
NJCDD led efforts to establish the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus. The Council’s mission is to assure that individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) in New Jersey, and their families, participate in the design of and have access to needed community services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that promote self-determination, independence, productivity, integration and inclusion in all facets of life through culturally competent programs.

ACCSES NJ Matthew Putts, PhD, mputts@accsesnj.org (609) 392-1255 ext. 102
ACCSES NJ, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing leadership and support to members who advocate for and serve persons with disabilities through community-based programs located throughout New Jersey.

Advocates In Action ,info@advocatesinaction.com (1-800)-998-9262
AIA is built on the mission to Be the Voice to those who don’t have one, achieving this through empowerment, education, support, and leadership. At AIA, our purpose is to advocate for individuals to identify their unique voices and empower them to embrace their stories.

Alliance Center for Independence Carole Tonks, ctonks@adacil.org (732) 738-4388
Founded in 1986, The Alliance Center for Independence (ACI) is the designated Center for Independent Living for Middlesex, Somerset and Union counties in New Jersey. ACI provides information and referral services and develops and implements educational programs and innovative activities that promote activism, peer support, health and wellness, employment and independent living skills for people with disabilities and their allies. ACI supports the philosophy of independent living for all persons with disabilities.

ASAH-Serving Private Special Education Schools and Agencies since 1974 John J. Mulholland, Jr., Executive Director, johnm@asah.org (609) 475-5214
ASAH…serving the private special education community since 1974 is a not-for-profit organization of private schools and agencies in New Jersey which provide highly specialized services to more than 10,000 infants, children and young adults with disabilities. It works closely with its members and the New Jersey Department of Education to develop policy, promote effective educational practices, and foster productive collaborations between private schools, public school districts, and communities. It also advocates for legislative and regulatory changes that improve the quality of life for individuals with disabilities and their families.

ASL Interpreter Referral Service, Inc. Kathy Kady-Hopkins, info@aslirs.com (732) 873-6401
Providers of Sign Language Interpreters and CART Reporters and Video Relay Interpreting.

Aspire Supports Karl J Venescar, CEO, karl@aspiresupports.com (973) 440-0802
Aspire Supports’ direct care, support coordination and transportation services are designed to establish opportunities for all and independence in life in general through nurturing, therapeutic and person-centered approaches. Our team works indefatigably each day to provide, establish and help maintain all the services our participants need to succeed in their communities.

Autism New Jersey Suzanne Buchanan, Psy.D., BCBA-D, SBuchanan@autismnj.org (609) 588-8200, ext. 10042
For constituents, Autism New Jersey’s 800.4.AUTISM Helpline provides information regarding treatment and service navigation across the lifespan in English and Spanish. For legislators and staff, Autism New Jersey has a long and productive history of working with public officials to advance public policy initiatives for individuals with autism and their families.

Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey Tom Grady, Tgrady@bianj.org (732) 745-0200 ext. 233
The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey’s mission is to improve the quality of life for anyone impacted by brain injury by providing support, advocacy, and information, while promoting brain injury prevention. We envision a world where all individuals with brain injury and their caregivers maximize their quality of life, the consequences of all unavoidable brain injuries are minimized, and all preventable brain injuries are prevented.

Coaching-Connections, LLC. Of Middlesex County James L. Johansen, CEO, ceo@coaching-connections.com (732) 322-8900
To connect individuals with developmental disabilities and their loved ones to success by providing unparalleled, unapologetic, and unwavering services.

Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey (CSPNJ) Victor Luna, CEO, vluna@cspnj.org (732) 780-1175
Collaborative Support Programs of New Jersey, Inc. (CSPNJ), a peer-led not-for-profit organization, provides flexible, community-based services that promote responsibility, recovery, and wellness through the provision of community wellness centers, supportive and respite housing, human rights advocacy, educational and innovative programs for people with the lived experience of behavioral health conditions and substance use.

Community Access Unlimited CAU intake/referral department, info@caunj.org (908) 354-3040
Community Access Unlimited has provided services to help people lead more independent lives since 1979. CAU supports people with disabilities and youth at risk with Residential Services, Support Coordination, Day Program, The Academy for Continuing Education, Behavioral Management, Speech Therapy, Employment Services, Support Services, Community Based Supports, Assistive Technology, Youth Services and more. See all of our services at caunj.org

Community Supports Network Ted K. Mayer, President/CEO, Tedkmayer@yourcsn.com (201) 919 3211 x 200
North Jersey Agency which provides Individual Supports, Community Based Supports and Employment Services to individual with developmental disabilities. The agency currently supports well over 350 families with close to 175 employees.

Consistent Supports Coordination npagano@consistentscllc.com (856) 324-8260
Consistent Supports Coordination, LLC provides quality service coordination to clients in the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) and NJ Division of Aging Services (DoAS) Waivers. We assist our clients in gaining access to needed waiver services, as well as, medical, social, and other resources, regardless of funding source, to allow them to continue to live as independently as possible in the community.

DAWN Center for Independent Living Carmela Slivinski, Executive Director, cslivinski@dawncil.org (973) 625-1940 X216
DAWN Center for Independent Living, Inc. is a grassroots, consumer-driven and consumer-controlled nonprofit organization promoting self-direction to create, expand, and implement equal-access opportunities by and for people with disabilities. DAWN is one of 12 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) in NJ established to advance the Independent Living Philosophy by changing attitudes and beliefs which perpetuate dependence.

Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health – New Jersey Eric Eberman, M.S.Ed., Executive Director  (856) 599-6400
Devereux Advanced Behavioral Health New Jersey touches the lives of nearly 500 children, adolescents and adults, and their families, across the state. Individuals with emotional, behavioral and cognitive disabilities, including autism, are served through a broad spectrum of treatment settings, including community-based homes and supported apartments, vocational training programs, family care homes, and consulting services.

Disability Allies info@disabilityallies.com (908) 848-0385
The purpose of the Disability Allies is to connect young adults and teenagers with and without disabilities. We plan team building activities where we pair up each individual with a mentor.

Disability Rights New Jersey Intake Unit, advocate@disabilityrightsnj.org 800-922-7233 (Toll Free NJ only)
Disability Rights NJ is dedicated to advancing and protecting the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities. We investigate reports of abuse and neglect, monitor facilities and community-based programs, provide legal representation within our priorities, provide education, training, and technical assistance, and provide information and advice about assistive technology.Easterseals New Jersey info@nj.easterseals.com Main Line: (732) 257-6662 Referral Line: (855) 215-4541

Easterseals New Jersey, a registered 501(c)3 organization, has helped individuals and families with disabilities or special needs to live, learn, work and play in their communities with equality, dignity and independence since 1948. Annually, over 5,000 people in New Jersey with developmental disabilities including autism, physical disabilities, mental illness and other special needs receive services in our programs designed to help them work toward achieving independence and full community-integration.
Employment Horizons, Inc. (973) 538-8822

Employment Horizons serves individuals with disabilities and other barriers to employment through innovative programs and employment opportunities in the greater Morris County area.

Families and Community Together (FACT) lmontalbano@ehorizons.org |  (908) 789-8500
Families and Community Together would like to update their description to say the following: “Families and Community Together (FACT) is a non-profit, community-based care management agency that provides assistance to families in Union County who have children with severe emotional, developmental, and behavioral challenges.  FACT is part of the New Jersey’s Children’s System of Care, a statewide network of organizations that help families get services they need to care for their children’s behavioral health and developmental needs. For more information about FACT please contact CERD@factnj.org of visit www.factnj.org or www.njcmo.org

Hearing Loss Association of America – New Jersey State Association (HLAA-NJ) Arlene Romoff ArleneRomoff@gmail.com (201) 362-8433
HLAA-NJ serves as an extension of the Hearing Loss Association of America organization in creating awareness of hearing loss issues within the state of New Jersey. It provides a statewide network to help with outreach, advocacy, legislative and equal access issues that affect people with hearing loss.

Heightened Independence and Progress (hip) Brian Fitzgibbons, bfitzgibbons@hipcil.org (201) 996-9100
hip has been in Bergen County since 1980 and Hudson County since 1987. Governed and staffed by people with disabilities, hip offers wide-ranging programs and services for people with disabilities, including peer support, self-advocacy, care management, programs that provide funding for disability-related equipment, home modifications that remove architectural barriers, support coordination and transition services that enable high school students and young adults to prepare for their future, and print transcribed into Braille by Multimedia Transcription Service (MTS), with a special focus on producing textbooks for students across the country to help them be on the same ‘page’ as their sighted peers.

Hunterdon County Special Child Health Services Susan Freedman, LCSW, sfreedman@hhsnj.org (609) 681-7481
Free case management services for any Hunterdon County youth ages 0-22 who has an intellectual or developmental disability or acute or chronic health condition.

Inroads to Opportunities Michele Ford President/CEO, MFord@inroadsto.com (908) 241-7200 ext. 3022
Inroads to Opportunities is a Community Rehabilitation Program serving the Union County and surrounding area. Inroads provides the following programs for adults facing challenges from a disability: transition from school to work, vocational preparation, mental health services, day habilitation and employment services.

Jewish Federations of New Jersey Joshua Cohen, Director, Government and External Relations, joshuac@jfnj.org 908-889-1880 Jewish Federations of New Jersey (JFNJ) is the statewide coordinating voice of New Jersey’s Jewish Federations and their network of agencies on a range of state and federal policy issues that enhance the Jewish community’s ability to serve vital human needs.

Laura Bishop Communications Allyson Roberts, allyson@laura-bishop.com (609) 405-0129
Laura Bishop Communications is a public relations firm offering a range of services from media relations to internal communications and strategic communications campaigns to issue and crisis counseling.

Mental Health Association in New Jersey cbeauchamp@mhanj.org (973) 571-4100
The Mental Health Association in New Jersey is a statewide non-profit organization that strives for children and adults to achieve victory over mental health and substance use disorders through advocacy, education, training, and services.

Moceans Center for Independent Living Judyth Brown, Executive Director judyth.brown@moceanscil.org (732) 571-4884
We are a non-residential, consumer-controlled, community-based, 501c3 nonprofit organization. We provide information, instruction, and support for people living with disabilities, their families, friends, and allies in the community. It is our mission to promote public awareness and barrier-free access in the community while supporting individual choice, advancing the independent living philosophy, promoting civil rights and inclusion of all people living with disabilities.

NAMI NJ Meredith Masin Blount, Executive Director, mblount@naminj.org (732) 940-0991
NAMI New Jersey (NAMI NJ) is a statewide non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness. Through education, support, advocacy and public awareness programs NAMI NJ fosters understanding about mental illness, confronts stigma often associated with mental disorders, advocates for public policies that benefit those affected by mental illness, and promotes research into the causes, treatment and recovery of mental health disorders.

National Multiple Sclerosis Society mara.brough@nmss.org (1-800) 344-4867
This vision is a world free of MS. The mission is we will cure MS while empowering people affected by MS to live their best lives.

New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP) Valerie Sellers, vsellers@njacp.org (609) 406-1400
NJACP provides support and services to its member agencies that serve our neighbors, family, and friends living with intellectual and developmental disabilities. NJACP is an association with its members reflecting a dynamic community of diverse providers dedicated to advancing sustainable community-based services and supports that enrich lives and build futures for people.

New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies ((NJAMHAA) Debra L. Wentz, PhD, dwentz@njamhaa.org (609) 838-5488
NJAMHAA is a statewide trade association representing 160 organizations that serve each year more than 500,000 children and adults who have mental illnesses, substance use disorders and/or
intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. NJAMHAA’s mission is to promote the value of its members as the highest quality behavioral healthcare providers for the residents of New Jersey through advocacy and professional development.

New Jersey Deaf Housing, Inc. Kathy Kady-Hopkins, Kathy@njdh.org
To provide housing for the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind and Late-Deafened that is accessible, affordable and support services. As of 11/19/2022, we are pursuing Building 24 at the NJ School for the Deaf into housing to convert into deaf housing.

New Jersey Disability Collective (NJDC) Millie Gonzalez & Colleen Roche, njdisabilitycollective@gmail.com (732) 474-6776
The New Jersey Disability Collective is a group of advocates with disabilities who amplify one another’s work and share space to connect, engage and revitalize our community. NJDC prioritizes emergent cross-disability issues and creates systems change that supports choice and equity for all people with disabilities.

New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) Norman Smith, nsmith@njsilc.org (609) 902-2130
The New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is a federally-mandated council with members appointed by the governor. The SILC’s membership is made up of people with disabilities and representation from agencies.

NJ Association of Centers for Independent Living (NJACIL) Scott Elliott, scott.elliott@pcil.org (609) 581-4500
The NJACIL made up of all 11 Centers for Independent Living (CILs) from across the state. The Association assists in the development, advancement, expansion and continuation of centers for independent living; to promote and advocate for the rights of all people with disabilities regardless of disability within the community, and to promote the concept of independent living in the state of NJ and nationally through training, education, advocacy and fund development, to provide an arena for collaboration among the network of the CIL’s and to act as a lead agent in accessing and distribution of funds for programs implemented through the association.

NJ Disability Action Committee (NJDAC) Javier Robles, jrobles@njdac.org (732) 887-8722
The NJDAC is an intersectional group of disability rights activists that includes self-advocates, family advocates, and professional advocates. The group is composed of volunteers from across the state, including members of different ages, races, religions, socioeconomic statuses, and abilities. Our aim is to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities in the state of New Jersey through unified action.

NJ Joint Council on Special Services Michael Vrancik, Government Relations Consultant nvrancik@comcast.net
The New Jersey Joint Council of County Special Services School Districts promotes the unique role of county special services school districts as providers of highly specialized placements for students with severe and multiple disabilities and cost-effective shared services for local districts. The special services districts work in partnership with local districts to help each student reach his or her full potential.

Northeast ADA Center Jennifer Perry, Access Specialist, jlp359@cornell.edu (732) 449-3621
The Northeast ADA Center is a member of the ADA National Network funded by the National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research (NIDILRR grant number 90DPAD0003). We
provide information, guidance, and training on implementation of all aspects of the ADA. Our center is located at the Yang-Tan Institute at Cornell University. Our staff consists of individuals with and without disabilities who have extensive experience in the disability field.

Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families Paul Aronsohn, Ombudsman, Disability.Ombudsman@treas.nj.gov (609) 984-7764
The Office was established by the State Legislature in December 2017 to serve individuals and their families – to help make sure that they get the services and supports they need and deserve. Appointed by the Governor and housed within the Department of Treasury, the Ombudsman serves as the administration’s lead advocate and ally for New Jersey residents with intellectual or developmental disabilities of all ages and their families. The Ombudsman provides guidance and assistance for individuals and families who are having difficulty receiving the services they need and works closely with other government officials to resolve issues, to identify patterns of complaints regarding rights and services of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities, and to recommend strategies for improvements.

Progressive Center for Independent Living (PCIL) Scott Elliott, scott.elliott@pcil.org (609) 581-4500
The PCIL is a cross-disability, non-residential, community-based, nonprofit organization that is designed and operated by individuals with disabilities to provide a wide array of services and supports to assist individuals and families with many topics in community settings. PCIL provides peer counseling, skills training, advocacy, information and referral, student transition, case management and a variety of other services based on individual needs.

Promise Day Habilitation smbperspectives@gmail.com (732) 658-6117
Our mission is to help each individual live up to their individual true Promise. Our person-centered program assists our individuals in being their absolute best.

SPAN Parent Advocacy Network Diana Autin, Executive Director, span@spanadvocacy.org 973-642-8100 or 800-654-SPAN
SPAN is NJ’s Parent Training and Information Center (early intervention, education, transition to adult life); Family to Family Health Information Center (health); Statewide Parent to Parent program (emotional support); and Federation of Families for Children’s Mental Health state organization (mental health).

The Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD) Cathy Chin, Executive Director, Admin2@abcdnj.org (609) 581-8375 An alliance of community providers in New Jersey devoted to improving the lives of individuals with complex developmental disabilities.

The Arc of Monmouth Stephanie Cardoso, Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator, info@arcofmonmouth.org or scardoso@arcofmonmouth.org (732) 493-1919 The Arc of Monmouth’s mission is to improve the lives of persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, services and supports, collaboration with community partners, and community education

The Arc of NJ Tom Baffuto, Executive Director, Tbaffuto@arcnj.org (732) 733-6174 The Arc of New Jersey is the largest statewide advocacy organization for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families. We have 20 affiliated local chapters providing services in all 21 counties in New Jersey. Our mission is to enhance the quality of life of children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families through advocacy, empowerment, and education.

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities Colleen McLaughlin, MEd – Associate Director, colleen.mclaughlin@rutgers.edu (732) 235-9313
The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities, part of Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, is New Jersey’s federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (NJLEND), a clinical interdisciplinary program. The Boggs Center provides student training, community and continuing education and technical assistance, conducts research, and develops and disseminates educational and informational materials. Guided by a Consumer Advisory Council and partnerships with people with disabilities, families, and state and community agencies, The Boggs Center addresses the full range of developmental disabilities across the life span and builds capacity in New Jersey for inclusion, self-determination, productivity and full community participation. The Boggs Center is federally mandated to serve as a resource to policy makers.
The Supportive Housing Association of NJ Diane Riley, Executive Director, diane.riley@shanj.org
(908) 931-1131

The Supportive Housing Association of NJ (SHA) is a statewide non-profit association of service providers, affordable housing developers and other affiliated organizations. SHA is committed to increasing the availability of supportive housing for people with disabilities or barriers to live integrated in communities throughout NJ.