DeSantis, of Robbinsville in Mercer County, begins his one-year term in January and will move up to serve as President of the organization in January 2008.
“I am honored to have been elected by my peers and believe that this recognition is due to what DHS/CBVI has been able to accomplish on behalf of our consumers,” said DeSantis. “My primary responsibility is always to New Jersey and to our consumers here in New Jersey; and now my mission with NCSAB is to ensure that vital services are maintained and improved across the country.”
“This is a great honor for Vito and the department,” said Department of Human Services Acting Commissioner Clarke Bruno. “He has been a strong leader and advocate for people who are blind or visually impaired in New Jersey for many years, and I am happy that he is taking to those qualities to the national level.”
NCSAB is made up of all the state and U.S. territorial agencies that provide vocational rehabilitation and services for blind and visually impaired people. Its mission is to promote through advocacy, coordination, and education the delivery of specialized services that enable individuals who are blind and visually impaired to achieve personal and vocational independence.
DeSantis explained that the way we ensure that specialized services continue, improve, are of the highest quality, and meet the changing needs of our consumers, is to educate the public, other stakeholders, federal agencies, congressional committees, consumer groups and community providers, about the benefits of vocational rehab, mobility training, Braille literacy, new technology and other services that help improve the quality of life for people who are blind or visually impaired, as well as their communities.
He previously served as a member of the NCSAB Executive Committee Board of Directors, chairing the Technology and Adaptive Techniques Committee.
DeSantis joined New Jersey 's CBVI in 1984 and has been executive director since 2002.
