SANDS POINT, NEW YORK – Helen Keller Services (HKS) has announced that its Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Susan Ruzenski, will retire effective January 1, 2027, concluding a 47-year career with the organization. The HKS Board of Trustees plans to conduct a national search for her successor.
Ruzenski has held several leadership positions throughout her tenure, including 22 years as Director of Direct Services and later Executive Director of the Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC). She was appointed CEO of Helen Keller Services in 2021.
Her career has focused on expanding educational, vocational, and community-based opportunities for individuals who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind, including the development of person-centered programs emphasizing independence, skill development, and community participation.
Expanding Programs and Accessibility Initiatives
During her tenure as CEO, Ruzenski oversaw the expansion of Helen Keller Services’ early childhood education programs on Long Island, including the establishment of Children’s Learning Center preschools in Islandia and Plainview for children with complex learning needs.
She also supported the expansion of community-based services and employment programs for DeafBlind individuals, helping bring employment specialists and other resources closer to the communities they serve.
Additional initiatives included the development of a learning platform co-created with members of the DeafBlind community and the launch of the annual HKS AccessAbility Awards, which recognize organizations incorporating accessibility into their products and services.
Ruzenski also contributed to bringing the Academy Award-nominated short film Feeling Through to the screen. The film, which features a DeafBlind actor, helped bring broader attention to DeafBlind representation and accessibility.
“For 47 years, Sue has devoted her career to the people we serve, and her leadership is evident in every program Helen Keller Services offers. On behalf of the Board, I thank her for extraordinary service. Sue leaves an organization that is growing, with strong programs, talented colleagues and committed partners.”
–Larry Kinitsky, Chair of the Board of Trustees
Leadership Transition Planned for 2027
Ruzenski will continue serving as CEO through the end of 2026 while the organization’s executive leadership team works to maintain continuity across its programs and partnerships during the transition.
“It has been a tremendous privilege to lead this organization and to work alongside so many colleagues, partners, supporters and participants who share our commitment to creating opportunities for people who are blind, have low vision, or are DeafBlind,” said Dr. Ruzenski. “HKS is growing and innovating, and it is well positioned to build on its legacy and create even greater impact in the years ahead.”
In addition to her work with Helen Keller Services, Ruzenski was recently named a 2026 Long Island Trailblazer by City & State. She holds a doctorate in Adult Learning and Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
The planned leadership transition comes as Helen Keller Services continues to provide educational, rehabilitation, employment, and community support programs through its regional and national service networks.
About Helen Keller Services
Founded in Brooklyn in 1893, Helen Keller Services enables individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, or have low vision to live, work, and thrive in the communities of their choice. Helen Keller Services for the Blind (HKSB) serves the New York metro area and Long Island, from preschool at the Children’s Learning Center and Camp Helen Keller to vocational rehabilitation, employment services, and support for older adults with vision loss.
The Helen Keller National Center for DeafBlind Youths and Adults (HKNC), established by an act of Congress in 1967 and headquartered in Sands Point with regional offices nationwide, is the only comprehensive vocational rehabilitation program in the country serving individuals who are DeafBlind.
Learn more at helenkeller.org.
