Empowering Virginians with Disabilities through Centers for Independent Living
June 2021 | Issue 6
Employment "Works"
This issue of IL Impact highlights the work that CILs do supporting employment and financial empowerment, particularly through collaboration with local vocational rehabilitation offices.

The results? People with disabilities increasing their independence, choice and productivity.
CIL Success Stories
Collaboration Works
Henry Glover III was living on the streets and in a homeless shelter in Charlottesville after the death of his mother, Ann Marshall, who is his primary caregiver. Also living with cerebral palsy and a power wheelchair user, the 31-year-old had faced his share of difficulties, but he had not given up on living his life to its fullest and making a contribution to the community.
 
Henry acquired pneumonia and sepsis while at the homeless shelter, which led to congestive heart failure. The doctors said if he had waited one more day, he would have died. After two months in the ICU, he transferred to Dockside Health and Rehabilitative Center in Locust Hill in February 2020 - just prior to the pandemic lockdown.
 
While recovering at Dockside, Henry worked with a social worker to weigh his options. Having no job or work experience, he would have trouble renting housing. He reached out to Bay Aging in Urbanna, who connected him with DARS. Henry attended Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center as a student, prior to attending the University of Virginia, where he graduated with a degree in foreign affairs and a concentration in Middle East and Northern Africa studies...READ MORE
VAIL empowers Pre-ETS student with financial literacy
Valley Associates for Independent Living (Harrisonburg) shares a story of work they are doing to support financial literacy. The center worked with a young adult with a disability providing Pre-Employment Transition Services related to workplace readiness and self-advocacy. 
 
During the initial visit, VAIL staff went over his current financial situation. He has a job that pays him biweekly but he was running out of money by the end of the pay period. Together, they dove further into the different aspects of budgeting as well as strategies for saving money. Once he had an idea of what budgeting entailed, he filled out a budget template based on his current income and expenses.
 
He identified that transportation was his biggest expense. Since he does not drive, and has no ride, he takes Ubers to work almost daily. They calculated approximately how much he spends on Ubers in one week, one month and one year. He was astonished at how high this amount was. Staff and the consumer discussed how a portion of this could instead be put toward achieving his goals, such as attending higher education, as well as toward unexpected expenses.
 
The following week, he reported to staff that he had only used Ubers a few times that week. He identified alternative public transportation and although it took longer to get to and from work, he had realized that using the bus as his primary transportation saved him money long-term.
Program Highlight
Endependence Center expands financial empowerment services
The Endependence Center-Norfolk (ECI) received training from the National Disability Institute to increase financial empowerment services available to its consumers. Supported by the Targeted Communities project of which DARS is a partner, the training certifies the center to provide financial health assessments to individuals with disabilities.
 
Six ECI staff participated in the training, which allows them to work with youth as well as adults As a result, ECI added to its independent living skills training repertoire. They created three training modules that cover
how to be financially secure, understanding how benefits impact their job and obtaining work.
 
ECI is currently working with local DRS offices to provide financial health assessments to its clients in conjunction with the Work World Benefits summary. Individuals can request these services from the center or a DARS counselor.