New Jersey Regional Centers

The establishment of the New Jersey Regional Centers, including CCDE, was the direct result of The Special Needs Grant Program. The grant program originated with the 1986 Higher Education Services for Visually Impaired, Auditory Impaired and Learning Disabled Students Act. The Act led to the founding of a system of regional centers to provide support services for students with special needs with an annual state appropriation of $1.1 million. Currently, there are eight regional centers located throughout the state that provide direct support to college students who are deaf or hard of hearing, learning disabled, or visually impaired. In addition, CCDE also provides training, resources, and technical assistance for faculty and staff at other postsecondary institutions to improve access and enhance educational opportunities for students who are deaf or hard of hearing.