Official Site of The State of New Jersey
Accessible Communication Services
The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has a responsibility to make its programs, services, activities, and facilities accessible for individuals with disabilities in accordance with Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). One of the components of Title II focuses on removing barriers to effective communication, including communication via telephone.
This page includes information on two services that remove or reduce barriers to communication:
- Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS); and
- Relay Conference Captioning
Telecommunications Relay Service
There are many accessibility options and apps available for making and receiving phone calls. Different people prefer different methods. Ask the person who is Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind, or has a speech disability how they would like to be reached over the phone.
New Jersey Relay
A Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS), such as New Jersey Relay, is one type of accessible telephone communication. To use New Jersey Relay, dial 711 (or one of toll-free numbers listed on the New Jersey Relay Contact Us page) to reach a relay operator. Provide the area code and telephone number of the person you wish to call. The relay operator will dial the number and connect you to them. If needed, the relay operator will explain the process before connecting the call. For additional information, visit the New Jersey Relay website.
Relay Conference Captioning
Relay Conference Captioning (RCC) service is available at no cost to enable people who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind or have a speech disability to actively participate in video meetings, conference calls, or webinars. With RCC, you can read live captions via a web browser on an internet-connected device. You can speak or type to communicate with the other attendees. For more information about RCC and to reserve RCC, visit New Jersey Relay's Relay Conferencing Captioning webpage.