As 2021 comes to a close, this issue reflects on the many ways CILs across Virginia have made an impact supporting leadership, empowerment, independence, productivity, access, and inclusion for people with disabilities over the past year.

The results? More Virginians with disabilities meeting their independent living goals and more inclusive communities across the commonwealth.

Disability Rights and Resource Center in Rocky Mount and Independence Resource Center in Charlottesville received grants from the Disability Vaccine Access Opportunities Center to support vaccine access for people with disabilities.

This funding aims to improve access to COVID-19 vaccines for people with disabilities by:

Resources for Independent Living (RIL) in Richmond, like other CILs across Virginia, provides transition services to assist people with disabilities in nursing homes to move back into community living.

RIL worked with an older Virginian and her family to support this transition. Working with the consumer, who wanted to move out of a nursing home for fear of contracting COVID, RIL staff helped locate an affordable unit close to her family and facilitate needed accessibility modifications.

The pandemic has exacerbated social isolation and anxiety for many people with disabilities across Virginia. Appalachian Independence Center (AIC) in Abingdon supported a consumer in managing these issues and moving forward with his goal to remedy his housing insecurity. 

AIC staff describes, a man with Parkinson’s disease and anxiety disorder had his friend contact AIC in hopes to secure an accessible, safe and affordable rental place. He lived in the house owned by his family and they decided to sell the home, giving him just a few months’ notice. Luckily, a friend agreed to let him stay in their apartment while AIC explored optimal housing options, reached out to local housing authorities and other agencies that address homelessness.

Due to his anxiety, he had difficulty communicating and asked AIC staff to take a more directive role. Having done some research and brainstorming, he narrowed down his search and AIC offered guidance with the application process to ensure appropriate completion and submission of his applications.

AIC frequently followed up with the property managers to keep up with the fast-paced nature of rental properties until finally, a rental unit that matched our search, became available and the consumer was able to move in within weeks of checking the place out and signing his lease agreement. “He is very happy to have his own home and not having to worry about finding a good place to live,” shares Steve Halley, AIC Executive Director.

A consumer’s family wanted to purchase their first home. They had been renting and saving money and their son is in the CCC+ waiver. The mortgage company they were working with insisted that only information coming from the fiscal agent would be acceptable household income. The family was unable to persuade the fiscal agent to provide the needed documentation. Blue Ridge Center for Independent Living (Roanoke) staff advocated with the fiscal agent to ensure that correct information was given to the mortgage company.

New River Valley Disability Resource Center in Radford shared a spotlight on their consumer Sharon in January 2021. At that time, Independent Living Coordinator Jocelyn Pruitt worked with Sharon on a 502 loan application for USDA, but Sharon was found ineligible for the loan.