Virginia Disability Commission

July 13, 2006

The Virginia Disability Commission (the Commission) was established in 1990 to identify and recommend legislative priorities and policies for adoption or examination by the General Assembly in order to provide ongoing support in developing and reviewing services and funding related to Virginians with disabilities.

The Virginia Disability Commission met on July 13, 2006, in Richmond. Delegate Michèle B. McQuigg was elected chair and Senator Yvonne B. Miller was elected vice chair. A complete listing of the members may be accessed on the Commission’s website

Pat Davis, Commission staff, reported on 2006 legislation affecting people with physical and sensory disabilities. Susan Massart, House Appropriations Committee staff, reported on provisions of the 2006-2008 biennial budget that affect disability services.

Notable items that were supported by the Commission and included in the budget were $2.3 million for brain injury services and $0.6 million for a buy-in program as part of the Medicaid state plan. In addition, $1.7 million was included in the budget to add 65 Medicaid waiver slots for people with developmental disabilities and $2.6 million was included to increase the personal maintenance allowance for recipients of all Medicaid waivers.

Speakers

Commissioner Jim Rothrock of the Department of Rehabilitative Services, Commissioner Joe Bowman of the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, and Policy and Planning Manager Leslie Prince of the Department for the Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing presented overviews of their agency services for people with physical and sensory disabilities.

Heidi Lawyer, Executive Director of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD), provided the Commission with a review of the Biennial Assessment of Disability Services in Virginia, published in April 2006. In the Assessment, the VBPD analyzes services currently available, identifies critical issues, and makes recommendations for improvements.

Harrison Rue, Director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, reported on the
Transportation and Housing Alliance, which has developed a planning assessment tool to help identify the housing and transportation needs of people with disabilities.

Work Group Report

Bill Fuller of the Virginia Housing and Development Authority presented a report of the Commission’s housing work group, which focused on efforts to establish a coalition of supporters for a visitability
certification program in Virginia. “Visitability” refers to specific housing features that make it easier for people with mobility impairment to live and visit homes.

Work Plan & Next Meeting

The Commission discussed its work plan for the upcoming year.

The next meeting date will be posted on the General Assembly and the Commission websites when it becomes available. More detailed information about the meeting, including copies of the presentations, may be accessed on the Commission website.

Chairman:
The Hon. Michele B. McQuigg

For information, contact:
Pat Davis, DLS Staff

Website:
http://dls.state.va.us/disability.htm

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