Governor Jim Gilmore has announced that Virginia has established a toll-free help line to assist Virginians with disabilities and the general public obtain information about agencies that provide services to people with disabilities. The number is 1-888-568-1000.

"People can easily feel overwhelmed by what seems to be a maze of state, local and private organizations providing services to people with disabilities," said Governor Gilmore. "Virginia provides many important services that assist individuals in their efforts to maximize employment, education and independent living opportunities. This help line will reduce some of the frustration our citizens feel as they search for those services."

The Help Line is a collaborative effort of the Department of Rehabilitative Services, Department for the Visually Handicapped, Department for Rights of Virginians with Disabilities, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, and the Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Callers of the help line will hear brief descriptions of services provided by these five agencies in areas including employment, education, financial support, community living, assistive technology and disability rights. Information is also provided about other agencies, non-profit organizations and Virginia's statewide information and referral system. The Help Line is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. During working hours, callers can even connect directly to the agency that meets their needs.

"The Help Line is unique in that callers who are deaf and hard of hearing will have equal access to information, " said Secretary of Health and Human Resources, Claude Allen. "Too often, we exclude people using telecommunications devices for the deaf (TTY) from communication with agencies and businesses due to the equipment used. We believe that this system is the first automated attendant in use in Virginia, certainly in state government, which is fully accessible to the deaf community."

Governor Gilmore commented, "I am delighted that Virginia is taking this important step forward which will offer improved customer services to citizens who may need those services in order to get jobs or live more independently."