Revamped Federal Guidelines for Service Animals

The director of the Mid-Atlantic Americans with Disabilities Center explains the controversy over the Justice Department's new guidelines for classifying "service animals."  http://wamuanimalhouse.org

Sign Language Classes

Sign With Me classes in Virginia Beach.  For more information, call 757-969-9876 or www.signwithmeva.com and click on Sign Language classes link (left-bottom) and follow all instructions under the calendar to sign up.

This section contains links to various disability resources:

• A Voice for GAP Kids  

• Alliance for Full Participation    
• American Association of People with Disabilities    
• Association of University Centers on Disabilities   
• Autism Society of America - Central Va. Chapter    
• Autism Society of America - Tidewater Chapter
• Closing the Gap    
• Commonwealth Autism Service
• Disability Resources    
• Disability Rights Advocates    
• Disability Social History Project
• DBTAC: Mid-Atlantic ADA Center    

• Epilepsy Foundation

• Family Village    

• Interdisciplinary Council on Developmental and Learning Disorders (ICDL)             

• Job Accommodation Network

• Learning Disabilities Association of Virginia

• Lorman Education Service                                  

• Mortgage Guide for People with Disabilities

• Multiple Sclerosis Society

• Muscular Dystrophy Association

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill

• National Council on Independent Living                        

• National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities 

• Organization for Autism Research              

• Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center

• Parent Support Group:  Voices in Action

• Partnership for People with Disabilities   

• People with Attentional and Developmental Disabilities Association (PADDA)

• Radford University

• Senior Navigator    

• Sickle Cell Association

• Statewide Independent Living Council - Virginia

• TASH    

• The Arc of Greater Prince William

• The ArcLink.org    

• The Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs

• The Association of Retarded Citizens of Virginia

• The Brain Injury Association of Virginia

• The Speech-Language-Hearing Association of Virginia    

• United Cerebral Palsy

• Virginia Assistive Technology System

Virginia Assistive Technology System (VATS) is a project committed to improving the quality of life for All Virginians by increasing awareness and accessibility to assistive technology.  VATS provides information on a variety of independent living equipment and give consumers the opportunity to come in and try equipment, software, keyboards, mice and other technology to see what might be appropriate.  (VATS Does NOT do evaluations.) 

Assistive technology is defined as any item, piece of equipment, or product system whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities or senior citizens.

The purpose of VATS is to increase the availability of technology to Virginians of all ages.  VATS is a statewide systems change project committed to improving the quality of life for all Virginians by increasing awareness and accessibility of assistive technology.  Administered by the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) and guided by the Virginia Council on Assistive Technology (VCAT), a variety of consumer driven activities and programs, information, and technical assistance are provided on devices, services and funding resources.  In partnership with consumer, employers, educators, public and private agencies, VATS strives to bring about change in practice, policies, and laws to improve access to assistive technology.

• Virginia Association of Community Services Boards, Inc.

• Virginia Association of the Deaf

• Virginia Autism Resource Center

• Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

• Virginia Centers for Independent Living    

• Virginia Center for Innovative Technology

• Virginia Community College System    

• Virginia Council for Learning Disabilities

• Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired

• Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing

• Virginia Department of Education

• Virginia Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services

• Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services

• Virginia Department of Social Services

• Virginia Integrated Network of Family Organizations         

• Virginia Parent Teacher Association

• Virginia State Council of Higher Education  

• World Association of Persons with disAbilities    

• World Association of Persons with disAbilities - Virginia Chapter

Housing Information

Housing & Disability Issues (formerly NHOYO) is a moderated informational list. It consists of disability issues concerning, but not limited to: individuals, home ownership, and affordable housing. To join the mailing list, send an email message to:  HOUSING.DISABILITY.ISSUES-request@lists.unh.edu with the word "subscribe" in the Subject line.  This is not a discussion list and you will not be able to send questions directly to the list.  However, if you have any information that you feel is relevant to this list, send the information to: drv@cisunix.unh.edu

 

For information on home ownership for people with disabilities, visit:  http://chance.unh.edu

 

National Centers for Independent Living Directory

Can be obtained from CIL Management Center (CILMC), part of the Western New York Independent Living Project, Inc. at www.wnyilp.org/database/directory.php

Virginia Centers for Independent Living

Following is a list of all of the Center for Independent Living (CIL) offices and Satellite offices in Virginia. 

Access Independence, Inc. (AI)

Donald Price, Executive Director

324 Hope Dr.

Winchester, VA  22601

540-662-4452 (VOICE) 1-800-835-2716

540-722-9693 (TTY)

540-662-4474 (FAX)

Center’s e-mail: AskAI@accessindependence.org

Director's e-mail: dprice@accessindependence.org

Website:  www.accessindependence.org

 

Appalachian Independence Center, Inc. (AIC)

Greg Morrell, Executive Director

230 Charwood Dr.

Abingdon, VA  24210

276-628-2979 (VOICE)

276-676-0920 (TTY)

276-628-4931 (FAX)

Center and Director's e-mail:  Gmorrell@naxs.net

Website:  www.aicadvocates.org

 

Blue Ridge Independent Living Center (BRILC)

Karen Michalski, Executive Director

1502B Williamson Rd. NE

Roanoke, VA  24012

540-342-1231 (VOICE//TTY)

540-342-9505 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  kmichalski@brilc.org

Center’s e-mail: brilc@brilc.org

Website: www.brilc.org

 

Clinch Independent Living Services (CILS)

Betty Bevins, Executive Director

1139 C Plaza Drive

Grundy, VA  24614

276-935-6088 or 276-935-4348 (VOICE)

276-935-6342 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  Bbevins21@vzavenue.net

Center’s e-mail: cils@vzavenue.net

Website: http://www.cils-online.org

 

disAbility Resource Center (dRC)

Debe Fults, Executive Director

409 Progress St.

Fredericksburg, VA  22401

540-373-2559 (VOICE)

540-373-5890 (TTY)

800-648-6324 (VOICE or RELAY)

540-373-8126 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  Dfults@cildrc.org

Center’s e-mail: drc@cildrc.org    

Website: www.cildrc.org

 

Eastern Shore Center for Independent Living (ESCIL)

Althea Pittman, Executive Director

4364 Lankford Hwy. Suite A

Exmore, VA  23350

757-414-0100 (VOICE)

888-787-2033 (TOLL FREE)

757-414-0080 (TTY)

757-414-0205 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  Altheapittman@yahoo.com

 

Endependence Center Inc. (ECI)

Steve Johnson, Executive Director

6300 E. Virginia Beach Blvd.

Norfolk, VA  23502

757-461-8007 (VOICE)

757-461-7527 (TTY)

757-461-5375 or 455-8223 (FAX)

Center’s e-mail (for information): ljohnson@endependence.org

Director's e-mail:  sjohnson@endependence.org

Center’s e-mail: ecinorf@endependence.org

Website: www.endependence.org

 

ENDependence Center of Northern VA, Inc. (ECNV)

David Burds, Executive Director

2300 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 305

Arlington, VA  22201

703-525-3268 (VOICE)

703-525-3553 (TTY)

703-525-3585 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  davidb@ecnv.org

Center’s e-mail: info@ecnv.org

Website: www.ecnv.org

 

Independence Empowerment Center (IEC)

Dr. Mary D. Lopez, Executive Director

9001 Digges Rd. Suite 103

Manassas, VA  20110

703-257-5400 (VOICE)

703-257-5043 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  mlopez@ieccil.org

Center’s e-mail: info@ieccil.org

 

Independence Resource Center (IRC)

Tom Vandever, Executive Director

815 Cherry Ave.

Charlottesville, VA  22903

434-971-9629 (VOICE/TTY)

434-971-8242 (FAX)

Center's e-mail:  Tvandever@ntelos.net

 

Junction Center for Independent Living (JCIL)

E. Dennis Horton, Executive Director

PO Box 1210 (mailing address)

Norton, VA  24273

 

147 Plaza Rd SW (Physical location)

Wise County Plaza Shopping Center #229

Wise, VA  24293

 

276-679-5989 or 276-679-5988 (VOICE/TTY)

276-679-6569 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  dhorton@meoc.org

Center’s e-mail: jcil1@junctioncenter.org

Website:  www.junctioncenter.org

 

Lynchburg Area Center for Independent Living (LACIL)

Phil Theisen, Executive Director

500 Alleghany Ave. Suite 520

Lynchburg, VA  24501

434-528-4971 (VOICE)

434-528-4972 (TTY)

434-528-4976 (FAX)

Director's e-mail: phil@lacil.org

Website: www.LACIL.org

 

Insight Enterprises, Inc.

Peninsula Center for Independent Living (PCIL)

Ralph Shelman, Executive Director

2021-A Cunningham Dr., Suite 2

Hampton, VA  23666

757-827-0275 (VOICE)

757-827-8800 (TTY)

757-827-0655 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  rshelman@hvacil.org

Center’s e-mail: iepcil@hvacil.org

Website: www.hvacil.org

 

Resources for Independent Living, Inc. (RIL)

Sandra Cowles, Executive Director

4009 Fitzhugh Ave.

Richmond, VA  23230

804-353-6503 (VOICE)

804-353-6583 (TTY)

804-358-5606 (FAX)

Director's e-mail:  cowless@cavtel.net

Center’s e-mail: Woodsonf@cavtel.net

Website:  www.ril-va.org

 

Valley Associates for Independent Living (VAIL)

Gayl Brunk, Executive Director

205 B S. Liberty St.

Harrisonburg, VA  22801

540-433-6513 (VOICE)

540-438-9265 (TTY)

888-242-8245

540-433-6313 (FAX)

Center’s e-mail: VAIL@govail.org

Director's e-mail:  gayl@govail.org

SATELLITE/BRANCH/ASSOCIATED OFFICES

Appalachian Independence Center Branch Office

PO Box 16744

Bristol, VA  24209

276-466-0567 (VOICE/TTY)

276-466-1087 (FAX)

e-mail:  aicbristol@naxs.net

 

Appalachian Independence Center Branch Office

PO Box 1073

Wytheville, VA  24382

276-228-8765 (VOICE/TTY)

276-228-8763 (FAX)

e-mail:  Billduncan@ntelos.net

 

Appalachian Independence Center Branch Office

300 W. Old Town St.

Galax, VA  24333

276-236-6055 (VOICE/TTY)

e-mail:  aicgalax@naxs.net

 

BRILC Alleghany Area Branch Office

Alleghany Regional Hospital, PO Box 7

Low Moor, VA  24457

540-862-0252 (VOICE, TTY & FAX)

e-mail:  Wanderson@brilc.org

 

RIL Chesterfield Office

6603B Irongate Square

Richmond, VA  23234

804-743-3798 (VOICE/TTY)

804-279-9720 (FAX)

e-mail:  RILCH@aol.com

 

RIL Hanover Office

7284A Hanover Green Dr.

Mechanicsville, VA  23111

804-569-9327 (VOICE/TTY)

804-569-9328 (FAX)

e-mail:  RILHAN@earthlink.net

 

Crater District Satellite (RIL)

2795 S. Crater Rd, Suite 1

Petersburg, VA  23805

804-862-9338 (VOICE/TTY)

804-862-6177 (FAX)

e-mail:  RILPeters@aol.com

 

Junction Center for Independent Living

PO Box 408

Duffield, VA  24244

276-431-1195 (VOICE/TTY)

276-431-1196 (FAX)

 

New Kent/Charles City (RIL)

7501 B Atkins Road

Charles City, VA  23030

804-829-9797

 

New River Valley Satellite (BRILC)

210 S. Pepper St. Suite D

Christiansburg, VA  24073

540-381-8829 or 540-381- 9149 (VOICE/TTY)

540-381-8833 (FAX)

e-mail:  Rwright@brilc.org

 

Valley Associates for Independent Living Branch Office

7 McDowell St. Suite A

Lexington, VA  24450

540-464-5454 (VOICE)

If you would like for your agency/organization to be added to this page, provide website address and name of agency/organization and e-mail it to webmaster@endependence.org