Overcoming Barriers to Community Integration for People with Disabilities
Explore the challenges faced by individuals with physical and sensory disabilities in achieving community integration, and learn about services, resources, and policy recommendations aimed at improving accessibility and inclusion. Discover initiatives in Virginia for independent living, housing affordability, accessible transportation, employment support, and more.
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Presentation Transcript
Barriers to Community Integration People with Physical and/or Sensory Disabilities April 11, 2023 Maureen Hollowell Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living www.vacil.org
Virginia Centers for Independent Living Controlled by People with Disabilities Community Based Cross Disability Nonprofit Nonresidential Systems Change Technical Assistance Individual Services 2
Five Core Independent Living Services Services to individuals Peer Mentoring Independent Living Skills Training Advocacy Information and Referral Transition Out of institutions Prevent institutionalization Youth 3
Community Integration Housing Transportation Personal Assistance Employment Nursing Facilities Sign Language Interpreting Technology 4
Housing Affordability SSI maximum $914 monthly (30% is $275) SSDI average $1,358 monthly (30% is $407) Access Virginia Housing Grants, $8,000 Rental Unit Accessibility Modification (renters only) Granting Freedom (veterans who rent or homeowners) Virginia Liveable Home Tax Credit Planning State and Local Consolidated Plans 5
Housing Homeless Shelters Lack of accessibility Problematic requirements Transfers No assistance Lack of privacy Planning State and Local Consolidated Plans Virginia Statewide Building Code Type A Units to be fully accessible 6
Housing Action State supplement to SSI for housing Allow auxiliary grant to be used for individual housing Study of housing affordability Increase required number of accessible Type A units in Statewide Building Code Increase amount for Virginia Housing modification grants Expand use of Consolidated Plan, Community Development Block Grants for accessible modifications by homeowners Increase Liveable Home Tax Credit Assess shelters and provide them with technical assistance Remove barriers to work (transportation, personal assistance, technology) 7
Transportation Rural Transportation Unavailable Limited, when available Regular Route Bus Service Bus stops not accessible Drivers not accommodating Paratransit unreliable Transportation Network Companies Accessible vehicles 8
Transportation Action Permanent state/regional/local funding for rural transportation Fund projects to identify and resolve regular route barriers Fund projects to monitor and resolve paratransit issues Incentivize a percentage of TNC operators to use accessible vehicles Amtrak expansion 9
Personal Assistance Support (PAS) Medicaid Provider shortage Rate paid to attendants Flexibility Dept for Aging and Rehabilitative Services Consumer-directed personal assistance (CD PAS) Wait list Rate paid to attendants 10
PAS Action Increase Medicaid attendant wages Increase funding for DARS CD PAS Fund training and outreach to recruit new attendants Increase focus of services facilitation on attendant recruitment and retention Sanctions for agencies that consistently understaff or fail to staff as scheduled 11
Employment Transportation Reliability Personal Assistance Ability of individual to schedule when they will use the restroom or need for other personal assistance Medicaid Works Lack of awareness Education and Vocational Preparation Focus on academics Vocational support that is realistic and driven by the individual Cost of Getting Started Clothing, transportation until first pay 12
Nursing Facilities Easy to get in Screening not required Once in, hard to get out Housing Establishing services Medicaid average cost is $8,000 a month Money Follows the Person Minimum Data Set, Section Q 13
Nursing Facility Action Improve long term care screening process Require screening prior to admission Educate screeners about community services Enforce MDS, Section Q requirements Re-establish transition coordination as a Medicaid service 14
Sign Language Interpreting Funding for activities Average Cost Typically two hour minimum Average hourly cost is $70, plus travel time and mileage Lack of Availability Different Levels of Qualifications Live versus Virtual Captioning 15
Sign Language Interpreting Action Fund community interpreting services Income based Annual individual limit Funerals, weddings, other major life activities Expand interpreter training programs 16
Technology Print Captions Websites State websites Public accommodations Kiosks Self-service 17
Technology Action Monitor and improve state website access Fund a public awareness campaign about technology access 18
