Bill > S3764

This bill establishes the Early Language Access Program within the New Jersey Department of Health to provide comprehensive language instruction and support services for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children aged five and younger. The program will offer free services including up to 25 hours per week of instruction from an interprofessional team of professionals such as sign language associates, speech-language pathologists, audiologists, and social workers. Services will be available in various settings like childcare centers, preschools, and homes, and will be tailored to the child's preferred communication mode, which could include American Sign Language, spoken language, or multimodal approaches. Additional support includes case management, interpreter services, resources for hearing aids and communication devices, and sensitivity training for healthcare and education providers. To qualify, families must provide proof of the child's hearing loss, age, and New Jersey residency. The program aims to support language acquisition and developmental needs by ensuring early, comprehensive, and individualized communication support for young children with hearing challenges and their families.

Health and Social Services

https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/bill-search/2024/S3764