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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.
Chair
Paul Blaustein, Edison, NJ
Family Member Advocate
Vice Chair
Kevin Nunez, Willingboro, NJ
Self-Advocate
Self Advocate Members
Todd Emmons, Voorhees, NJ
Andrew McGeady, Jackson, NJ
Myrta Rosa, Elizabeth, NJ
Ryan Roy, Saddle Brook, NJ
Gary Rubin, Elizabeth, NJ
Kevin Nunez, Willingboro, NJ
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
Public Member
The Arc Ocean County
815 Cedar Bridge Ave.
Lakewood, NJ 08701
Laura Williams, Executive Director
Email:laura.williams@arcocean.org
Phone: 732-363-3335
NJ Department of Labor Div. of Vocational Rehabilitation Service
PO Box 398, Trenton, NJ 08625
Karen Carroll, Director
Email: Karen.carroll@dol.nj.gov
NJ Department of Human Services /Title XIX Social Security Act.
Div. of Medical Assistance & Health Services
PO Box 712, Trenton, NJ 08625-0712
Jennifer Langer-Jacobs, Director
Phyllis Napier Melendez, Designee
Email: phyllis.melendez@dhs.state.nj.us
NJ Department of Human Services – Div. of Developmental Disabilities
PO Box 726, Trenton, NJ 08625-0726
Jonathan Seifried, Assistant Commissioner
Email: jonathan.seifried@dhs.state.nj.us
Division of Aging Services/Older Americans Act 1965
VACANT
Public Member
The Arc Ocean County
815 Cedar Bridge Ave, Lakewood, NJ 08701
Laura Williams, Executive Director
Email: laura.williams@arcocean.org
Council Staff
Executive Director
Mercedes Witowsky
609-984-4509
mercedes.witowsky@njcdd.org
Administrative Assistant
Jacinta Williams
609-984-5444
jacinta.williams@njcdd.org
Coordinator of Regional Family Support Planning Councils
Kyoko Coco
609-341-3112
kyoko.coco@njcdd.org
Regional Family Support Planning Council Liason
Kerry McGrath
609-984-4516
kerry.mcgrath@njcdd.org
Chief Fiscal Officer
Jodi Fox
609-292-5238
jodi.fox@njcdd.org
Public Policy Coordinator
Robert Titus
609-984-4511
robert.titus@njcdd.org
Youth Leadership Coordinator
Frank Latham
609-292-3453
frank.latham@njcdd.org
Communication Officer
Gary L. Brown
609-633-8280
gary.brown@njcdd.org
Graphic Designer/ Web Administrator
Maria Ali
609-633-3782
maria.ali@njcdd.org
Special Project Consultant
Maria Leary
maria.leary@njcdd.org
Advocacy and Outreach Assistant
Jesse Schwartzman
jesse.schwartzman@njcdd.org
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Liaison
Jade Pollock
jade.pollock@njcdd.org