California Gov. Gavin Newsom made nine appointments to the State Rehabilitation Council (SRC) on Oct. 31, and one of the appointees has ties to the Central Valley with her nonprofit work.

Shellena Heber, the executive director of Valley Center for the Blind, was one of the appointees. The SRC advises the California Department of Rehabilitation on programs that help people with disabilities prepare for and maintain employment. 

Heber will serve as the council’s community rehabilitation representative.    

“The State Rehabilitation Council is a critical part of ensuring that Californians living with disabilities receive effective, informed, and person-centered services that meet their needs and goals,” Heber said in a news release. “As a proud California native with a decade of experience in disability services, I see so many possibilities to improve the lives of people with disabilities in our state. I am deeply honored for the opportunity to contribute to the State Rehabilitation Council and look forward to collaborating with this esteemed group of advisors.”  

The Valley Center for the Blind is a Central Valley nonprofit that provides rehabilitation training, peer mentoring, employment services and independence programs for people who have low vision. The organization serves residents across Madera, Fresno, Kings, Tulare and Kern counties, where more than 80,000 adults are estimated to have significant vision loss.