disAbility Resource Center

07/22/2025

dRC Staff joining the IL community advocating for people with disabilities at DC NCIL march

07/22/2025

🔥 In the DC heat, we marched for our rights. 💪

Yesterday, dRC staff joined disability advocates from across the country for the National Council on Independent Living ADA 35 March & Rally—a mile-long push to the Capitol to demand our voices be heard. We were proud to stand beside people with lived experience: Deaf advocates, blind leaders, amputees, people with developmental disabilities, and so many more who know firsthand what access, inclusion, and independence truly mean.

We heard powerful speeches—including from U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders—that reminded us what's at stake. Many speakers are where they are today because of the very programs now facing cuts. Programs that support independence, community living, and equal opportunity.

The fight for disability rights isn’t over. It’s 35 years after the ADA—and we’re still marching.

07/16/2025

📚💪 We show up, because it matters.

Today, dRC staff and consumers joined the ADA Basics training hosted by the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center and Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

We're proud to keep learning, growing, and advocating—for ourselves, for each other, and for a more accessible world. 🌎✊

07/15/2025

📣 Celebrate the ADA’s 35th Anniversary with Us!

Want to better understand your rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act? Don’t miss this FREE virtual ADA Basics Training TOMORROW, July 16 from 2:00–3:30 PM! 💻✨

Hosted by the Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living and led by the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center, this session will give you a strong foundation in ADA employment rights—just in time for the 35th anniversary of this groundbreaking civil rights law. 🙌

✅ Pre-registration is required: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/ESpPFYcrQzmT5lJ1aTjj3A

🧏 ASL interpreting and captioning will be provided.

Let’s honor the legacy of the ADA by learning how to put it into action! 💪 For questions, contact Thomasina Byrd at adatraining@transcen.org or 1-800-949-4232.

07/08/2025

🌟 Join us at the Health Fair! 🌟

We’re excited to share that we'll be at the Health Fair at Howell Branch Library on Saturday, July 12, from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Fredericksburg!

✅ Free info tables, presentations, and giveaways
✅ Local health-related agencies and organizations
✅ Yoga classes and fun activities
✅ Meet groups like Rappahannock Area Health District, Brain Injury Services, Fredericksburg Food Co-Op, disAbility Resource Center, and more!

📍 Location: Howell Branch Library, 806 Lyons Boulevard, Fredericksburg, VA

Come see us and connect with valuable health resources for you and your family! ❤️

For more details, visit: librarypoint.org

07/08/2025

👉 In the Culpeper area? There are still a few spots left in this inclusive summer camp for kids ages 5–6—sign up today before it fills up! 🏃‍♂️☀️

👇 Check out the details from Culpeper Parks & Recreation:

CHOOSE TO INCLUDE! Register now for the next session of the Inclusive PE Pals Summer Camp for ages 5-6! Program dates: July 14-18 9:00a-9:45a in the aerobics studio of the Culpeper County Fieldhouse!

About the Program: Instructed by adapted Physical Education teacher-Kelly Vetere, this joyful and welcoming class is designed to introduce young children of all abilities to the fundamentals of physical activity through inclusive play.

Each 45-minute session focuses on developing motor skills, coordination, balance, and teamwork in a supportive, adaptive environment.

Activities are designed to be accessible and engaging for children with and without disabilities, promoting social interaction, confidence, and a love of movement. With an emphasis on fun, respect, and friendship, Inclusive PE Pals encourages every child to participate at their own pace while building essential physical and social skills.

Register here: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/culpepercopandr/activity/search/detail/6841?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

LIVE HERE. PLAY HERE.

07/07/2025

🌟 July is Disability Pride Month—a time to honor the history, culture, and contributions of the disability community. This year is especially meaningful as it marks the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), signed into law on July 26, 1990.

At the dRC, we’re proud to celebrate this milestone and renew our commitment to advancing accessibility and inclusion. Throughout July, we’ll be sharing resources, stories, and events to recognize Disability Pride and the ADA’s legacy. Stay tuned for more information about our upcoming activities!

We’re also honored to share that we received an official Proclamation from the Stafford County Board of Supervisors designating July 26, 2025, as National Disability Independence Day. This proclamation commemorates 35 years of progress driven by advocacy, resilience, and solidarity in the disability rights movement, and it powerfully reaffirms that accessibility is a norm, not a favor.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to Stafford County for this meaningful recognition and for standing with us in building a more inclusive community for all!

07/01/2025

The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) oversees Medicaid and FAMIS programs that provide health coverage to over 2 million Virginians. DMAS is committed to ensuring access to high-quality, cost-effective care that supports the health and well-being of people across the Commonwealth.

🌟 Make Your Voice Heard: Join the Virginia Medicaid Member Advisory Committee (MAC)! 🌟

Are you or someone in your family enrolled in Virginia Medicaid? Do you have ideas about how the program can better serve you, your family, and others in our community?

The Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS) is looking for Medicaid members to join the Medicaid Member Advisory Committee (MAC).

As a committee member, you’ll:
✅ Help review policies, services, and materials
✅ Make recommendations to DMAS leadership
✅ Work with other passionate Virginians to improve Medicaid for everyone

This is a chance to play an active role in making Virginia Medicaid better for all who rely on it.

👉 Interested? Apply today!
https://forms.office.com/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=qeUKYsFOoE-GQV2fOGxzCRssqoMHOm1AgQ2YlTUQx01UQTRPVU1NQko0OVU0VUJENTM0Tk8xS0VNQy4u&route=shorturl&utm_campaign=engmac1&utm_content=20250701&utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

📧 Questions? Email MAC@dmas.virginia.gov.

06/26/2025

🌟 We're Here for You – Thursday, July 3, 2025!

Join the disAbility Resource Center as we host PEATC (Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center) for in-person Community Office Hours—right here in Fredericksburg!

💬 Have questions about your child’s education plan—like an IEP or 504? Need guidance navigating school supports?

This is your chance to speak directly with PEATC staff in a relaxed, no-pressure setting.

📍 Location: 409 Progress Street, Fredericksburg, VA
🕚 Time: 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
🔁 Held the first Thursday of every month

✔️ Walk-ins welcome—no appointment needed!
📲 Learn more by scanning the QR code on the flyer or visiting:
🌐 PEATC.org/Regional-Community-Office-Hours

Let's work together to empower families and support students! 💼📘

06/25/2025

🔊 Powerful voices echoed through the Hart Senate Office Building in Washington, DC as members of ADAPT gathered to call attention to the vital importance of Medicaid and affordable housing for people with disabilities.

In this 3.5-minute video, ADAPT participants gather in the building’s atrium and chant “NO CUTS TO MEDICAID.” A banner is unfurled from the upper level, underscoring the message: that cuts or caps to Medicaid and housing programs threaten the ability of disabled people to live independently in their communities.

At the disAbility Resource Center, we know that access to Medicaid-funded services is often the key to staying out of institutional care and living with dignity at home. We're grateful to those who raise awareness about how policy decisions affect the lives of people with disabilities.