December 12, 2025

(TRENTON) - Mercer County Executive Dan Benson and New Jersey Department of Human Services (NJDHS) Commissioner Sarah Adelman hosted a roundtable to discuss progress in expanding services for Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) residents. The conversation included governmental leaders, educators, and community advocates, and reviewed the significant steps that the Murphy Administration has taken over the past eight years to improve accessibility and opportunities for the DHH community.

"During my time in the State Assembly, I had the opportunity to work with advocates from the deaf community and with the Administration to pass important legislation, including codifying a Deaf Student's Bill of Rights, expanding the coverage offered by Grace's Law, and securing the first appropriations for DHS' landmark Language Instruction Program," said Mercer County Executive Dan Benson. "When I became County Executive, one our early achievements was securing a Communication Access Grant to install hearing induction loops in County buildings. I'm really pleased that we can host this discussion here at Mercer County, and thanks to the state's support this is now a space where all our residents have the ability to participate."

"The progress made in Mercer County reflects the statewide advancements the Department has implemented to ensure deaf and hard of hearing New Jerseyans can thrive in their communities. By removing communication barriers and enhancing access to essential programs, services, and information, we empower these individuals to fully participate and contribute, ensuring they have ease of access to vital resources," said Human Services Commissioner Adelman. "We are proud to have a community partner such as Mercer County Executive Dan Benson in our continued work to think of inclusivity first, not as reaction."

Benson and Adelman were joined by Kaylee McGuire, Deputy Commissioner for Aging and Disability Services at the Department of Human Services; Elizabeth Hill, Executive Director of the Department of Human Services' Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; Nashon Hornsby, Deputy Commissioner of Population Health at the New Jersey Department of Health; Alice Glock of the Hearing Loss Association of America - NJ Chapter; Tabitha Dell'Angelo, Dean of TCNJ School of Education; Dr. Matthew Hall, Associate Professor of Literacy at TCNJ; and Thyson Halley, a Deaf advocate from the Greater Newark area.

During the roundtable, Commissioner Adelman and Director Hill highlighted several of the Murphy Administration's key initiatives that have reduced and eliminated barriers for DHH New Jerseyans, including:

· Increasing hearing aid reimbursement rates through the Hearing Aid Assistance to the Aged and Disabled programfor the first time in more than thirty years, from $100 total to $500 per-device

· Launching the Communication Access Grants program, which has awarded over $1.5 million to 17 counties to make their services and facilities more accessible. Additionally, through the Division's New Jersey Hearing Aid Project, 14 counties, including Mercer, now provide mobile audiology services to seniors.

· Expanding the Equipment Distribution Programby adding wireless devices, introducing hearing-induction loops, and raising eligibility to 400 percent of the federal poverty level.

· Establishing an Interpreter Mentorship Program to grow the pool of certified sign language (ASL) interpreters

· Updating operating procedures for law enforcement agencies to ensure that DHH individuals can effectively access and communicate with police

The Murphy administration was also the first administration in New Jersey to provide critical press briefings and addresses by the Governor in American Sign Language, and was the first to create a deaf and hard of hearing pre-vaccination checklist for COVID-19 vaccines, which became a model for accessible public health guidance nationwide.

"With 850,000 deaf and hard of hearing residents in our State, we are committed to empower these individuals through comprehensive training, education, outreach, and direct services. We have made significant strides in these recent years, thanks in part to the Murphy Administration's enhanced support and dedicated community partners. We are setting new standards for digital accessibility and public health guidance, ensuring that deaf and hard of hearing New Jerseyans have the support and resources needed to live, work and play in their communities," said Human Services Deputy Commissioner McGuire. "Together, we will continue to drive meaningful change, making the Garden State inclusive for all."

"Children start developing speech and language within their first months of life. When hearing loss is identified early and families receive timely support, children have the strongest chance to learn and communicate successfully," said Health Deputy Commissioner Hornsby. "Our Early Hearing Detection and Intervention Program is committed to meeting key early-childhood benchmarks to ensure that deaf and hard-of-hearing children have the tools and support they need to thrive."

Director Hill and Dean Dell'Angelo also discussed the importance of the Language Instruction Program (LIP), which provides language acquisition and development services for DHH children five-years-and-under, helping them to develop both ASL and spoken-language skills. Operating through a partnership with TCNJ, LIP has served nearly 100 families, providing a major positive impact on children during a critical developmental period.

"Beginning with a small pilot with two deaf toddlers, and made possible through a budget appropriation from then-Assemblyman Benson, our Language Instruction Program has grown into a robust statewide program, setting the standard nationwide," said Director Hill. "With this program, families throughout New Jersey are entitled to this free service, making it possible for their deaf children to achieve bilingualism, be kindergarten-ready, and avoid the potential consequences of language deprivation. I am beyond proud of the positive impact this program and other DDHH initiatives has had on those who are deaf and hard of hearing and look forward to further developing innovative solutions to better serve those in need."