Goochland Powhatan Disability Service Board Information

The Goochland/Powhatan Disability Services Board is a 10 member Board with Staff Support covering both Goochland and Powhatan counties.

Origins of Virginia Disability Services Boards

In 1992, the General Assembly legislated the development of the Disability Services Boards (DSBs) to assist localities in identifying and addressing the needs of persons with physical and sensory disabilities in their communities. The Disability Services Boards and their grant program, the Rehabilitative Services Incentive Fund, originated in a 1992 report of the Disability Commission. Community involvement was a major theme of the report. In studying services for people with physical and sensory disabilities, the Commission found that planning for programs and services had traditionally been developed at the state level and implemented locally. In response to this finding the Commission created local Disability Services Boards as the infrastructure for locally based assessment and planning. The DSBs provide a bottom-up, cross-sectoral approach to service planning.

Although DSBs cannot provide direct services, they play a vital role in the development and expansion of services to improve access for Virginians with disabilities. Local governments appoint board members to fulfill this charge. Membership is comprised of local government representatives, business representatives, and individuals with physical or sensory disabilities or family members of people with physical or sensory disabilities. The Boards advise state and local government and agencies and, through incentive grants, leverage private and public dollars to improve service delivery and public awareness. Over 500 individuals serve on Virginia's 40 Disability Services Boards, which represent every political jurisdiction in the Commonwealth.

Board Meetings, Staff Support, Additional Information:

Disability Services Board meetings are held quarterly (with extra meetings set as needed) and are open to the public.

The Goochland/Powhatan DSB has, through the incentive grants with the sub-grantees have aided disabled residents. The Community Services Board - who opened a “library of adaptive equipment for disabled children, The Mill House – helping those with brain injuries, and Senior Connections with a program to provide ramps for residential houses, also a program to provide transportation for those with disabilities is in the development stage.

We have also helped many residents contact appropriate agencies such as Resources for Independent Living to assist them in their needs.

For additional information about our DSB, contact * Staff Support Valerie Johnson at (804) 556-5806.

For general information about all Disability Services Boards in Virginia see http://www.vadrs.org/cbs/dsc/

ALERT!!!

Speak Up to Protect Family Involvement and Help Students with Disabilities Succeed!
Take Action!

Does your child have an IEP or IFSP?
Do you like having a voice at the table about your child's education?
Is your child receiving or has s/he received special education services? Do you ever request an IEP meeting? Is it important to you to remain an equal member of the IEP Team? Are IEP progress reports important to you? Or are you worried that your child may lose special education/related services such as OT, PT, S/LP, APE? Has your child received ESY services?
The Virginia Board of Education (VBOE) is proposing a major change to Virginia's current special education regulations. The VBOE proposed draft is a rewrite of these current special education regulations and not simply a revision. If you wish to continue to have input that is heard and be a full and equal member at IEP meetings you need to speak up now!
The bottom line is that parents and supporters must submit public comment or the Virginia Board of Education won't think that the proposed regulations are of concern to Virginia's parents. If, however the VBOE approves the proposed regulations as is, the entire special education process in VA will be permanently changed, with more decision making going to the schools and LESS rights and protections for parents:
Less involvement by parents in the referral process. There will be no STATE required timelines, no required STATE procedures for involving parents.
Less involvement by parents in the IEP (e.g., LEAs can deny a request to meet; parents would not be a required part of the FBA).
Less involvement by parents in monitoring progress (since IEP progress reports would not be required as often as currently).
Less involvement by parents in termination decisions.
The voices of families, teachers, students, and others who care about children with disabilities need to be heard during the public comment process and at upcoming public hearings to ensure the draft regulations go back to the drawing board! Virginia needs to continue current protections and improve students' opportunities for long-term success.
What YOU can do to help...
1. Click on the blue "TAKE ACTION" to submit a copy of The Arc of Virginia's suggested public comment. Feel free to edit, add to, or personalize these public comments as you wish.
2. SPEAK OUT at the Public Hearings on the Special Education Draft Regulations which will begin on May 12, 2008. Theses Public Hearings will be held regarding the Board of Education's proposed changes to Virginia's special education. When you attend, bring a copy of the public comments and say a few words about how YOU or YOUR child would be impacted by these changes. To view The Arc of Virginia's public comment, visit www.arcofva.org . For your area's location and date please visit http://www.arcofva.org/Flyer-SpecEdPublicHearings.pdf

In the press:
Click here to view WUSA9's Interview with The Arc of Northern Virginia's, Tia Marsili, which discusses the the impact the proposed regulations will have on children with special needs across the state..