Official Site of The State of New JerseyDeaf and Hard of Hearing Services
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) provides specialized services for individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.
We employ Deaf Language Specialists, also known as Rehabilitation Counselors for the Deaf, to cover all 21 counties who provide direct vocational counseling to DVRS clients whose primary language is American Sign Language (ASL).
DVRS also contracts with supported employment agencies who have staff proficient in ASL to assist with job readiness skills, job placement, job coaching and long term follow along services, if needed.
In addition, DVRS funds three Regional Centers for People with Hearing Loss that serve individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, late deafened, or have cochlear implants. These centers offer vocational assessments, job readiness skills, job search support, job coaching, and pre-employment transition services for students in school and out of school youth. Each center houses a demonstration center with various assistive technology that may assist an individual at their place of employment.
PO Box 398, Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-9339 (V), 609-292-8347 (FAX), 609-498-6221 (VP)
Tanya Onsongo: Tanya.Onsongo@dol.nj.gov
2 South Main Street, 1st Floor, Suite 2, Pleasantville, NJ 08232-2728
609-813-3933 (V), 609-813-3959 (FAX)
60 State Street, 2nd Fl., Hackensack, NJ 07601-5471
201-996-8970 (V), 201-996-8880 (FAX), 973-968-6556 (VP)
Gary Mitchell: Gary.Mitchell@dol.nj.gov
795 Woodland Road, Suite 201, Westampton, NJ 08060
609-518-3948 (V), 609-518-3956 (FAX) 856-831-7599 (VP)
Barbara Myerovich: Barbara.Myerovich@dol.nj.gov
101 Woodcrest Road, Suite 127, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
856-549-0500 (V), 856-614-2538 (FAX), 856-831-7599 (VP)
Barbara Myerovich: Barbara.Myerovich@dol.nj.gov
3801 Route 9 South, Unit 3, 08242
609-523-0330 (V), 609-523-0212 (FAX)
40 E. Broad Street, Suite 204, Bridgeton, NJ 08302-2881
856-453-3888 (V), 856-453-3909 (FAX), 856-497-0075 (VP)
Emma Gordon: Emma.Gordon@dol.nj.gov
990 Broad Street, 2nd Floor, Newark, NJ 07102
973-648-3494 (V), 973-648-3902 (FAX), 862-772-7166 (VP)
Robert Berman: Robert.Berman@dol.nj.gov
Gloucester Regional Service Center
215 Crown Point Rd, Suite 200, Thorofare, NJ 08086-2153
856-384-3730 (V), 856-384-3777 (FAX), 856-497-0075 (VP)
Emma Gordon: Emma.Gordon@dol.nj.gov
438 Summit Ave, 6th Floor, Jersey City, NJ 07306-3187
201-217-7180 (V), 201-217-7287 (FAX), 201-616-0447 (VP)
Judy Dorrbecker: Judy.Dorrbecker@dol.nj.gov
75 Veterans Memorial Drive E., Suite 101, Somerville, NJ 08876-2952
908-704-3030 (V), 908 704-3476 (FAX), 732-393-8056 (VP)
Barbara Stockton: Barbara.Stockton@dol.nj.gov
Labor Station Plaza, P.O. Box 959, 28 Yard Avenue, Trenton, NJ 08625-0959
609-292-2940 (V), 609-984-3553 (FAX), 609-498-7011 (VP)
Steven Shevlin: Steven.Shevlin@dol.nj.gov
550 Jersey Avenue, P.O. Box 2672, New Brunswick, NJ 08903-2672
732-937-6300 (V), 732-937-6358 (FAX), 732-393-8056 (VP)
Barbara Stockton: Barbara.Stockton@dol.nj.gov
60 Taylor Avenue, Neptune, NJ 07753-4844
732-775-1799 (V), 732-775-1666 (FAX), 732-606-4961 (VP)
Joel “Ted” Rooy: Joel.Rooy@dol.nj.gov
13 Emery Avenue, 2nd Fl. Randolph, NJ 07869-3886
862-397-5600, Option 4 – (V), 973 -895-6420 (FAX), 973-607-2034 (VP)
Robert Berman: Robert.Berman@dol.nj.gov
1027 Hooper Ave. bldg 6, 3rd Fl, Suite 1, Toms River, NJ 08753-2225
732-505-2310 (V), 732 505-2317 (FAX), 732-606-4961 (VP)
Joel “Ted” Rooy: Joel.Rooy@dol.nj.gov
200 Memorial Drive, 1st floor, Paterson, NJ 07505
973-742-9226 option 3 (V), 973-279-5895 (FAX), 973-968-6556 (VP)
Gary Mitchell: Gary.Mitchell@dol.nj.gov
40 E. Broad Street, Suite 204, Bridgeton, NJ 08302-2881
856-453-3888 (V), 856-453-3909 (FAX), 856-497-0075 (VP)
Emma Gordon: Emma.Gordon@dol.nj.gov
75 Veterans Memorial Drive E., Suite 101, Somerville, NJ 08876-2952
908-704-3030 (V), 908 704-3476 (FAX), 732-393-8056 (VP)
Barbara Stockton: Barbara.Stockton@dol.nj.gov
445 Marshall Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
908-329-9190 (option#2)- (V), 908-454-8334 (FAX), 973-607-2034 (VP)
921 Elizabeth Avenue, Elizabeth, NJ 07201-2306
908-965-3940 (V), 908-965-2976 (FAX), 908-242-3563 (VP)
Margaret Ferrao: Margaret.Ferrao@dol.nj.gov
445 Marshall Street, Phillipsburg, NJ 08865
908-329-9190 (option#2)- (V), 908-454-8334 (FAX), 973-607-2034 (VP)
DVRS Regional Centers for People who are Deaf and Hard of Hearing provide Pre-Vocational Assessments (DVE/PVE), Preplacement, Job Coaching, Assistive Technology Demonstrations and Pre-ETS services under the grant.
No vouchers are needed for any of these services.
Serving Sussex, Passaic, Bergen, Warren, Morris, Essex, and Hudson Counties
Easterseals New Jersey
Career Pathway Connections (CPC)
515 Valley Street Suite 165
Maplewood, NJ 07040
VP: 973-821-3619 VP: 732-227-4248 Fax: 973-313-2479
Lauren Weishaar, Manager
Program Assistant, Melishia Gaudier
Daniela Bardesio, Director
Cell: 732-585-3312
Serving Hunterdon, Somerset, Middlesex, Mercer, Monmouth, Ocean, and Union Counties
Alternatives Inc., Bridges to Employment
Career Development Center (CDC)
3 State Route 27
Edison, NJ 08820
Phone: 908-685-1444 ext 296
VP: 908-458-9204 VP: 908-300-5481 Fax: 908-685-2660
Audra Zammit, Manager
Cell: 908-448-7559
Stephen Torres, Assistant Director
Cell: 908-524-3361
Serving Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, Salem, Atlantic, Cumberland, and Cape May Counties
Easterseals NJ
Career Pathway Connections (CPC)
603 North Broad St, Suite 210, Woodbury, NJ 08096
VP: 609-536-4147
Vicki Sullivan, Manager
Phone: 609-536-4147
Voice Message Service and Cell Text Number: 856-812-4887
Daniela Bardesio, Director
Cell: 732-585-3312
- Pays for the cost of 2 hearing aids
- For additional information, call 1-800-356-1561
- Applicants are encouraged to call before applying to ensure they will qualify
- Application fee is $125 for 1 hearing aid and $250 for 2 hearing aids
- They provide behind the ear hearing aids (BTE) only
- Based on income and assets for all those in the household
- To learn more about the program, or request materials for the program, call Tina Nemitz at Hear Now at 800-328-8602 x2818
- Hearing Aid Assistance Fee for Service Program, under Family Centered Care Services
- Applications must be preauthorized through the State Special Child Health Services Staff Website for SCHS CMU
- The Fee for Service Program is available for children birth through 21
- The family must be residents of New Jersey for at least 3 months prior to the application
- Based on gross family income
- The program does not cover the cost of the visits
- The Fee for Service Program is a form of payment of last resort meaning that the family either has no insurance or has an insurance policy that does not cover hearing aids
- For additional information, please contact the case manager in the respective county found here
- Must be over 65 years old
- Automatically eligible if receiving Pharmaceutical Assistance to the Aged and Disabled (PAAD) benefits
- Income limits if single ($26,575)
- Income limits if married ($32,582)
- Qualified applicants receive 1 reconditioned hearing aid (only out of pocket expense is earmold)
- For additional information, call DDHH: (609) 588-2648
- A catastrophic illness is any illness or condition, acute or chronic, for which expenses are incurred that are not fully covered by insurance, state, federal programs, or other sources and exceed the program's eligibility threshold.
- In any prior, consecutive, 12 month period, eligible expenses must exceed 10% of the family's income, plus 15% of any excess income over $100,000.
- The child must have been 21 years or younger when the medical expenses were incurred.
- The family must have lived in New Jersey for 3 months immediately prior to the date of application. Migrant workers may be eligible, temporary residents are not.
- There are no specific exclusions by diagnosis.
- Families may be reimbursed for their out-of-pocket expenses.
- For further information and application, call 1 800-335-3863
- NDI can provide affordable loans to help people with disabilities purchase the assistive technology that best meets their needs, including hearing aids.
- For further information, contact Laurie Schaller at lschaller@ndi-inc.org or 202-449-9521 or visit assistivetechloans.com.
Thank you for your interest in providing sign language interpreting services to our clients and/or our DVRS employees.
All interpreters must be RID or NAD Certified. We do not vet sign language interpreter referral agencies.
DVRS pays $75/hr. (2 hours minimum) with $.35/mile for certified interpreters.
Thank you for your interest in providing sign language interpreting services to our clients and/or our DVRS employees.
All interpreters must be RID or NAD Certified. We do not vet sign language interpreter referral agencies.
DVRS pays $75/hr. (2 hours minimum) with $.35/mile for certified interpreters.
In order to become a vendor, you will need to provide the following information:
- Name, address, email and phone number
- RID Certification
- NJ Start ID number found here
- List of NJ counties in which you are willing to accept assignments
- Indicate whether you would like to provide services to both consumers and staff
Return the required credentials and requested information to our attention to begin the review process. Please email or call us with any further questions.
Contact:
Tanya Onsongo, Program Planning & Development Specialist (PPDS)
609-292-3616 V
609-498-6221 VP
609-292-8347 FAX
Thank you for your interest in providing CART live captioning services to our consumers and/or our DVRS employees.
All CART reporters must be certified by DVRS, and pay is $100/hr. with $.35/mile for certified CART reporters.
In order to become a vendor, you will need to provide the following information:
- Name, address, email and phone number
- Certification
- NJ Start Vendor number – register here
- List of NJ counties in which you are willing to accept assignments
- Indicate whether you would like to provide services to both consumers and staff. There is a different payment process for each
Please return the required credentials and requested information to our attention to begin the review process.
Please contact Program Planning & Development Specialist (PPDS) Tanya Onsongo with any further questions.
609-292-3616 V
609-498-6221 VP
Thank you for expressing an interest in providing services to our consumers. The NJ State Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation assists individuals with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining employment. One of the services we pay for are basic to mid-level hearing aids technology with the sole purpose of assisting individuals with obtaining and/or maintaining employment.
Medical clearance documentation for hearing aids from an ENT doctor, hearing evaluations, hearing aid evaluations, and the purchase of hearing aids are all services we assist with. Hearing aids are based on financial need. Our consumers must use insurance for any service before DVR will consider payment. All services must be pre-authorized through the DVR Counselor in the local DVR office prior to you, the vendor, rendering the service.
The following list indicates the fees DVR reimburses for each service:
- Audiological Evaluation and Report: $150
- Dispensing Fee Binaural : $800
- Dispensing Fee Monaural: $425
- Earmolds (all types): $50 each
- Hearing Aid Evaluation and Report: $100
- Hearing Aids: Manufacturer, Invoice Cost or Discounted Cost List required
- Otological Exam: $125 (wax removal included)
In order to get reimbursed for any service, there are particular DVR forms that will need to be completed for each consumer and sent to the DVR Counselor along with the signed payment voucher.
To become a vendor, you will need to provide the following information:
- Name, address, email and phone number
- Services you will be providing:
- Otological only
- Audiological exam and hearing aid evaluation
- Audiology tests, hearing aid dispensing, and ENT (all three)
- Copy of your audiology and/or hearing aid dispensing licenses of all staff
- NJ Start ID number (https://www.njstart.gov/bso/)
- List of NJ counties you serve
- Brand of hearing aids you dispense
To begin the review process, return the required credentials and requested information to:
Tanya Onsongo
Program Planning & Development Specialist (PPDS)
609-292-3616 V
609-498-6221 VP
Please email or call Tanya with any further questions.
Please fill out the Confidential Referral Form or contact your local DVRS office where you will be assigned to a Rehabilitation Counselor who can evaluate your needs and refer you to the services best suited to support your continued or new employment.
