The Olmstead Council is hosting public forums (PDF) to receive stakeholder input.

There will be a "Celebrate Health" Training (RTF) on June 8, 2012.  The deadline to register is June 1, 2012.

Here is a new resource from the U.S. Department of Education - Restraint and Seclusion: Resource Document.

Social Security Announces New Conditions for Compassionate Allowances Program

The West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services seeks public input on their draft Fiscal Year 2013 goals and objectives and their plan to implement an Order of Selection.  There are public meetings scheduled and comments are due no later than June 12th.

September 7 - 29, 2012

Mon Arts Center
Morgantown, WV

Application Deadline to exhibit is June 15, 2012.

More information and application for the Different Voices and Common Experiences Art Show (RTF).

Aged and Disabled Waiver Manual Comments are Due by May 27rd. To review the manual or make comments visit http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/bms/news/Pages/Ch501ADW.aspx.

• http://www.statejournal.com/story/17937934/wv-agency-website-targets-discrimination

• http://www.hrc.wv.gov/

Do you or a family member have a Disability? Do you have the supports & resources you need to live where you choose?

The West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) are conducting a series of public forums. This is your opportunity to tell the SILC and DRS what you want included in the State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). The SPIL governs how federal and state independent living funds are spent in WV in collaboration with the Centers for Independent Living.

May 10, 2012
Thursday, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Comfort Inn – Aikens Center
1872 Edwin Miller Blvd
Martinsburg, WV

May 11, 2012
Friday, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Upshur County Public Library
RR 6 Box 480
Tennerton Road
Buckhannon, WV

May 14, 2012
Monday, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Logan Area Library
16 Wildcat Way
Logan, WV

June 27, 2012
Wednesday, Noon - 2:00 p.m.
Ohio County Library
52 16th St
Wheeling, WV

July 16, 2012
Monday, 2:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Family Life Center
422 Main Street
Summersville, WV
(Behind Summersville Baptist Church on the corner of Whortleberry Avenue & Spruce Street)

The Public Forums are open and accessible to the public. Requests for a sign language interpreter, alternate formats, or other accommodation needed to participate in the meetings must be made one week prior to the meeting.

The Current SPIL (2010–2013) is available upon request or at http://www.wvsilc.org.

For more information or assistance contact Kathi Young at <kathi.young@wvsilc.org> or 1–855–855–9743

Are you concerned about bullying or has your child been bullied?

Does your child have a developmental disability?

Join Step By Step/Bully-Free West Virginia on May 24, 2012 from 10 AM to noon.

• Learn about school policies in place to protect you child.
• Learn how to track information.
• Learn what information to track.
• Receive resources.

Email bullyfreeWV@stepbystepwv.org or call 304–414–4452 (Tonya or Emily) if you are interested in attending.

A five-day hands-on camp where parents, professionals, and students learn how assistive technology can help young children (birth - 8 years) with significant and multiple developmental needs.

When is Camp Gizmo?

July 14 - 18, 2012 on the campus of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf/Blind in Romney, WV.

Who Should Come and What Do We Do?

Families, professionals, college students, and others who want to learn more about assistive technology. A limited number of “focus” children will be accepted and assigned a team of professionals who help families identify and apply new strategies for solving their multiple assistive technology needs. (Preference will be given to children who have not previously attended camp. Professionals and other caregivers involved with these children are encouraged to attend the camp.)

Labs and workshops will be available to Camp participants daily. Parents attend workshops on subjects that will help them better meet the needs of their child. Professionals and students attend workshops of interest that meet professional/ educational needs or assist the “focus” family. Teams will meet daily to observe, discuss and implement strategies for the “focus” child

Applications

Application are due April 30, 2012.

Advocate

West Virginia Advocates, Inc. is the designated protection and advocacy system committed to promoting and protecting the human and legal rights of citizens with disabilities in West Virginia. WVA is hiring an Advocate in the Charleston, WV office. Qualifications: Bachelor’s degree and minimum of one year experience with disabilities. Applicant must have exceptional writing skills and ability to use Microsoft Office. This is a full time non-exempt position. Only qualified individuals should apply.

Send resume to:

Executive Director
West Virginia Advocates, Inc.
1207 Quarrier Street, 4th Floor
Charleston, WV 25301
Fax: 346–0867
Email: jobs@wvadvocates.org

EOE. WVA encourages persons with disabilities and minorities to apply.

West Virginia Advocates is asking for comments from the public on its Fiscal Year 2013 (October 2012 thru September 2013) Priorities and Objectives from May 6, 2012 through June 20, 2012. You may find our current (Fiscal Year 2012) Priorities and Objectives on our website wvadvocates.org.

You may submit comments by:

• Phone: (800) 950–5250
• Fax: (304) 346–0867
• E-mail: contact@wvadvocates.org
  with a subject line of “FY 2013 P&O Comments”
• Mail: WV Advocates
  1207 Quarrier St Ste 400
  Charleston, WV 25301
• Facebook: http://facebook.com/wvadvocates
• Public Meeting: See below

Public Meeting

You are invited to attend a meeting for the purpose of providing comments on West Virginia Advocates’ Fiscal Year 2013 Priorities and Objectives.

When: May 16, 2012 from 10:00 A.M. to 3:00 P.M.

Where:

Best Western (formerly Holiday Inn)
100 Lodgeville Road
Bridgeport, WV 26330
304–842–5411

Directions: Take Interstate 79 to Exit 119. Turn on Route 50 East toward Bridgeport. Turn left at the second traffic light onto Lodgeville Road. Best Western is located on the right beside Walgreens.

Lunch: Provided (Coffee, sodas in the a.m., Hot lunch buffet, Cookies/brownies)

Do you have a group of people that would like to provide comments but cannot make it to Bridgeport, WV? Contact Clarice Hausch at (800) 950–5250 and request a meeting at your location.

The WV Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) is holding a series of public forums for input into the next State Plan for Independent Living (SPIL). "The SPIL governs how federal and state independent living funds are spent in West Virginia in collaboration with the centers for independent living."

Update 2: Our June Trainings have been cancelled.

Update: Our April and May Trainings have been cancelled. Check back later for their rescheduled dates.

Save a date on your calendars for the following trainings that WVA is planning to present during our Fiscal Year 2012 (October 2011 - September 2012).

What: West Virginia Youth Self-Advocacy Conference

When: June 14, 2012, 9:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Where: WV State University, Charleston, WV

Who: Students in grades 9 - 12 with intellectual and developmental disabilities

Limited to the first 50 eligible applicants.

More information will be available at http://www.peoplefirstwv.org or by calling 304.422.3151

Save a date on your calendars for the following trainings that WVA is planning to present during our Fiscal Year 2012 (October 2011 - September 2012).

WVA has Wrightslaw products available for purchase at a reduced prices!

• "Legal Requirements of IEPs" CD-ROM (1.25 hours) - $11.22
• "Understanding Your Child's Test Scores" CD-ROM (1.5 hours) - $11.22
• "Law and Advocacy" CD-ROM (6.5 hours) - $37.46
• "Wrightslaw: All About IEPs" Book - $10.00

If you have questions about the products or would like to place an order over the phone, please call West Virginia Advocates at 1-800-950-5250 ext. 53.