Center for Excellence in Disabilities at WVU

09/03/2025

Don't forget to register for the Scrollathon art-making event happening next Tuesday, September 9th at 4 p.m. at the Art Museum of WVU in Morgantown, WV!

Participants at this free, all-ages event will:
- Make a scroll from two strips of fabric, tightly rolled together.
- Name their scroll and share its meaning on video.
- Assemble scrolls into a large-scale collaborative artwork.
- Have the artwork become part of the Art Museum of WVU's collection with images displayed in Washington, D.C. in honor of the United States' 250th birthday.

Watch the vid to learn more about Scrollathon and register today!

Vid: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8nMbE6sM6V4
Register: https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9vnczsT5JgCx8OO

Art Museum of WVU
Scrollathon

Scrollathon was born of artists and brothers Steven and William Ladds’ belief in the extraordinary capacity of every human being and the awesome power of com...

09/03/2025

The Mountain State Conference on Disabilities registration deadline has been extended to September 10, 2025!

Don't miss your chance to engage with professionals, advocates, and people with lived disability experience during this interactive two-day conference taking place September 18-19, 2025 at the Waterfront Place Hotel in Morgantown, WV.

We've just announced some new poster sessions for the conference, with topics that include: ABA therapy for children and the impact of environment on treatment outcomes, music therapy, the psychosocial benefits of a peer-based Jiu-Jitsu program, assessing the knowledge and comfort levels of families of children with special healthcare needs with the WV public school system, and more!

Special discounted student rate is available, along with limited scholarship opportunities for people with disabilities and their caretakers/family members. Multiple registration options for CEU-seeking and non-CEU seeking professionals, as well.

Learn more and register: https://cedwvu.org/mscd/

Disability Rights of West Virginia
WV Developmental Disabilities Council
Association of University Centers on Disabilities

09/02/2025

The proposed federal budget called to eliminate all University Centers for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities (UCEDDs) like the WVU CED and make significant cuts to Protection & Advocacy (P&A) programs like Disability Rights of WV.

The Senate Appropriations Committee had strong bipartisan support in recommending to add funding back into the budget for these programs, but there are still more hurdles to clear! The House is preparing their version of the new budget for markup beginning this week. It is a great time to remind representatives, if you so choose, that UCEDDs like the WVU CED and P&A agencies like Disability Rights of WV provide vital services to people with disabilities and should have funding put back into the budget.

Use the Association of University Centers on Disabilities (AUCD) tool to have your voice be heard if you so choose: https://aucd.quorum.us/campaign/135821

View our digital toolkit for more shareable graphics, info, and sample email and phone scripts: https://cedwvu.org/protect-disability-network-digital-toolkit/



Association of University Centers on Disabilities
Disability Rights of West Virginia
National Disability Rights Network

09/02/2025

Our friends at the Down Syndrome Network of West Virginia (DSNWV) are having their annual Buddy Walk fundraiser on October 4, 2025 in Charleston, WV!

Register yourself or a team and help make a difference for this non-profit that does so much for Down syndrome advocacy, resource sharing, and education in the state. Be sure to register by September 4 (Thursday!) to secure your t-shirt!

Register: https://charity.pledgeit.org/dsnwv2025buddywalk

Down Syndrome Network of WV

08/31/2025

Today we observe International Overdose Awareness Day.

According to multiple studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and others, people with disabilities experience substance use disorder at a higher rate than people without disabilities. In addition, West Virginia has consistently led the country in opioid overdose rate.

West Virginians looking for substance use treatment resources should visit https://www.help4wv.com/ or check out the vast list of resources, including substance use resources, over at the IMPACT WV page: https://cedwvu.org/impact-wv/impact-resources/

Help4WV

Today we observe International Overdose Awareness Day. This year's theme is "one big family, driven by hope."

We recently held a week-long Peer Recovery Support Specialist (PRSS) Recovery Coach and Ethics training at the WVU CED with instructor Kenny Jordan, coordinator of the WV Peer Recovery Training Hub. Thank you to Kenny and all of the training participants for a great week of learning about how to be a peer recovery professional.

West Virginia has consistently held the highest rate of opioid overdose-related deaths according to National Institute of Health data. While there is still much to do, there are a lot of organizations and people putting in the work to keep their neighbors safe.

IMPACT WV works with families and mothers of young children born exposed to substances in utero by offering direct services, patient navigation, a neonatal abstinence syndrome clinic, free trainings, and more.

Learn about IMPACT WV services: https://impact.cedwvu.org/impact-wv-services/

Center for Excellence in Disabilities at WVU
Marshall University Center of Excellence for Recovery

08/29/2025

The WVU CED will be closed on Monday, September 1, 2025 in observance of Labor Day. We will re-open on September 2 with regular hours.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2024, the employment–population ratio for people with a disability reached a series high of 22.7 percent since data was first reported in June 2008. That is a positive sign!

Disability Employment Services at the CED help connect job-seeking people with disabilities to hiring businesses to find the perfect match.

Learn more: https://cedwvu.org/employment-services/

08/29/2025

Great interview with Mountain State Conference on Disabilities (MSCD) keynote speaker Jordyn Zimmerman for CBS Mornings!

There is still time to register to attend this interactive conference taking place in Morgantown, WV on September 18-19, 2025! You'll hear from self-advocates like Jordyn, and other disability experts and professionals.

Options are available for CEU and non-CEU seeking professionals and students, as well as scholarship opportunities for people with disabilities and their families.

Register, view sessions, apply for scholarships and more: https://cedwvu.org/mscd

Disability Rights of West Virginia
WV Developmental Disabilities Council

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/nonspeaking-autistic-woman-embarks-on-journey-to-advocate-for-disability-rights/

At 29 years old, Jordyn Zimmerman is autistic and nonspeaking but she's making her voice heard on some of the most prestigious stages. Jamie Wax sat down with Zimmerman in her first broadcast television interview to discuss the struggles she faced growing up, the way that a communication app on an i...

08/28/2025

We're excited to be partnering with the Art Museum of WVU and artists William and Steven Ladd to host a special Scrollathon art-making event on September 9, 2025 at 4 p.m. at the Art Museum of WVU's Museum Education Center!

Scrollathon is a unique collaborative art project that involves assembling rolled colored fabric into a large-scale artwork. Participants talk about the meaning behind their scrolls on video, and images of the artwork will be displayed in Washington, D.C. in honor of the United States' 250th birthday!

Only 25 spots are available, so hurry and register if you're interested! All are welcome!

Register: https://wvu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9vnczsT5JgCx8OO

The WVU CED is honored to partner with the Art Museum of WVU to help bring more inclusive art events to the museum, ensuring that people with disabilities have opportunities to participate and contribute to art in their community.

Art Museum of WVU
Scrollathon

08/28/2025

Call for mentors with lived disability experience!

Are you an amputee, wheelchair user, person with limited vision, or person with a hearing impairment? Do you want to share your experiences with students and professionals to help guide the next generation of healthcare workers?

If interested, please contact Dr. Lesley Cottrell at lcottrell@hsc.wvu.edu.

08/27/2025

Introducing TheLink! A new app designed to support individuals with disabilities, especially those living with mental health challenges and/or substance use concerns, in managing their daily health needs.

But we can't do it without YOU.

Your voice and experience matter. Whether you are a person with lived experience, a caregiver, or a service provider, your input will help us build a tool that works for everyone. We'd love for you to take our Community Assessment Survey and help shape the app's future!

Survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9LV8LXP

WV Hope in Action Alliance

08/27/2025

Attn: current WVU students!

Are you looking for a fun way to earn internship, practicum, or training hours? Do you want to help students with intellectual/developmental disabilities adjust to campus life, attend social activities, and learn the ins and outs of being a Mountaineer?

If so, the Country Roads program is looking for peer mentors like you!

Learn more and apply: https://countryroads.cedwvu.org/peer-mentors/

08/26/2025

Families who may no longer be using adapted bicycles are encouraged to donate them to PlayWorks so they can donate them back to families who can use them through their Play it Forward program.

Please contact Mike Lentz at PlayWorks at 304-225-7529 if you have a bike you'd like to donate!

PlayWorks - Child & Adult Therapies