CLLE stands for the Campaign for Language and Literacy Excellence. CLLE is a statewide initiative to promote early language and literacy development and prevent language deprivation in deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind children.

CLLE is a partnership between the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DDHH) and The College of New Jersey’s (TCNJ) Center for Sensory and Complex Disabilities (CSCD).

CLLE is comprised of 4 activities/projects:

Family Language Immersion Opportunities
A series of events for families to come together in small groups to learn and practice American Sign Language, Deaf culture/identity, develop relationships with other families and members of the Deaf community, and access language development resources.

Early Literacy Project for Families with Deaf and Hard of Hearing Children
A training and technical assistance initiative that works closely with the Family Language Immersion project to provide literacy development opportunities through a variety of evidence-based practices as well as new/emerging strategies used to encourage parents who lack confidence in developing visual language skills to read stories in ASL to their children ages 0-5.  Individuals who are Deaf and fluent in ASL will model reading books using ASL, objects, and pictures and provide hands-on support.  The Early Literacy project will provide free materials and resources for families attending these events.

Statewide Educational Campaign for Language Equality
A collection of efforts that will heighten the awareness of the linguistic and cultural resources of NJ’s deaf, hard of hearing, and deafblind community through the development and dissemination of a common set of understandings for families, providers, and others.  This is accomplished by building relationships between the NJ deaf community, families of infants/children, and professionals in related fields.

Statewide Provider Symposium (conference) on Language Deprivation in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Young Children
An annual conference that is designed to engage in outreach opportunities to providers to assist with referrals of families who have children who are deaf, hard of hearing, or deaf-blind. Outreach opportunities will focus on spreading awareness of the benefits of visual language learning for deaf, hard of hearing, and deaf-blind children ages 0-5 as well as engaging providers in partnership opportunities. This annual conference will provide participants (parents, professionals, and students) with:

• a forum to foster Common Ground; 
• specific information from professional sectors such as Speech & Language Specialists, Audiologists, Pediatricians, Teachers, and Child Care Specialists; 
• Research Forum; and 
• a mini expo of related family/professional organizations, agencies, and other services.

Event Type	Advocacy Family Support Community Conversation Social Groups Educational Workshop Family Fun
Age Groups	Children Adolescents Adults
Community Services	Community Community Education Education Educational Services English as a Second Language (ESL) Special Education Tutoring / Enrichment Employment / Training Life Skills Training Preparing for Adulthood Family & Support Services Caregiving Case Management Child Care / After School Family Support Parenting & Caregiving
Health Services	Medical Health / Wellness / Nutrition Medical / Health Needs Physical Disability

Last Updated: 08/05/23