Legislative Disability Caucus Media Advisory

Bipartisan legislative forum brings together family advocates, providers, and state officials to examine workforce shortages and gaps in disability services

WHAT: The New Jersey Legislative Disability Caucus will convene its quarterly Zoom Roundtable to examine capacity and service gaps within disability service systems. The discussion will highlight the real-life impact of workforce shortages on individuals and families navigating disability programs, and feature the DHS Direct Care Workforce Strategic Plan as a framework for solutions.

Speakers include a family guardian sharing her firsthand experience navigating the DDD system, a support coordination agency, a statewide behavioral health leader, and a senior policy advisor from the New Jersey Department of Human Services.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 2, 2026 | Noon – 1:00 p.m.

WHERE: Virtual — Zoom Webinar Register to attend: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_chcnn6xERce-FDd3vy4fEA#/registration (Registration closes at the start of the session.)

WHO:

• 37 bipartisan members of the Legislative Disability Caucus
• Caucus Co-Chair and June 2nd discussion leader, Assemblywoman Aura K. Dunn
• Mercedes Witowsky, Executive Director, NJ Council on Developmental Disabilities
• Terri Cowen, Family Advocate / Guardian — sharing her firsthand experience navigating the DDD system for her siblings
• William England, Disability Services & Advocates (DS&A)
• Debra L. Wentz, PhD, President & CEO, New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA)
• Jack Teters, Senior Policy Advisor, Aging and Disability Services, NJ Department of Human Services

WHY IT MATTERS: Workforce shortages are disrupting care across every disability system in New Jersey, leaving families scrambling, providers stretched, and individuals without the supports they were promised. The NJ Legislative Disability Caucus meets four times a year to keep these issues front and center for the lawmakers who can act on them. This session is an opportunity for the press to witness that conversation in real time.

The NJ Legislative Disability Caucus is a bipartisan forum of state legislators committed to considering the impact on New Jerseyans with disabilities in state policy and budget decisions. Visit https://njcdd.org/legislative-disability-caucus/ to learn more.