NJCDD Members & Staff

Council Members

Council members review the state’s service systems for people with developmental disabilities and advise policy makers on the best ways to change those systems to better serve the population. Members also review and award grants to spark innovative projects throughout New Jersey as well as advocate for people with developmental disabilities and their families on an ongoing basis.

Immediate Family or Guardian Members

Ellie Byra, Flemington, NJ
Walter Fernandez, Barnegat, NJ
Safiyyah Muhammad, East Orange, NJ
Tara Montague, Burlington, NJ
Paul Blaustein, Edison, NJ
Margaret (Peg) Kinsell, Browns Mills, NJ
Elizabeth C. Dalzell, Haddonfield, NJ
Helen I. Steinberg, Plainsboro, NJ
Kara Kushnir, Pompton Lakes, NJ

Federally Mandated Members

Federally mandated members of the Council serve in accordance with the federal Developmental Disabilities Bill of Rights and Assistance Act.

A.) State Agency Representatives

NJ Department of Health Division of Family Health Services
Lisa Asare, Assistant Commissioner
Dawn Mergen, Designee
PO Box 364, Trenton, NJ 08625
Email: dawn.mergen@doh.nj.gov

NJ Department of Education, Division of Student Services
Peggy McDonald, Assistant Commissioner
Kimberly Murray, Designee
PO Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625
Email: kimberly.murray@doe.nj.gov

NJ Department of Labor Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

Karen Carroll, Director
David Free, Designee
PO Box 398, Trenton, NJ 08625
Email: David.Free@dol.state.nj.us

NJ Department of Human Services Div. of Medical Assistance & Health Services
Meghan Davey, Director
Phyllis Napier Melendez, Designee
PO Box 712, Trenton, NJ 08625-0712
Email: phyllis.melendez@dhs.state.nj.us

Council Staff