Jefferson Area Disability Services Board

The Jefferson Area Disability Services Board (JADSB), staffed by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission, is a volunteer group of citizens, people with disabilities, and service providers. Our purpose is to stimulate public awareness, foster coalitions of committed and educated advocates, and enhance local government interest in disability issues.

Home Modification Guide

An online Home Modification Guide has been created to assist residents in the region with modifying their own home to meet their special needs. The website contains descriptions of potential home modifications, such as widened doorways and roll-in showers, a list of local organizations and individuals who have experience assisting in these projects, as well as links to local, state, and federal funding sources dedicated to home modification. The creation of the site was made possible with funding from the Bama Works Fund of Dave Matthews Band in the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation (CACF).

Carmike 6 Named DSB 2010 Martha Tarrant Employer of the Year

On October 26, 2010 at the Holiday Inn University Area on Emmett Street, the DSB named Carmike 6 as its 2010 Martha Tarrant Employer of the Year. The award was presented as part of the Champions Event hosted by the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS). Trisha Stevenson, Vice Chair of the DSB, recognized Carmike 6 at the event. She shared the criteria used by the DSB to make their selection: an image of accommodation and inclusiveness, the culture of the organization, and tangible and recent activity in hiring or promotion of people with disabilities. Trisha noted that Carmike 6 had hired three DRS consumers in the past year. As a patron of the theater, she commented that “employees with disabilities at Carmike 6 are fully integrated into the staff, and the atmosphere there is very welcoming and inclusive.” Trisha shared from a letter submitted by one of Carmike’s employees: “the Carmike staff treats me like any other employee and that is nice. The Carmike has been a very good employer and I look forward to staying there for the foreseeable future.” Other nominee were recognized with Champions plaques: Advance Auto Parts, Aramark dining Services – Newcomb Hall, Best Western Crossroads inn and Ssuites, Blue Ridge Area Food Bank, Office of the City manager – City of Charlottesville, Jefferson Good Neighbor Phramacy, Jones Heating and Air LLC, Kmart, Miller’s Downtown, Sears Roebuck & Co. – Fashion Square Mall, T.J. Maxx, Alderman Library UVA, and the UVA School of Medicine.

Local Government Employment Awareness Training

The Jefferson Area Disability Services Board (DSB), staffed by the TJPDC, conducted the third and final training session through a grant from the Virginia Association of Disability Services Board. The training was offered to staff from Louisa and Fluvanna Counties and was held on September 22 at the Louisa County School Board Office. Previous trainings were offered on April 28 for Nelson County staff, and on June 8 for staff from both the County and the City of Charlottesville. The training sessions build awareness on hiring practices, available resources through the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), and reasonable accommodations. The session included an overview of DRS services, disability awareness and etiquette, assistive technology in the workplace, and testimonials by employees with disabilities.

Home Show Display on Universal Design

The Disability Services Board (DSB) designed, built and staffed a display titled “How Do You See Your Future?” at the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (BRHBA) Home Show April 8-11, 2010. This was the third year that the DSB participated in the show. The display offered education on universal design – the design of products and environments to be useable by all people – and visitability – the ability of a home to be visitable by people with mobility impairments. More information on universal design can be found in the Universal Design Library Collection or our Universal Design Links Page.