About 12% of Virginia’s population lives with one or more disabilities, according to data from The Virginia Well Being Dashboard.
While there has been a great deal of progress in understanding disability, there’s still much work to be done. Here are three Virginia nonprofits educating the public and providing the necessary tools for success.
The disAbility Resource Center
The disAbility Resource Center (dRC) in Fredericksburg has been serving the community since 1993.
The dRC offers various programs and services to the community including affordable American Sign Language classes and empowerment groups. Its flagship program, Pre-Employment Transition Services, helps people ages 18-24 navigate life after high school.
Seth Whitten the deputy director of the dRC believes despite the major improvements to the system following the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), there’s still room for growth when it comes to accessibility and employment opportunities.
“In our population, one in four people experience a disability,” Whitten said. “If you look around your workplace, and you’re not seeing one in four people with disabilities, ask yourself, why?”
Whitten wants people to know that the dRC is available for support.
“If ever they have a question about how to live well with disability, whether it’s for them, whether it’s for a family member, a friend, somebody that they see, we want to be that place that they know they can pick up the phone and call us, and we’ll find support and a willingness to try to help in whatever way we can,” Whitten said.
Support and learn about the services provided by the dRC here.
Resources for Independent Living
Resources for Independent Living (RIL) in Richmond has been serving the greater Richmond area since 1983.
RIL is known for its Learn-to-Drive program that was developed to help deaf individuals learn to drive with the assistance of interpreters, but now also helps students with ADHD and Autism participate in the same curriculum as any other driver’s education course. RIL also runs a Summer Youth Program to help students with disabilities overcome summer learning loss with support from academic enrichment.
Marcia Guardino, program manager at RIL, mentioned that 51% of RIL employees have a disability. She wants people to feel that they have a choice in the service plans they receive.
“Whatever services the consumer requests, we basically try to work with them on whatever their needs are,” Guardino said.
Gerry O’Neill, executive director of RIL, emphasizes RIL is there to serve the community even if it doesn’t offer the services they require.
“We don’t ever say sorry, we can’t help you and then hang up,” he said. “We make it a point to say that’s not the service we provide, but let me connect you to somebody who does provide that service.”
Support RIL here.
Independent Resource Center
The Independence Resource Center (IRC) in Charlottesville has been serving the community since 1985.
In addition to offering its core services (information and referral, training and peer counseling, independent living skills, advocacy and transition services), the IRC offers a variety of other services including adaptive living and technical assistance programs to community services such as community educational seminars. The IRC also offers free resumé and employment guides to help people as they navigate employment opportunities. The IRC is also a sponsor for the Charlottesville Cardinals Wheelchair Basketball Team, which provides recreation opportunities for disabled athletes.
Learn more about IRC here.
