The White House has announced that President Obama has nominated Janet LaBreck to be the next Rehabilitation Services Administration Commissioner.  Her nomination has been forwarded to the U.S. Senate for confirmation. I have had the great privilege of working with Ms. LaBreck through the National Council of State Agencies for the Blind. Many of us at the NFB and Randolph-Sheppard community support her appointment and look forward to working with her.

Ms. LaBreck is currently the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB), a position she has held since her appointment by the Massachusetts Governor in 2007.  She has held previous positions at the MCB as Regional Director of Central Massachusetts from 2001 to 2007, Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor from 1993 to 2001, Independent Living Coordinator from 1987 to 1992, and Consumer Advocate from 1985 to 1986.  In addition, she has been an adjunct professor at AssumptionCollege since 2005, where she teaches graduate-level courses in rehabilitation of the blind and case management in rehabilitation.  Ms. LaBreck received an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the New England College of Optometry.  She also received a B.A. from the University of Massachusetts and an M.Ed. from SpringfieldCollege, SpringfieldMassachusetts.

Read the release from the White House here.