The document lists several Virginia state agencies and organizations that provide services and support for people with disabilities. These include the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Virginia Industries for the Blind, Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, Department of Rehabilitative Services, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, and others. The agencies and organizations offer services such as vocational rehabilitation, assistive technology, advocacy, education, and information/referral resources.

1. Virginia Disability Services Agencies
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Virginia Dept. for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI)
Job Seekers Enables blind or visually impaired individuals to achieve their maximum level of
employment, education, and personal independence.
Rights and Advocacy
Transportation Virginia Industries for the Blind (VIB)
Established over seven decades ago as a not-for-profit organization offering vocational
rehabilitation for blind Virginians, VIB is a self-funded division of the Virginia Department
for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI).
Virginia Dept. for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH)
Operates with the full understanding that communication is the most critical issue facing
persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD)
Empower Virginians with Disabilities to achieve their personal goals, to be self-reliant,
and to participate fully in their communities by strengthening community involvement,
building advocacy capacity, enhancing service delivery, and informing public policy.
Department of Rehabilitative Services
Collaborates with the public and private sectors to provide and advocate for the highest
quality services that empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment,
independence and full inclusion into society.
Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center
is the first state-owned and operated comprehensive rehabilitation center in the country.
WWRC provides comprehensive medical, assistive technology and vocational
rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities to help them gain increased
independence and employment.
NewWell Fund
This program was designed by individuals who desperately needed equipment to assist
in their work, play, education, and life and had difficulty finding the money to purchase
these items. Many had no credit history or poor credit due to their disability or health
issues.
Other Resources
Virginia Easy Access
Designed especially for adults with disabilities, seniors, and caregivers. Provides list of
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2. Virginia Disability Services Agencies
resources for long-term support options, housing, money management, transportation,
government services and benefits, and other supportive services. This website allows
you to search for specific services in each community. Also provides information on a lot
of topics.
Voice of the Blue Ridge
is a non-profit organization chartered in 1981 to help people who cannot read
newspapers or magazines because of physical impairments such as partial vision loss,
blindness or stroke.
Virginia Relay
The telecommunications system for the deaf and hard of hearing communities in
Virginia.
American Council of the Blind
Strives to improve the well-being of all blind and visually impaired people by: serving as
a representative national organization of blind people; elevating the social, economic and
cultural levels of blind people; improving educational and rehabilitation facilities and
opportunities; cooperating with the public and private institutions and organizations
concerned with blind services; encouraging and assisting all blind persons to develop
their abilities and conducting a public education program to promote greater
understanding of blindness and the capabilities of blind people
National Federation of the Blind
The purpose of the National Federation of the Blind is two-fold—to help blind persons
achieve self-confidence and self-respect and to act as a vehicle for collective self-
expression by the blind. By providing public education about blindness, information and
referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and
appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, advocacy services and protection
of civil rights, development and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons
and their families, members of the NFB strive to educate the public that the blind are
normal individuals who can compete on terms of equality.
Make a Wish Foundation of America
Share the power of a wish
The ARC
National organization of and for people with mental retardation and related
developmental disabilities and their families.
Low Vision Information Center (LVIC)
Nonprofit organization that helps people with low vision maintain their independence
Special Education Resources from the Curry School of Education at the University of
Virginia
Information on disabilities categories: Attention Deficit Disorder, Autism, Cerebral Palsy,
Communication Disorders, Hearing Impairment, Learning Disabilities, Mental
Retardation, Serious Emotional Disturbance, Traumatic Brain Injury, Visual Impairment
Commonwealth Community Trust
Established for Virginia residents to provide a convenient and economical way to have
trust funds administered for people with disabilities that will supplement the benefits
offered by entitlement programs.
Department of Behavioral Health and Development Services (DBDHS)
Improves the quality of life for people with mental disabilities and substance abuse
problems by providing the very best services possible, at minimal burden to the taxpayer
Disability Services Agencies Forms
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3. Virginia Disability Services Agencies
Consumer forms for the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Department for
the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Department of Rehabilitative ServicesDRS, and the
Virginia Board for Persons with Disabilities
The Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA)
helps with disability-related problems like abuse, neglect, and discrimination. We also
help people with disabilities obtain services and treatment. All callers receive help with
these problems. Individuals with problems, targeted in our program priorities, may also
receive advocacy services and/or legal representation.
Staff Mail Services
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This File Was Last Modified: Tuesday August 25 2009
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