Information and Assistance Services

The Office of Information and Assistance Services was created to not only provide information, but also act as a single point of entry for callers to access the state human services system. The Office was started to provide services to people with adult onset disabilities , a population whose needs had never been specifically addressed by any state government entity. But staff can also assist New Jersey residents with any disability-related need.

During its tenure, the staff of the Office of Information and Assistance Services has responded to over 87,000 individual requests and inquiries, running the gamut of disability-related issues.

In 2001, the staff attained the title of Certified Information and Referral Specialists, after passing a national exam administered through the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems (AIRS) .

•  Books, Bibliographies and resources

Annually, the Office publishes and distributes Resources - a comprehensive directory of governmental and non-profit community agencies and services available to New Jersey residents with disabilities. It also compiles various bibliographies of books and publications related to disabilities, listed here.

Adult Books on Disabilities and Health Issues

Children's Books About Disability

Disability Etiquette Manual - a publication of United Spinal Association

Social Security Red Book 2008 to the Books, Bibliographies and Resources

Equal Access to Information - Libraries Serving People With Disabilities Selected Print and Web Resources for Providing Library Services for People with Disabilities prepared by the NJ State Library

To speak to an Information and Referral Specialist, please call 888-285-3036 or 609-292-7800 or (TTY) 609-292-1210.