The Charlottesville Independence Resource Center is a non-profit corporation dedicated to fostering a community environment in which people with disabilities can live as independently as they choose. Our five core services are listed below.

Justice Department Issues Guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Employment Services for People with Disabilities

Nationally, a significant number of individuals with disabilities spend the majority of their daytime hours receiving public services in sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs. These settings segregate individuals from the community and provide little or no opportunity to interact with people without disabilities, other than paid staff. Read More

Disabled woman files Fair Housing suit against State Delegate March

A disabled Christiansburg woman who is renting an apartment in a boarding house owned by state Del. Marie March, R-Floyd County, has filed a complaint with the Virginia Fair Housing Board against March and her company, Big Bear Properties LLC.  Read More

Charlottesville Cardinals bring Wheelchair Basketball to Walton Middle School

The Charlottesville Cardinals team was at Walton Middle School demonstrating how they play and giving kids a chance to experience the game from their point of view. See More

Pregnant Women with Disabilities more likely to experience Partner Violence

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - A recent study by the University of Virginia says pregnant women with disabilities are more likely to experience violence in relationships.

“We also know that health care providers are less likely to discuss sexual and reproductive health care with this population, often viewing them as asexual. So, these women aren’t receiving critical information on contraception and other important aspects of sexual and reproductive health care,” Jeanne Alhusen said.

Women with disabilities also struggle to find help and resources if they do reach out for help.  Read More

Justice Department Issues Guidance on the Americans with Disabilities Act and Employment Services for People with Disabilities

Nationally, a significant number of individuals with disabilities spend the majority of their daytime hours receiving public services in sheltered workshops and facility-based day programs. These settings segregate individuals from the community and provide little or no opportunity to interact with people without disabilities, other than paid staff. Read More

NCD celebrates 50 year anniversary of Rehabilitation Act of 1973

WASHINGTON--Today the National Council on Disability celebrates the 50th anniversary of the first civil rights legislation protecting disabled people from discrimination. The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 was signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on Sept. 26, 1973, after he vetoed the legislation twice. It would be the precursor for future disbility rights protections, including the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Read More

Be wary of offering ‘help,’ and other ways to support families with disabilities

When my son was born sick, and eventually diagnosed with severe disabilities, friends helped in a variety of ways. One friend texted several times a day to let me know she was thinking of us without expecting a response in return. Another friend let me vent over the phone where I repeated and tried to understand constantly changing news I received from doctors. Read More

Disability Advocate Rebekah Taussig: Here’s How We Shift from Ableism to True Accessibility

PLANNING MAGAZINE

The author and @sitting_pretty Instagram influencer shares her vision for shifting the cultural narrative around disability.  Read More

Activist Judy Heumann led a reimagining of what it means to be disabled

Judy Heumann was the first person I called when, in 1987, I reported my first story on disability rights. Judy, who contracted polio when she was 18 months old, gave me the quote that perfectly summed up that little-known civil rights movement.  Read More

Web Meeting on how Systems Change fosters enhanced ADA compliance

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia for a Virtual Community Meeting on Tuesday, January 10, 2023 from 1 pm until 4 pm, EST, in which we will discuss how Systems Change fosters enhanced ADA compliance.  During this Community Meeting, you will hear from stakeholders who have engaged on Systems Change and how it has resulted in enhanced ADA compliance. Register Here

DOJ files lawsuit against Ohio Dept. of Rehabilitation and Corrections

Virginia is settling a lawsuit regarding masking in public schools

RICHMOND, Va. (WVIR) - The ACLU of Virginia announced Monday, December 12: Today the Commonwealth of Virginia affirmed that peer masking in Virginia public schools is a reasonable modification for students with disabilities that put them at severe risk if they contract COVID-19 as part of a settlement in the Seaman et al. vs. Commonwealth of Virginia et al. Read More

Job Offer Taken Back from Woman with One Hand – Feds Say Now They Pay

A woman was offered a job after passing a test with a perfect score. Then a staffing company took back its offer because the woman has one hand and they assumed she couldn’t do the work, federal officials say. As a result, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a lawsuit, accusing the company’s branch in Orem, Utah of disability discrimination, according to the agency.  Read More