Council members are appointed by the Governor and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee. 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.

The Mom 2 Mom program is designed to provide a compassionate and encouraging environment for mothers of children with special needs to come together and share support.By dialing 1-877-914-6662 (1-877-914-MOM2) a mother of a child with special needs will receive the following services:Peer Support - Peer Supporters will be available to provide telephone peer support to callers in need. Moms of special needs children trained in peer counseling and crisis support will offer peer support, explain resources, and explore your needs. Peer support is also available through our website for a live chat experience online.Clinical Assessment - Clinical Professionals will be available as part of the helpline team to do telephone assessment and gauge the depression, anxiety, and family & marital issues, etc. that may be impacting your life.Network - A database of specially trained service providers will be available for referrals for your mental health needs.Support Groups - Within your communities, Mom Peer Supporters will be available every month for Mom 2 Mom support groups.

Advocating & Consulting on Disability Rights and Racial Inequities

The Boggs Center is part of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Dept. of Pediatrics & has emphasized a community based, life span approach to the needs of individuals with the full range of developmental disabilities & their families since 1983, providing community and student training and technical assistance, conducting research and model demonstrations, disseminating educational materials, and responding to requests for information. The federal Administration on Developmental Disabilities originally designated the center as the University Affiliated Program of NJ; the center was renamed in memory of Elizabeth M. Boggs, Ph.D., in 1997. The Boggs Center reflects the evolution of the federal Developmental Disabilities Act & serves as a source of innovation and capacity building for supports and services to people with disabilities and their families. http://rwjms.umdnj.edu/boggscenter/about/index.htm

* Poet/Spoken Word Artist* Advocate for Education & Disabilities* Social Activist, Public Speaker* Political Lobbyist* Radio Host, Actress* Supporting character in movie "Up in the Attic", written and directed by Kamal Imani.* Recorded various tracks & collaborations with artists & producers such as Zam Zam & the Mellyomatic, The Nxt LeveL, Tshombe, Poetic Sylenz and other very talented artists. Amina's first radio experience was as a featured poet on Philadelphia's own Spotlight on Jazz & Poetry. "Safiyyah’s voice is like poetry in motion and her poetry is as soothing as it is powerful!” says Clay "Big Trigger" Corley, Host of SOJP. Amina1389 was a founding member of Tshombe's brainchild, the Spoken Truth Online Radio Media (STORM) group on Blog Talk Radio where she co-created, co-hosted & co-produced the very successful talk radio show Sistah Talk. Since then, Amina has appeared as a featured guest on numerous Blog Talk Radio and online media programs & co-hosted the critically acclaimed FM Radio show "Real Talkz" on 97.5 Elite Radio with her dear friend "REALISM"She was featured in NYC at Supreme Entertainment's 2nd annual Talent Showcase at Moomia Lounge with Max Parthas & Tribal Raine, Blaq Athena of Baltimore, Honest Abe, Nassunni, Lady Blue, Selah the Story Teller and other great artists.AMINA’s first effort at reciting poetry in public was what she claims as a “sweaty palms” moment when she read before Miguel Algarin of Nuyorican Poets Café and Amiri Baraka at the Newark Museum in NJ. Encouraged by Miguel’s positive words, she began featuring at the Jordan’s Red Carpet Restaurant in Roselle NJ hosting "Spoken Soul Saturdays” & co-hosted "Spoken Soul in Silk City" with Kamal Imani at the New Africa Cultural Center in Paterson NJ. Her first solo feature as a poet was an opportunity given by fellow artist and good friend Kamal Imani, in Englewood NJ for the "Salutes to Sisters" Women's History Month event.

Parent Advocate for Special Education

Partners in Policymaking, or PIP, is an innovative leadership training program for adults with disabilities and for parents of young children with disabilities.The program provides information and training for participants to help develop and build on their advocacy skills needed to obtain appropriate services for themselves and family members. PIP participants learn about current issues and best practices, and become familiar with the policymaking and legislative processes at the local, state and federal level. The overall goal is to achieve a productive partnership between people needing and using special services and those in a position to make policy and law.Each session is devoted to specific topics with nationally known experts as presenters. PIP participants must complete assignments between sessions and commit to one major assignment, such as serving an internship, organizing a letter writing campaign, organizing special receptions or town meetings for public officials.

Public Education advocate and lobbyist for change.

Parent Advocate