Virginia Youth Leadership
Forum Planning Year
Catching Up & Moving Forward
The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities and its YLF staff are proud of the many accomplishments and successes achieved during the first ten years of the Virginia Youth Leadership Forum. They are also keenly aware that times are changing and changing rapidly. Advancements in technology and media, social networking, and leadership curricula have exploded. The Board recognizes the importance of keeping YLF current with all these changes to ensure that past and future student Delegates have access to the latest and greatest information and networking strategies.
In order to evaluate, update, modernize, and improve all YLF activities (while needing to stay within the limits of its state and federal resources) the Board has approved a planning year for the Forum. There will be no YLF in Summer 2010; however, the Board looks forward to a new and greatly improved Youth Leadership Forum in 2011. In the interim, a committee of YLF alumni, staff, past speakers, presenters, and supporters will convene to look at what has been accomplished to-date and what can be done to ensure that future Forums incorporate new and innovative opportunities and resources.
Along the way, the Board will use its Voices & Visions newsletter, YLF webpage at www.VABoard.org/YLF.htm, and other communications to keep YLF alumni and other constituents informed. The Board also extends its thanks to everyone who has supported and promoted the program, recruited student Delegates, and helped to educate and mentored them over the past ten years.
Watch for updates and look forward to the Youth Leadership Forum of tomorrow!
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State Vocational
Rehabilitation Program Now Able to Serve All Eligible Clients
“Stimulus” Funds Enable Opening of All “Order of Selection” Categories
The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) has announced that, effective December 15, 2009, it will open the final two categories under its Order of Selection policy. This means that all of the Order of Selection categories will be open, and DRS can now serve all new eligible clients and all clients on its waiting list. DRS is able to take this step due to funds from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Funds) and successful stewardship of its other vocational rehabilitation (VR) appropriations.
Individuals with disabilities still on the VR waiting list will be notified that they may be served and asked to schedule an appointment with their VR counselor if they still need VR services to become or stay employed. In addition, all new applicants who meet our VR eligibility criteria will be served, regardless of the severity of their disability.
Currently, DRS has over 18,000 open cases, and it will be necessary to continue closely monitoring its fiscal situation. How long DRS can keep all Order of Selection categories open is very dependent on the number of clients served and their service costs. When Recovery Funds are exhausted within this fiscal year, DRS will revert to its regular VR funds. Its ability, however, to now serve all eligible individuals needing its assistance to become employed and live more independently is an exciting development.
For more information, contact your local DRS Community Office, http://www.drs.virginia.gov/officelist.asp, or the Central Office at:
Department of Rehabilitative Services
Street Location: 8004
Franklin Farms Drive
Richmond, VA
23229
Voice: 804-662-7000
Fax:
804-662-9532
Toll Free
Voice/TTY: 800-552-5019
E-mail: drs@drs.virginia.gov
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Community Housing &
Transportation News & Resources
MFP Housing and
Transportation Action Plan & Progress Reports
In fall 2008, a Housing and Transportation Action Plan was submitted to the Secretaries of Health and Human Resources and Commerce and Trade as a part of Virginia’s Money Follows the Person (MFP) Demonstration Project. The second, semi-annual progress report on that plan, released in November 2009, is now available at www.olmsteadva.com/mfp/HousingBank.htm#actionplan. Links to the original plan, the progress report, and information on those who contributed to them are also available at that site.
DBHDS Report to General
Assembly on Affordable & Accessible Community-Based Housing
The 2008 Virginia General Assembly directed the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, in conjunction with the Virginia Housing Development Authority, Department of Housing and Community Development, Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, The Arc of Virginia, and Virginia Network of Private Providers to conduct a study and ‘report on investment models and best-practices for the development of affordable and accessible community-based housing for persons with intellectual and related developmental disabilities.' The results of that study are now available on the Legislative Services website at http://leg2.state.va.us/dls/h&sdocs.nsf/By+Year/RD3652009/$file/RD365.pdf.
Educating Localities about
Fair Housing for People with Disabilities
The Virginia Community Integration Implementation Team and Community Integration Advisory Commission have recently become aware of neighborhood opposition to group homes throughout the Commonwealth. On November 20, 2009, the Commission distributed information to all chief local government officials, local human services officials, and local government attorneys about Virginia's laws. Copies of this correspondence as well as a list of useful Fair Housing resources can now be found on the “One Community” Olmstead Initiative website at www.olmsteadva.com.
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Public Comment Survey
Results
Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC)
The Statewide Independent Living Council conducted an on-line survey from August to September 2009 to gather information and identify key issues about the independent living needs of Virginians with disabilities. The results will be used in the preliminary development of the 2011-2013 State Plan for Independent Living.
The summary of findings can be reviewed on the SILC website, www.vasilc.org, through January 2010.
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Disability Awareness
Poster Contest
Sponsored by The Arc of Northern Virginia
People with and without disabilities of all ages—especially teachers and students—are encouraged to participate. All posters must feature the theme “We Belong”.
Entries must be received by 5pm, December 23, 2009.
For more information, visit www.thearcofnova.org/poster%20contest2.pdf, or contact Angela Thanyachareon at nthanyacha@aol.com.
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Thanks to PEATC, www.peatc.org,
for sharing the following reminder!
Virginia Transition Forum
and Self-Determination Youth Summit
March 15-17, 2010 in Roanoke, Virginia
Youth from Virginia interested in learning more about leadership and self-advocacy are strongly encouraged to apply to attend the Third Annual Youth Summit held in conjunction with the annual Transition Forum. Expenses are paid for students chosen to attend, as well as for an accompanying family member. The deadline to apply to attend the Youth Summit is December 11, 2009.
This year’s Transition Forum theme is “Virginia: The State of Transition 25th Anniversary”. Presentation proposals for the Forum are still being accepted. The “early-bird” registration deadline for the Forum is February 11, 2010. Exhibitor and other registration deadlines can be found at the link below.
For more information and to register/apply for the Forum or Youth Summit, please visit http www.virginiatransitionforum.org.
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Latino Mental Health
Symposium
Friday, December 11, 2009 in Richmond, Virginia
Colaborando Juntos, the non-profit association of metro-Richmond community organizations dedicated to local Latino families, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services and the Richmond Behavioral Health Authority, will host a Latino Behavioral Health Care Symposium designed to identify and address the many different behavioral health and disability care challenges facing Central Virginia’s diverse Latino communities.
Seating is limited, and pre-registration is required.
For more information or to register, visit www.colaborandojuntosva.com, or contact Riguey King at riguey572@aol.com or event coordinators Rebekah Holbrook at rebekah.holbrook@gmail.com and Erin McGrath at erinmcgra@gmail.com.
To view the December newsletter from the DBHDS’ Office of Cultural and Linguistic Competence, go to www.dbhds.virginia.gov/2008CLC/documents/clc-Newsltr-Vol-02-Ed-05.pdf. For other useful resources, visit their website at www.dbhds.virginia.gov/OHRDM-CLC.htm.
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Thanks to PEATC, www.peatc.org,
for sharing the following resources.
Questions and Answers on
Serving Children with Disabilities Eligible for Transportation
New U.S. Department of Education Resource
Part of navigating the special education maze involves knowing what options you have for your child's transportation. Since publication of the Regulations for Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), enacted in 2004, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) in the U.S. Department of Education has received requests for clarification of some of these regulations. This is one of a series of question and answer documents prepared by OSERS to address some of the most important issues raised by requests for clarification on a variety of high-interest topics.
Updated regularly, the Transportation Q&A, along with links to a variety of other topics, can be found at http://idea.ed.gov/explore/view/p/%2Croot%2Cdynamic%2CQaCorner%2C12%2C.
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Preparing for Special
Education Mediation and Resolution Sessions
A Guide for Families and Advocates
The Advocacy Institute and the Children's Law Clinic at Duke Law School have combined their talents to create this new publication to help families and advocates make the most of the new and expanded dispute resolution options offered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
To download the guide , please visit http://www.advocacyinstitute.org/academy/AIDukeGuidePromo. Visitors to the site can also take advantage of a free opportunity to view the archive of Advocate Academy Webinars on Mediation and Resolution featuring Jane Wettach, Director of the Children's Law Clinic at Duke Law School, through December 2009.
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If you received this news digest
from a friend or colleague and would like to receive NEWS@VBPD directly
in the future, please send us an e-mail at Info@VBPD.virginia.gov, and we
would be happy to add you to our contact list. If you would also like to
receive messages sent to the Virginia Special Education Network (www.vaboard.org/vsenform.htm)
that the Board jointly administers with the State Special Education Advisory
Committee, please note that as well. Keeping Virginians informed about
disability services and issues is one of our most important
responsibilities!
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For more information
about the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, please visit our website
at www.vaboard.org or contact:
Tom Driscoll
Strategic Planning & Marketing Manager
Virginia Board for People with
Disabilities
Washington Building, Capitol Square
1100 Bank Street, 7th Floor
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-786-9380 (voice & TTY)
800-846-4464 (toll-free, voice & TTY)
804-786-1118 (fax)
thomas.driscoll@vbpd.virginia.gov
www.vaboard.org