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

Walter Fernandez, Barnegat, NJ
Michael J. McCarthy, CPCU, Dumont, NJ
Safiyyah Muhammad, East Orange, NJ
Paul Blaustein, Edison, NJ
Margaret (Peg) Kinsell, Browns Mills, NJ
Nantanee Koppstein, Princeton Junction, NJ
Elizabeth C. Dalzell, Haddonfield, NJ
Helen I. Steinberg, Plainsboro, NJ
Kara Kushnir, Pompton Lakes, NJ
Sarah Aziz CPA, Monroe Township, NJ
Annette Smith, Newark, NJ

Federally Mandated Members

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

Disability Rights New Jersey
210 S. Broad St.,Trenton, NJ 08608
Gwen Orlowski, Executive Director
Email: gorlowski@disabilityrightsnj.org
Jill Hoegel (Designee
Joegel@disabilityrightsnj.org

The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Liberty Plaza, 335 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901
Joyce Jelley, Training & Consultation Spclst.
Email: joyce.jelley@rutgers.edu

NJ Dept. of Health/Title IV of Social Security Act
Div. of Family Health Services
PO Box 364, Trenton, NJ 08625
Lisa Asare, Assistant Commissioner
Dawn Mergen (Designee)
Email:  dawn.mergen@doh.nj.gov

Department of Human Services/ Title XIX Social Security Act Division of Disability Services
PO Box 705,Trenton, NJ 08625
Peri L. Nearon, MPA, Executive Director
Jacqueline Moskowitz (Designee)
Email:  jacqueline.moskowitz@dhs.state.nj.us

NJ Dept. of Education/IDEA
Office of Special Education Policy and Dispute Resolution
PO Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625
Kathy Ehling, Assistant Commissioner
Alexandra Pensiero, Ed. S. (Designee)
Email:  alexandra.pensiero@doe.nj.gov

Council Staff