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.

DSB Awarded RSIF Grant for JAUNT Stars Program

The Jefferson Area Disability Services Board was one of 14 DSBs statewide (of 28 that applied) to receive funding from the Rehabilitative Services Incentive Fund grant program for Fiscal Year 2009. The grant will provide for 80 people with disabilities to ride JAUNT while they receive services that will enable them to find and establish employment. The Independence Resource Center is the subgrantee, with support from other agencies such as the Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), Piedmont Workforce Network, and county Departments of Social Services being critical to the project’s success. The DSB's successful proposal is available here.

Home Show Display on Universal Design

The Disability Services Board (DSB) designed, built and staffed a display at the Blue Ridge Home Builders Association (BRHBA) Home Show March 14-16, 2008. 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. It featured websites, a video, examples, posters, many different handouts, and even a raffle! Many people visited the booth over the three days, and the Board feels that it was a great success. More information on universal design can be found in the Universal Design Library Collection or our Universal Design Links Page.

This guide was created by and for people with physical or sensory disabilities to provide accurate travel information. The guide is available on-line .

The Jefferson Area Disability Services Board has ordered a box of guides for local distribution. If you would like a copy, call 434-979-7310 ext 230 or send an e-mail to .

To order a FREE large print copy of The Virginia Travel Guide for Persons with Disabilities, call 1-800-742-3935 or 804-371-0327 (TTY).

This fund provides low-interest loans for a wide variety of special equipment. This includes loans for wheelchairs, motorized scooters, Braille equipment, hearing aids, low vision aids, communication systems, environmental control devices, building modifications for accessibility or telecommunication devices for the deaf. See the NewWell Fund website

The NewWell Fund can directly help in our locality in four ways:

1. Help consumers and families afford accessibility improvements: the NewWell Fund may be able to assist individuals or families through a low interest loan
2. Help improve accessibility and supports of local service providers/ businesses: Business loans are available from the NewWell Fund / SunTrust Bank partnership at the lowest interest rates possible for use in making building improvements or obtaining equipment that directly benefits current consumers.
3. Be a source of financing when using local building contractors and dealers of equipment: When they have customers who are seeking financing options, the contractor or dealer can advise the customers with disabilities or seniors of possible eligibility for a low interest NewWell Fund loan.
4. Help an individual with disabilities become equipped for a telework job: NewWell Fund has great, loan opportunities for assistive technology or a wide range of other business/home office equipment to help get the person employed. All that is required is that the loan request could lead to an employment outcome working from the home or a call center.

Life After High School

Produced by the TJPDC with a grant from the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, this is a tool for students with disabilities to navigate the transition from student to adult life. The site is also helpful for other students making plans for life after high school, and for people with disabilities of all ages to access information on available programs and resources in the Planning District.

Special Needs During Emergencies and Disasters

People with disabilities who are self-sufficient under normal circumstances may have to rely on the help of others in a disaster. Here are some links to help you prepare.

American Red Cross: Disaster Preparedness for People With Disabilities

FEMA- Individuals with Special Needs: Preparing and Planning

• Information on Accessible Web Pages
• Interviewing People with Disabilities
• Disability Etiquette Training

  There were 101 people in attendance at Disability Etiquette Training, held on October 8, 2003 in the Ballroom at UVA's Newcomb Hall. Participants learned how to provide quality customer service to people with disabilities, develop effective communication skills for working with people with disabilities and discover local resources available to support working with various disabilities.

  View presentation.

The JADSB covers the Thomas Jefferson Planning District, consisting of the City of Charlottesville and the Counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson. The board meets bi-monthly, generally on the third Monday of every month.

The JADSB was created in response to the call for the formation of such boards by the Commisssion on the Coordination of the Delivery of Services to Facilitate the Self-Sufficiency and Support of Persons with Physical and Sensory Disabilities in the Commonwealth, better known as the Beyer Commission. The membership of the DSB must include at least one local official from each of the participating jurisdictions, two representatives of the business community, and consumers. The Board must have a minimum of 30% representation by individuals or family members of individuals with physical, visual or hearing disabilities. The boards serve as catalysts for change but do not govern agency operations or directly provide services.