(a) In performing any rehabilitative services or in contracting with other public or private agencies for rehabilitative services, the department shall take into consideration the needs of non-English-speaking individuals with disabilities and shall provide language assistance to those individuals participating in the department’s public or private rehabilitation programs.
(b) To the extent funds are available, the department also shall take into consideration the needs of individuals with disabilities who rely on alternate modes of communication, such as manual communication, tactile, oral, and nonverbal communication devices, and shall provide communication assistance to those individuals participating in the department’s programs.