Disability Rights of West Virginia

01/06/2026

National Braille Literacy Month is celebrated in January every year. It is also a celebration of the founder, Louis Braille’s birthday. Apart from honoring Braille’s legacy, this month aims to educate people about the importance and advantages of Braille literacy. The Braille system came as an advantage to people who suffer from different vision problems. The system remains unchanged to date. Now that Braille has been incorporated into digital devices and computers, it has become more accessible and relevant to the present technology-driven world.

National Braille Literacy Month encourages the learning of Braille and making the world a better place for our visually impaired mates!

12/31/2025

12/23/2025

https://givebutter.com/DRofWVMatchDonation
Dear Friends and Supporters,
We’re excited to share that our end-of-year matching donation fund is officially OPEN — and we invite you to be part of this powerful moment for disability advocacy across West Virginia.
Thanks to a generous matching donor, every gift made right now will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $500. That means together we can unlock up to $1,000 to support the advocacy, education, and protection work of Disability Rights of West Virginia.
Why This Matters
This match directly strengthens efforts that:
• Protect the civil and human rights of people with disabilities
• Support individuals and families navigating complex systems
• Promote access, inclusion, and independence statewide
• Ensure West Virginians with disabilities have a strong voice
Every matched dollar helps ensure this vital work continues into the new year.
How the Match Works
• Donate any amount
• Your gift is matched 1:1
• Match applies to the first $500 raised
• Gifts made before December 31 qualify
💛 A $25 gift becomes $50.
💛 A $100 gift becomes $200.
💛 Together, we can reach the full $1,000 impact.
👉 The matching fund is now live — give today to double your impact!
Thank you for standing with Disability Rights of West Virginia and for your continued commitment to justice, equity, and access for all. Your support truly makes a difference!

12/22/2025

Unsheltered homelessness is increasing.

Many of their families don't know where they are. When they become sick or injured and they die in an ER or in the street, their families don't know. Sometimes, they left for a reason or had nowhere else to go. No matter what their story was, they deserve respect and a ceremony to remember them.

National Homeless Persons' Remembrance Day on the first day of winter remembers those in the homeless community who have died the previous year. The day reminds us to honor them and remember the life they lived.

NATIONAL HOMELESS PERSONS' REMEMBRANCE DAY National Homeless Persons' Remembrance Day on the first day of winter remembers those in the homeless community who

12/19/2025

We want to talk about school transitions for people with disabilities.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) says that transition planning should focus on what students want to achieve after high school. This includes things like instruction, future goals, job evaluation, and daily living skills. The transition plan should be tailored to each student's needs and goals.

A smooth transition can improve the future for students with disabilities after high school. Transition meetings, self-advocacy, and preparation can help students make the most of their education and available resources. According to IDEA, students need to start talking about their transition needs by the age of 14.

Our School Transitions page includes a "Know Your Rights" section for students and families to learn more about the many laws that protect their access to education. You can also browse several resources, including our Handbook for Reasonable Accommodations in the College Classroom, which provides a step-by-step guide for requesting and implementing accommodations for both students and faculty.

Check it out: https://cedwvu.org/transitions/school-transitions/

12/18/2025

The West Virginia Department of Human Services (DoHS), Bureau for Family Assistance (BFA), today announced that it will begin an automatic mass mailing of Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) applications starting on January 5, 2026.

This mailing marks the start of the LIEAP season and is designed to ensure timely access for West Virginia’s most vulnerable populations, including:

-Households that received regular LIEAP benefits during the previous season.

-Older adults.

-Individuals with disabilities.

Households that receive an application through automatic mailing will have until January 30, 2026, or until funds are exhausted, to submit their applications. Applications may be returned by mail, dropped off at their local DoHS office, or online at www.wvpath.org.

Regular LIEAP open to the general public on February 2, 2026.

All applicants who use a Public Services Commission (PSC)-regulated utility for their primary heating source must provide a current utility bill. Households that heat with bulk fuels are required to submit verification of their fuel supplier along with a receipt. The maximum LIEAP benefit is $2,000 per household.

The maximum allowable gross income levels for LIEAP Fiscal Year 2026 are listed below:

*For each additional person, add $688.
*Social Security & Veterans Benefits Excluded

For further assistance or questions, please contact your local DoHS office, or call the Office of Constituent Services’ Client Services Unit at 1-800-642-8589 or email osaclientservices@wv.gov.

12/16/2025

Our friends at the Easterseals Rehabilitation Center and Augusta Levy in Wheeling are hosting their 5th annual Inclusion on Ice event on Sunday, February 8, 2026 from 1-4 p.m. at the Wheeling Park Ice Skating Rink!

This wonderful event features ice skating opportunities for people of all abilities, with on-ice helpers and adaptive equipment available to make sure everyone can join in on the fun. Kids activities, a sensory room, resource fair, a chance to skate with members of the Wheeling Nailers team, and more will be happening throughout the event.

Organizations that serve children in the Ohio Valley are welcome to sign up for the resource fair by using this form: https://forms.gle/rzpAuUbXyG2f7REt8

Easterseals Rehabilitation Center
Augusta Levy Behavioral Services
Wheeling Nailers

12/15/2025

The RISE Act would make college more accessible for students with disabilities by requiring colleges to accept documentation like IEPs or 504 Plans instead of forcing students to pay for expensive new evaluations.

Right now, many students who had supports in K–12 lose access when they go to college simply because of paperwork or cost. The RISE Act would change that — ensuring transparency around accommodations, making it easier for eligible students to get the support they deserve, and helping them focus on learning instead of endless bureaucracy.

Use our link to as your house representative to support the bill. Join us in advocating for equal access to higher education for students with disabilities. 🧑‍🎓✨

https://secure.everyaction.com/JhYaHVVMgEiNjh4jHtN6_A2

12/12/2025

Free Webinar 📅 Navigating Accessible Vehicle Purchase

Join NDI and accessibility experts to learn how to:
• Compare financing options
• Understand modification costs
• Identify trusted mobility dealers
• Ask the right questions before buying

Learn more and register at https://www.nationaldisabilityinstitute.org/financial-wellness/assistive-technology-loan-program/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=gm_access.

Image description: Graphic promoting a live NDI webinar titled “Navigating Accessible Vehicle Purchase.” The teal background includes the NDI logo and a photo of a wheelchair user getting into an accessible vehicle. Text lists topics covered in the webinar, including financing, modification costs, mobility dealers and key questions to ask. The date and time, January 14, 2026, at 11 a.m. ET, appear at the bottom.

12/12/2025

👇K-12 Prevention Survey and Chance to Win a $50 Gift Card.‼️ Please share!

We invite you to participate in a brief survey examining the assets and needs of West Virginia K–12 schools related to youth prevention programming in three key areas:
-Body safety/sexual violence prevention
-Substance use prevention
-Su***de prevention

You are eligible to participate if you are 18 years or older and work with students in a K–12 WV school (e.g., teacher, counselor, administrator, or other school or community staff). The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete and is completely voluntary. You can choose to not answer any question. Please know that your input is extremely valuable and will help us better understand what is already in place and what additional supports are needed so we can strengthen prevention programs for youth across West Virginia. This work is being conducted by several partners, including Dr. Bridget Bailey, WVU's School of Social Work; Dr. Amy Saunders, Marshall University’s Center of Excellence for Recovery, West Virginia Foundation for R**e Information and Services (FRIS), Prevent Su***de WV, and additional statewide partners.

This study is exempt under West Virginia University’s Institutional Review Board (IRB), study number 2510240275. If you have any questions about the IRB, please contact Dr. Bridget Bailey or by email at bridget.bailey@mail.wvu.edu. Additionally, you can contact the WVU Office of Human Research Protections at 304-293-7073.

To participate, please click the link: https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_erCBgYhQdVbOk8m
If you have any other questions about the survey, please contact: Dr. Bridget Bailey at 304-293-3501 (WVU School of Social Work) or Dr. Amy Saunders at 304-696-4800 (Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery). As a thank-you for your time, upon completion of the survey you will have the option to be entered into a random drawing for one of six $50 gift cards. Thank you for all you do for West Virginia’s students and for considering this request. Please also feel free to share this invitation with your colleagues.

12/12/2025

Don't forget to register for the Stewart's Conference. Registration for the training and registration for Vendors for DAD are open. Go to www.wvsilc.org/fsi for more information and to register.