VISION

 

 

1.           Promote awareness through the media (press releases & articles) and participation in events, including disability awareness month activities.

a.     Prepare or contribute to articles or press releases on issues which will enhance the understanding of people with disabilities.

 

2.           Promote awareness through recognition of agencies, businesses, and individuals who have provided noteworthy service to people with physical or sensory disabilities.

a.     The Recognition Committee will solicit and review nominations and recommend at least 6 awards.

Recognition award to the Bowling Green Food Lion presented at the August 26 Board of Supervisors meeting.

 

3.           Participate and facilitate in the public discussion of issues important to people with physical and sensory disabilities in the region, such as housing, employment, transportation and access to services and education.

a.     Participate in committees or work groups which are established to develop and/or implement solutions to issues of concern for people with disabilities.

RADN’s August meeting continued the discussion of the regional human services mobility plan and discussion of the Regional Mobility Manager Grant Application. The September meeting was devoted to a presentation on the new rehab hospital in the region. The October meeting was focus on the recently completed needs assessment of RACSB.

 

b.    Complete the revised process for the tri-annual survey and needs assessment in a manner that expands the quantity and quality of data collected to develop the needs assessment.  The needs assessment will be completed in FY09.  Work with DRS, other DSBs and interested local and regional organizations, individuals and businesses to revise and improve our data collection.  Staff has been collecting data on needs in the region including the October meeting of RADN focusing on the recently completed needs assessment of RACSB.

 

4.           Develop, coordinate, and support community needs through the work of RADN (Rappahannock Area Development Network). 

a.     Support the regular meetings of RADN; encourage the collaboration of those agencies and organizations that serve people with disabilities in the region.

RADN meetings held in August, September and October.

 

5.           Improve access to information through the continual enhancements of the RRDSB website.

a.     Provide continual updates to information provided on the RRDSB website to enhance access to information on disability related services in the region.

On-going.

 

b.    Identify other means of cost-effectively communicating with the community about disability issues.

c.     Continue to work with the Rappahannock United Way to enhance Internet-based access to information for services to people with disabilities.

 

6.           Promote communication, coordination and collaboration among disability-focused agencies, organizations, businesses and advocates through support and active participation in the Rappahannock Area Disability Network (RADN).

3 RADN meetings this year with a  focus on the development of the Regional Human Services Mobility Plan, information on the new rehab hospital in the region, a presentation and discussion of the RACSB needs assessment and general information sharing among agencies and organizations.

 

7.           When appropriate and resources allow, assist RADN members with the preparation of grant proposals.

Helped facilitate the preparation of agency letters of support for the Regional Mobility Manager Grant application (New Freedom Grant Program)

 

8.           Update the Action Plan to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in the region.

a.     Identify creative ways the RRDSB can utilize its limited financial resources to promote its mission.

b.    Continue to identify multi-year efforts to take advantage of the opportunities identified in the review (8.a.)