Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council

• The SILC supported (not by funding, but by actively advocating for) three additional CILs in Virginia
• The SILC began in establish their independence by making an “independent office” a goal
• Consumer coalition building was also a goal and the SILC began to understand that Part B funds could be used for other projects and not only direct services
• The SILC advocated for cost of living increases for CILs
• Outreach to racial and ethnic minorities was also a priority as data was gathered among CILs
• Some Part B funds were used to establish local coalitions, however the majority of funds were again granted to CILs for consumer goods and services

• The SILC began to support a “consumerism movement” and began to advocate for and provide information via the Internet, Action Alerts, supporting a statewide conference and supporting other training activities
• SILC began to see a need to develop local advocacy efforts in an orchestrated manner
• There was a shift in Part B funding from direct services to supporting the development of local consumer advocacy groups, training CIL consumers and staff and making a concentrated effort to support and advocate for more personal assistance services, nursing home transition activities, and other systems change activities
• Center in Fredericksburg was transitioned off of Part B funds
• The SILC also funded the CIRCLE Project (Creating and Implementing Responsiveness in Community Living to Endependence) which investigated Medicaid and Medicare Home and Community Based Services, looking at ways to “open up” those programs

• At the onset of this plan, the SILC began to focus its efforts on systems change activities rather than the funding of direct services
• The SILC funded the Community Action Specialist (CAS) project designed to continue building coalitions and consumer advocacy groups at the local level, training consumers, and advocating for both system-wide and local change.
• Through Part B funds the SILC provided funding for each CIL to hire a Community Action Specialist and actively work on establishing local consumer advocacy groups
• The SILC also focused on maintaining a visible Website and providing ongoing information to consumers, supporting additional funding for CILs and organizational change for the Council

• The SILC, again, focused on information sharing and informational access as a way to increase the knowledge base and advocacy efforts of consumers
• A goal was also set to improve and increase youth advocacy through youth leadership development and inclusion
• Systems change activities at the local and state level through the continued funding of the CAS Project with the majority of Part B funding coming into Virginia
• The importance of the SILC’s “autonomy and economic independence” remained both a priority and a goal

Additional accomplishments for the SILC during this period but not specifically required by the SPIL include:

• the development of a five year plan referred to in the SILC minutes as, SNAPSHOT
• the SILC partnered with the DSU to sponsor an advocates' meeting to celebrate the twenty year anniversary of the enactment of the Virginians with Disability Act
• the Warren G Stambaugh Foundation donated funds to the SILC which necessitated the development of the Statewide Independent Living Fund (SILF). This fund was established to allow the SILC to accept grants, gifts, donations and bequests on behalf of the Council from any source and to deposit all monies into the fund.

• The SILC worked with the network of the CILs and the DSUs to review and identify gaps in independent living services in geographic regions of Virginia not served by a CIL. A series of town hall forums were held in Planning Districts 9 (lower part), 13 and 14.
• The SILC worked in conjunction with the Office of Community Integration and various community partners to assist in implementing the initiatives identified Cross Governmental Strategic Plan.
• Part B Funds were awarded to the CILs in systems change advocacy, addressing the local level needs of individuals transitioning out of institutions in housing, transportation and personal assistance services.
• The SILC promoted the ongoing education and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other major disability rights laws.

Additional accomplishments during this period not specifically listed in the SPIL include:

• the credited participation of the SILC in the development of a manual currently used by Congress which establishes the necessary accessibility guidelines for assisting those individuals with disabilities
• Working with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the SILC investigated the feasibility of obtaining federal certification of the uniform statewide building code.

• The SILC worked with the network of the CILs and the DSUs to review and identify gaps in independent living services in geographic regions of Virginia not served by a CIL. A series of town hall forums were held in Planning Districts 9 (lower part), 13 and 14.
• The SILC worked in conjunction with the Office of Community Integration and various community partners to assist in implementing the initiatives identified Cross Governmental Strategic Plan.
• Part B Funds were awarded to the CILs in systems change advocacy, addressing the local level needs of individuals transitioning out of institutions in housing, transportation and personal assistance services.
• The SILC promoted the ongoing education and compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and other major disability rights laws.

Additional accomplishments during this period not specifically listed in the SPIL include:

• the credited participation of the SILC in the development of a manual currently used by Congress which establishes the necessary accessibility guidelines for assisting those individuals with disabilities
• Working with the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the SILC investigated the feasibility of obtaining federal certification of the uniform statewide building code.

• The SILC awarded Part B funds to the disAbility Resource Center in Fredericksburg to provide guidance and mentoring to consumer groups in the lower part of Planning District 9, a geographically unserved area of Virginia. This area encompasses Culpeper, Madison, Orange and Rappahannock Counties.
• For a final SPIL cycle, Part B Funds were awarded to the sixteen CILs for systems change advocacy, addressing the local level needs of individuals in housing, transportation and personal assistance services including support service providers, to ensure a smooth transition into community or allow someone to remain in the community.
• The SILC reviewed the accessibility of key state websites to ensure compliance with Title IV of the Telecommunications Act, and sought collaboration activity with state agency heads and webmasters, while advocating for equal access for individuals with disabilities.
  
  Additional accomplishments during this period not specifically listed in the SPIL include:
  • The satellite office located in New River Valley (Southwest Virginia) converted to a full-fledged Center for Independent Living in Planning District 5, serving Allegany, Craig, Botetourt, and Roanoke Counties, and the city of Christiansburg
  • The SILC was a sponsor of the 2015 IL Conference which included a celebration of the Virginians with Disabilities Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Approximately 260 individuals attended this event, including CIL staff, consumers, SILC members, service providers and Governor McAuliffe.
  • Each year several current and former SILC members join the CIL network at the Virginia General Assembly for IL Day, to meet with their respective state legislators to advocate for funding support of the CILs and to educate them about the potential effects of legislative decisions on the lives of individuals with disabilities.
  • SILC members regularly attend the Annual Conference on Independent Living in July of each year. The conference provided the opportunity for members to attend workshops, network with other IL advocates on a national level, march to the U.S. Capitol and shape the future of independent living.

The Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council has worked to help Centers for Independent Living implement the newest fifth Core Service, Transition, in the consecutive 2017 and 2021 State Plans for Independent Living (SPILs). The Centers did tremendous work to build out relationships that would support and enhance their capabilities to provide all 3 prongs of Transition services to as many consumers as possible. The below measurable outcomes speak to this work, as well as the systems change that has taken place over the years covered by these 2 State Plans for Independent Living.

Measurable Outcomes for 2018 -2024

Number of people with disabilities in nursing facilities the CIL had direct contact with: 1,863

Number of nursing facilities involved in CIL led outreach and training activities: 1,564

Number of hospital staff responsible for long term care screening involved in CIL led outreach and training activities: 713

Number of preadmission screening teams involved in CIL led outreach and training activities: 557

Number of high school students involved in CIL led outreach and training activities: 8,546

Number of youth who have left public education and not yet 25 years of age involved in CIL led outreach and training activities: 3,257

Number of public school, college, DARS and CSB staff involved in CIL led outreach and training activities: 12,139

Data Began to be Collected in FFY23 & 24 on:
Number of staff of institutional settings, other than nursing facilities, involved in CIL led outreach and training: 406

Number of people with disabilities in institutional settings, other than nursing facilities, the CIL had direct contact with: 300