Disability Rights of West Virginia

11/21/2025

📣SAVE THE DATE, WEST VIRGINIA!📣

Get ready for an exciting and informative webinar you won't want to miss!🗓️

Join us Monday, December 8, 2025, from Noon-1:00PM for "2The Revised West Virginia POST Form for 2026: What You Need to Know".💡

Our expert panel - including Alvin Moss, MD, Executive Director of the WV Network of Ethics Committees; Stacie Honaker, JD, Privacy Officer & Risk Manager at WVU Health Sciences Center; and Mary Agnes Argento, Director of OHFLAC - will walk you through the upcoming changes to the POST form, including one major update: the removal of the Authorization Box. They'll also answer your questions live! ✨

🔹No registration required
🔹Free webinar
🔹No continuing education credit provided
🔹Log on a few minutes early!

🔗Join Zoom Meeting: wvumdtv.zoom.us/j/5554444058?pwd=UHNzTUcyTnJvTFN6ZzJZUUlBeXZOdz09&omn=95323059526
Meeting ID: 555 444 4058
Passcode: 430407

Let's stay informed and prepared for 2026! 🚀

11/18/2025

WV Wraparound is West Virginia’s statewide approach to support children and families. It brings together multiple systems and services to create a coordinated, family-driven plan of care for children with significant behavioral, emotional, or mental health needs.

11/14/2025

The WVU CED is seeking donations for its annual fundraiser to bring joy to former foster youth in West Virginia during the holiday season.

The Mentoring and Oversight for Developing Independence with Foster Youth (MODIFY) program at the WVU CED provides ongoing services and resources specifically to meet the needs of eligible former foster youth of West Virginia who are interested in furthering their education. One of the program’s purposes is to provide education and training vouchers to youth who exit foster care at age 18 or older so they can attend a West Virginia college, university, or vocational training.

“I look forward to this drive every year,” said Michelle Fleece, MODIFY program manager. “It gives us a chance to recognize these youth and all the hard work they put towards overcoming the obstacles in their lives and bettering themselves while working towards their educational goals.”

Many youth in the program have limited or no family support and often do not receive any gifts for the holidays. MODIFY’s annual donation drive disperses raised funds to the program participants in the form of gift cards so they can purchase something for themselves during the holiday season.

“These funds allow these former foster youth to reward themselves or help them buy an item they’ve been wanting but couldn’t afford,” said Fleece. “The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time of year, and this drive shows these youth that people care and are thinking about them.”

Transitioning to adulthood can be a challenging time for young people who age out of foster care. According to the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council, they have a higher risk than their peers of experiencing homelessness, mental and physical health problems, substance use disorder and more. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that up to 46% of former foster youth experienced homelessness at least once by the age of 26.

“We see so many different walks of life in this program,” said Fleece. “Some live alone, some go back to extended families, and others have built families of their own. All of them truly enjoy receiving this surprise gift each year. It really does make a difference. I hope this year that we can reach even more people and make a bigger impact.”

Donations will be accepted through December 14, 2025 and are tax deductible through the WVU Foundation: https://give.wvu.edu/wvucedholiday

WVU Foundation

11/13/2025

Coaching for All West Virginians is a mental health and wellness program funded by the West Virginia Department of Education, in partnership with the Cook Center for Human Connection.

Parents, caregivers, and school staff can access expert coaching—at no cost.

Information attached.

11/13/2025

Advocate Alia Tanner is at today's Putnam County Sheriff’s Office, Metro Area on Aging, and Putnam Aging dementia awareness event.

11/13/2025

We have a free webinar coming up on December 18.
This will cover Legal Decision-Making Options.

To register, please go to https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/9010622485555863125 and complete the registration link.

11/11/2025

11/10/2025

The WVU CED has introduced a new online course, "Patient Care for Patients with Disabilities in Rural Primary Care," as a flexible training opportunity.

This training is free for all students and medical residents.

This training will equip providers with the knowledge and skills to:

- Assess the unique needs of patients with disabilities.
- Develop tailored care plans to improve health outcomes.
- Overcome common challenges in rural primary care settings.
- Enhance patient engagement and satisfactions.
- Improve care coordination with specialists and community resources.

Why this micro-credential matters:

- 1 in 5 adults has a disability, and this number is projected to increase.
- Rural areas face significant disparities in access to disability care.

What you'll gain:

- 5 hours of interactive online content.
- Certification CE credits and/or community service hours.
- Ongoing support and networking opportunities.

Don't miss this opportunity to enhance your skills and improve patient care. Enroll now and start making a difference in the lives of patients with disabilities!

Register: https://wvu.geniussis.com/PublicStudentSignUp.aspx?AffiliateID=LR10P3

WVU School of Medicine
WVU School of Nursing
WVU School of Public Health
West Virginia University- Occupational Therapy

11/10/2025

Advocate Alia Tanner was out and about again over the weekend with Appalachian Center for Independent Living

11/09/2025

Microtia Awareness Day dedicates November 9th to spreading hope and knowledge concerning a congenital disability.
Approximately one child in every 9,000 is born with Microtia. Microtia occurs when the ear or ears do not fully develop during the 1st trimester of pregnancy. While Microtia is diagnosed at birth, there is no understanding of why Microtia occurs. Those born with Microtia face hearing loss, facial challenges, and the longing for social acceptance.
Learn more and find resources by clicking the link.

Founded in 2016 by National Day Calendar® and the Ear Community Organization.

11/07/2025

Our third annual Holiday Extravaganza will take place in just 1️⃣ short month! This event features fun holiday-themed activities as well as our Adapted Toy Giveaway! 💛💙🎄🍪🎨🧸🎁

Please complete the registration below to participate:
https://forms.gle/iBydKXsgPxU2Z7sf8

11/07/2025

Our friends at the West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University are hosting a free "Overview of autism spectrum disorder" webinar at 6 p.m. on November 17, 2025.

Tune in to learn more about ASD characteristics, prevalence, and how to engage with and support individuals with ASD.

Register for free: da35d237-cf32-460b-b1d1-ba41c34cb1de@239ab278-3bba-4c78-b41d-8508a541e025" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/da35d237-cf32-460b-b1d1-ba41c34cb1de@239ab278-3bba-4c78-b41d-8508a541e025

West Virginia Autism Training Center at Marshall University