New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

What New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities does

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) is a state government council established under the Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act of 2000, operating from Trenton, New Jersey since 1971 with a staff of 11-50. It functions as a federally-mandated systems-change and capacity-building entity whose mission is to advance self-determination, integration, and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in New Jersey. NJCDD is not a commercial enterprise and does not develop technology products; its core service portfolio consists of self-advocacy programs (People First NJ, Partners in Policymaking, Youth Leadership), 21 Regional Family Support Planning Councils serving all NJ counties, the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus (which it founded as supporting agency), the Employment First initiative, and a grant-making program distributing funds to community organizations serving the I/DD population.

The Council's business model is government appropriations-based rather than revenue-generating. Funding flows from federal sources under the DD Act of 2000 and from New Jersey state appropriations; no pricing, fees, or commercial transactions are involved. The customer base consists of self-advocates (individuals with developmental disabilities), family members and guardians, professionals serving the I/DD community, and grant-recipient community organizations. NJCDD distributes advocacy, training, and information through weekly email newsletters, magazines, blogs, and active social media (Facebook, YouTube, X), and coordinates with 50+ supporting agencies across the NJ disability ecosystem. Leadership comprises a Governor-appointed Chairperson (Paul Blaustein), an Executive Director (Mercedes Witowsky), and a Vice Chair (Kevin Nunez), with volunteer council members appointed through the Governor's Office of Appointments.

Name

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

Legal name

New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities

Website

https://njcdd.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) is a state government council, established under the DD Act of 2000, that advances self-determination and inclusion for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey through advocacy training, family support councils, grant programs, and policy coordination with 50+ partner agencies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Disability advocacy and support services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Other Individual and Family Services (624190)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interagency Coordination & Case Management (VR, DD, Medicaid Waivers) (EDAKANAM), Parent & Caregiver Training for LD/Dyslexia Support (EDAKAJAJ)

Keywords

• Developmental disability advocacy
• Disability policy advocacy
• Self-advocacy training
• Family support services
• Community grant funding

Headquarters

HQ city

Trenton

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Funding: NJCDD is a state government council funded through federal and state sources to advance public policy and systems change for people with developmental disabilities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) is a state government council that provides advocacy training, self-advocacy programs, family support planning councils, and grant funding to advance systems change and capacity-building for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in New Jersey. It coordinates with 50+ supporting agencies, distributes grants for innovative community projects, and produces publications and policy guidance to promote self-determination, integration, and inclusion.

Product overview

The New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD) operates as a unified advocacy and support organization rather than a technology product company. The organization offers a portfolio of self-advocacy programs (including People First NJ, Partners in Policymaking, and Youth Leadership), family support services through Regional Family Support Planning Councils, grant funding initiatives, and publications (Eye on Advocacy E-Newsletter, People & Families Magazine, Common Ground, and the Disability in Focus Blog). Additional services include the Legislative Disability Caucus, Employment First initiative, Community Building Awards, and resource programs covering assistive technology, school safety, and aging and disability issues. The organization functions as a systems-change entity focused on advancing self-determination, integration, and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities through advocacy, capacity-building, and grant-making.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-Advocate Programs Advocacy training and support programs enabling individuals with developmental disabilities to influence New Jersey policies and systems.
• Regional Family Support Planning Councils
• People First NJ
• Partners in Policymaking
• Youth Leadership Program
• Legislative Disability Caucus
• Employment First Initiative
• NJCDD Grants Program
• School Safety Program
• Aging and Disability Services
• Community Building Awards

Named customers2 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core and founding supporting agency.

• NJCDD Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Sub-committeecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Standing DEI sub-committee formed in 2021 with hired DEI consultant. Committed to improving cultural competency, diversity, equity, inclusion and linguistic responsiveness.
• The Alliance for the Betterment of Citizens with Disabilities (ABCD)founding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerAlliance of community providers in New Jersey devoted to improving the lives of individuals with complex developmental disabilities. Cathy Chin serves as Executive Director.
• The Arc of NJfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerLargest statewide advocacy organization for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families with 20 affiliated local chapters providing services in all 21 counties in New Jersey.
• Autism New Jerseyfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides 800.4.AUTISM Helpline for constituents and works with public officials to advance public policy initiatives for individuals with autism and their families.
• The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilitiesfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities and NJLEND program. Provides training, research, and technical assistance.
• Brain Injury Alliance of New Jerseyfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerImproves quality of life for anyone impacted by brain injury through support, advocacy, and information while promoting brain injury prevention.
• The Supportive Housing Association of NJfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide non-profit association of service providers and affordable housing developers committed to increasing supportive housing for people with disabilities.
• Disability Rights New Jerseyfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerDedicated to advancing and protecting the human, civil, and legal rights of people with disabilities. Investigates reports of abuse and neglect, monitors facilities, and provides legal representation.
• New Jersey Association of Community Providers (NJACP)founding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerRepresents member agencies that serve people living with intellectual and developmental disabilities, dedicated to advancing sustainable community-based services.
• New Jersey Association of Mental Health and Addiction Agencies (NJAMHAA)founding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerStatewide trade association representing 160 organizations serving over 500,000 children and adults with mental illnesses, substance use disorders, and/or intellectual/developmental disabilities annually.
• New Jersey Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)founding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederally-mandated council with governor-appointed members composed of people with disabilities and agency representation.
• Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Familiesfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerOffice established by State Legislature in December 2017 to serve individuals and families, helping ensure they receive needed services and supports.
• SPAN Parent Advocacy Networkfounding supporting agencyStrategic or Co-development PartnerNJ's Parent Training and Information Center, Family to Family Health Information Center, Statewide Parent to Parent program, and Federation of Families organization.
• LeDerick Horne Speaks and Bill Davis (NJ Black I/DD Consortium)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTwo-year project (beginning 2022) to expand council's ability to empower Black communities by providing information that enhances access to services. Developed the NJ Black I/DD Consortium.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• New York State Developmental Disabilities Council: New York's federally-mandated DD Council with the identical statutory mandate, advocacy-training programs (Partners in Policymaking), and grant-making authority as NJCDD. Operates a closely parallel model of family support planning, self-advocacy, and systems-change grants.
• The Arc of New Jersey: The largest statewide I/DD advocacy organization in NJ with 20 affiliated chapters across all 21 counties. Operates in the same advocacy space as NJCDD with overlapping self-advocate and family member constituencies, and serves as a founding supporting agency of the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus.
• California State Council on Developmental Disabilities: California's statewide DD Council operating under the same federal framework with 12 regional offices, a grant-making program, and policy advocacy role. NJCDD's 21-county Regional Family Support Planning Council structure closely mirrors California's regional office model.
• Disability Rights New Jersey: NJ's designated Protection & Advocacy system for people with disabilities, providing legal representation and abuse/neglect monitoring. Shares the same I/DD population served by NJCDD and is a founding supporting agency of the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus.
• The Boggs Center on Developmental Disabilities (Rutgers): Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's federally designated University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDD). Co-delivers the Partners in Policymaking leadership training program with NJCDD and shares its I/DD training and technical-assistance mission.
• Autism New Jersey: Statewide autism advocacy organization running the 800.4.AUTISM Helpline and working with public officials on autism-related policy. Shares NJCDD's disability-advocacy mission and partner ecosystem for the I/DD population in NJ.
• Pennsylvania Developmental Disabilities Council: Federally-mandated state DD Council operating under the same DD Act of 2000 framework as NJCDD. Directly comparable in mission (systems change, advocacy, grant-making), funding model, and programmatic structure, serving as a regional sister-organization.

Regional players

• SPAN Parent Advocacy Network: NJ's Parent Training and Information Center and Family to Family Health Information Center, providing parent-to-parent support and advocacy training. Operates in the same family-advocate constituency as NJCDD's Regional Family Support Planning Councils and shares the special-education policy agenda.

Emerging players

• NJ Association of Community Providers (NJACP): Trade association of agencies serving people with I/DD in New Jersey, focused on advancing sustainable community-based services. Works in the same I/DD service ecosystem as NJCDD and is a founding supporting agency of the NJ Legislative Disability Caucus.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD): The national umbrella membership organization for all 56 state and territorial DD Councils. While not a direct competitor, NACDD provides the national coordination, training, and federal-policy advocacy layer that complements what NJCDD does at the state level.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/thenjcdd
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheNJCDD
• Facebookfacebook.com/NJCDD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/developmental-disabilities-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities