Establishes a co-navigation services program for persons who are deaf-blind to provide services to a person who is deaf-blind that assist the person to physically access the person's environment and to make informed decisions, including providing visual and environmental information or sighted guide services and assisting with communication accessibility by communicating in the preferred language and communication mode of the person who is deaf-blind.
S03743 would create a new co-navigation services program in the Social Services Law for people who are deaf-blind. The bill defines co-navigation services as assistance that helps a person who is deaf-blind physically access their environment and make informed decisions, including sighted-guide support, visual and environmental information, and communication support in the person’s preferred language and communication mode. It also defines key terms such as communication mode, co-navigator, and protactile language.
Under the bill, local social services districts would be required to offer and provide the program, with co-navigators reimbursed from appropriated funds. The commissioner of social services would set tiered reimbursement rates based on training, fluency, and skill in communication modes and sighted-guide mobility techniques, and would issue rules to ensure adequate training and efficient operation. The bill also allows for an advisory committee that includes people who are deaf-blind and other stakeholders, and it directs districts to support training and seek additional funding sources to reduce reliance on state money over time.
The bill would amend the Social Services Law by adding a new section establishing a statewide framework for deaf-blind co-navigation services, creating new duties for social services districts and the commissioner of social services. It would require districts to provide and reimburse co-navigator services, set standards for training and payment, and authorize regulations and implementation rules. The measure would affect local social services districts, the Department of Social Services, trained co-navigators, and people who are deaf-blind who would gain access to a defined support service.
The available context shows a generally supportive posture toward the bill, with multiple sponsors from across the Senate indicating interest in expanding services for a population with significant accessibility needs. The bill’s purpose is framed as improving independence, communication access, and informed decision-making for people who are deaf-blind, which suggests a positive policy consensus around the need for the program. No committee debate or recorded votes were provided, so there is no evidence of formal opposition in the available materials.
The main potential points of contention are fiscal and administrative rather than ideological. The bill requires local social services districts to provide the program and reimburse co-navigators, while also directing districts to develop additional funding sources and reduce reliance on state funds, which could raise concerns about cost-sharing and implementation burden. Another possible issue is program design: the bill excludes formal interpreting, personal care, errands, and decision-making from co-navigation, so questions could arise about service boundaries, training standards, and how the new service fits alongside existing disability and communication supports.