2023
NJ Self-Direction Conference

About Val Bradley

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Ms. Bradley is President Emerita of the Human Services Research Institute.  Prior to January 1, 2017, Ms. Bradley was the President of HSRI since its inception in 1976.  Ms. Bradley has directed numerous state and federal policy projects that have contributed to the expansion, enhancement and responsiveness of services and supports to people with disabilities and their families.  

 

Ms. Bradley is a past Chair of the President’s Committee on Persons with Intellectual Disabilities and a Past President of the American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.  She is the lead author of the book Self-Direction:  A Revolution in Human Services published by SUNY Press.  She has also edited books on quality assurance and improvement, individual supports, and deinstitutionalization. 

 

She is currently a senior advisor to National Core Indicators, provides  technical assistance to Living Well grantees, and is advocating for enhancing the status, pay and respect for direct support professionals.

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About Paul Aronsohn

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Paul Aronsohn is currently serving as New Jersey’s statewide Ombudsman for Individuals with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities and Their Families – a position to which he was appointed by Governor Phil Murphy in April 2018. As such, he serves as the administration’s lead advocate and ally for New Jersey residents in need of critical services and supports ranging from early childhood through adulthood.

 

Paul was also appointed last year by President Biden to serve on the President’s Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, which serves as a federal advisor to the President and the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.

 

Paul currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Bergen County Branch of the NAACP as well as on the Bergen County Disability Services Advisory Board. He has also recently been actively involved in a range of volunteer activities focused on food security, social justice, and disability rights.

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