To my colleagues and friends: 

As I approach my 50th year working under the recommendations and mandates of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; as amended I feel the need to reflect on my service to ensure that people with disabilities were able to realize career dreams, enjoy the power to make informed choices about lifestyles and employment and to manage their lives independently under the mantra, “nothing about us without us”. 

I started my career working under Title I of the Act as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor crafting plans designed to lead to employment in jobs for which people with disabilities were eminently qualified. I moved on to manage the In-Service Training Program for the agency which not only renewed and replenished the skills of the VR Counselors, but we raised the education to a master’s level increasing the counseling staff skills to better serve the consumers. 

Moving on to the administrative level of DVRS I was able to affect policy and carry out programs through thoughtful funding and innovative programs that met the needs of an ever-evolving consumer population that demanded increased options and opportunities. My last 10 years with the agency were at the Executive level where I had the opportunity to see both sides of the organization and brought them together to best serve job seekers with disabilities. 

Finally, after leaving DVRS and joining the Independent Living movement I was able to revisit my enthusiasm about the excitement of seeing people with disabilities thrive in their communities. 

My goal for HIPCIL was always to strengthen services to the people of Hudson County and in the mid 1980’s I was able to convince the administration of DVRS to provide space in the Jersey City office to nurture a satellite program. Our founder Eileen Goff was able to skillfully apply to the US Department of Education’s Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) and secure the federal funds for a free-standing agency, Our Hudson County Unit was successfully thriving on its own. 

I retired from DVRS and was invited to apply to take over from Eileen to be the President/CEO of this great agency. Having been born and raised in Hudson County I recognized the unique needs of its citizens with disabilities. The needs of the citizens of both Hudson and Bergen Counties were shifting amid changing economic and ethnic demographics and I knew that both counties would benefit by combining staff members with specific skill sets and talents to be useful in both communities. I am happy to report that we have made great strides in staffing and have increased our ability to expand services.   

Earlier this year I proposed a succession plan to the Board of Trustees to gradually include Marily Gonzalez our VP/COO in more activities in Bergen in anticipation for her to take the reins and lead HIPCIL as the President/CEO beginning 10-1-2024. We will continue to maintain our presence in both counties. 

My transition will be to offer my services as a consultant.  As I reflect on a long and satisfying career in public service and the nonprofit world I plan to focus on my continued interest in disability services, policy and advocacy, age-friendly initiatives and college options for people with developmental disabilities though community college programs.  

While I can proudly look back on a fulfilling career, I will also anticipate the great things to come. Thank you for all the work that you do every day. 

 Sincerely,  

Brian Fitzgibbons 

Brian