Local news
Headlines:

Human Rights Commission Focus Area Public Poll

“Lunch and Learn” discusses accessibility in houses

Disabled woman files Fair Housing suit against State Delegate March

Charlottesville Cardinals bring Wheelchair Basketball to Walton Middle School

Pregnant Women with Disabilities more likely to experience Partner Violence

Let’s Talk – Living with a Disability

Email Ballots with Screen Reader Technology Available to Charlottesville Absentee Voters with Disabilities

Governor Northam Launches Rent and Mortgage Relief Program to Assist Virginians Facing Eviction or Foreclosure

Cardinals Changing the Game and Lives

New Trail at Riverview Park for better accessibility

Full Articles:

Human Rights Commission Focus Area Public Poll

Feb 14 2024

What does the Charlottesville Human Rights Commission do?
The Human Rights Commission provides recommendations to City Council regarding its Legislative Agenda as well as City policies in general with a focus on topics related to human and civil rights as defined by the Charlottesville Human Rights Ordinance. Read More

“Lunch and Learn” discusses accessibility in houses

Feb 9 2024

STAUNTON, Va. (WHSV) – Housing advocates are keeping the conversations going after the two days SAW Housing Summit that was held last year.

The topic of this most recent “Lunch and Learn” was centered around accessible housing and housing for older adults. Scott Pruett, Director of the Universal Design Project said why there is some accessibility legislation found under fair housing laws there is not a lot of regulations when it comes to accessibility in the housing market.

“The ADA does not apply to privately owned homes, it is more for commercial spaces,” said Scott Pruett.
Read More

Disabled woman files Fair Housing suit against State Delegate March

Dec 23 2022

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

Nov 22 2022

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

Oct 19 2022

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

Let’s Talk – Living with a Disability

Sep 21 2022

LET’S TALK

Email Ballots with Screen Reader Technology Available to Charlottesville Absentee Voters with Disabilities

Sep 30 2020

https://www.charlottesville.gov/civicalerts.aspx?AID=373

Governor Northam Launches Rent and Mortgage Relief Program to Assist Virginians Facing Eviction or Foreclosure

Jun 30 2020

Select Link Below for More Information

https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2020/june/headline-858911-en.html

Cardinals Changing the Game and Lives

Dec 4 2018

By Preston Willett |

Posted: Sat 10:24 PM, Dec 01, 2018  |

Updated: Sat 10:42 PM, Dec 01, 2018

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 SPORTS) — On this court the wheels are always turning, which is why the game can take time to come into focus.

“When people first see the sport,” Charlottesville Cardinals Coach Tom Vandever said, a local wheelchair basketball game, “All they see are the wheelchairs for about five minutes and then the wheelchairs fade away and that’s when they see the athletes.”

Every athlete has their story for how the sport came to them from bad knees to cancer.

“I was lucky I was able to kind of walk into it slowly,” Jacob Tyree said, who was nine-years-old when it was discovered he had a spinal cord tumor, “People who are in car accidents that’s like an instantaneous change of your life.”

“14-years-old I wrecked a bike and broke my back,” team captain Brandon Rush said, “So I was at a children’s rehab and the team came and did a demonstration there.”

For people like Rush and Tyree in one of their most trying times, the Charlottesville Cardinals opened a door to not only athletics but a community.

“This is my family man, I started playing with them when I was 14,” Rush said, “So they helped me grow up, they helped me mature for sure.”

“For a lot of players and athletes it changes their lives from that,” National Wheelchair Basketball Association Commissioner Buddy Barnes said, “They may have gone a certain path, but now they see things through a different light, through a different window actually.”

But make no mistake these athletes are here to play, especially the Cardinals, ranked in the top-ten nationally. With players coming from hours away to practice and play throughout the season.

“We do this on an everyday basis, this isn’t something we just oh yeah we kind of meat every once in awhile and do it as a pick up thing,” Tyree said,” Our players are in the gym multiple times a week, where we stick to a regiment, we watch what we eat.”

Their ultimate to goal to spread the game to everyone.

“Bring people out that have never seen wheelchair basketball before,” Tyree said, “Get them involved in the sport and it changes their life it really does.”

https://www.cbs19news.com/content/sports/Cardinals-changing-the-game-and-lives-501721201.html?fbclid=IwAR2CgahRFdygoLe-r_nJWxt8Sf_LJ4coWvVL9OQmlFZ0haIJ8thZPW8Wo7c

New Trail at Riverview Park for better accessibility

Oct 10 2018

Accessibility Improvements at Riverview Park Make the Space More Welcoming

Posted: Sep 02, 2018 5:28 PM EDTUpdated: Sep 02, 2018 6:58 PM EDT

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) –

Riverview Park in Charlottesville added a new trial that will make the area more accessible to visitors with disabilities. The project began in April. Due to the summer’s rainy weather, the trail was not completed until last week.

The idea for the trail began when Ciara Campbell, a disability advocate, expressed concern about the accessibility of Riverview Park.

She reached out to the Independent Resource Center which helps people with disabilities live independently.

“It’s starts at the parking area and goes all the way down to the river and connects up to the other trail system. This was an enhancement safety project that Ms. Campbell brought to our attention,” Brian Wheeler, Director of Communications for the City of Charlottesville.

Ciara Campbell loved going to the park but noticed it was difficult to move around the area in her wheelchair. “I come down to the river a lot either to go running with my brother or to hang out with my friends or take my dog for a run and before I had to walk through the parking lot, a lot, obviously but it’s usually pretty crowded on the weekends so it can be. It’s not always the easiest thing to do.”

Campbell was happy to see the city take another step towards improving the conditions for people with disabilities. “I’ve been working on the Charlottesville ADA Advisory Committee for a while so making accessibility improvements is not really something new to me but it’s always nice to see something get done and see it be successful.”

In addition to being a welcomed improvement, the construction of the trail was an affordable project.

“A trail like that which is a simple asphalt strip can be done within our existing budget and really flex the priority the city has to help people with disabilities but also pedestrians and bicyclists to get around safely,” said Wheeler.

The accessibility improvements will allow more people to come together at Riverview Park for years to come.

http://www.nbc29.com/story/39011035/accessibility-improvements-at-riverview-park-make-the-space-more-welcoming