Grants Awarded FY1999-FY1996

1999

• Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic received funding for their Rural and Underserved School Project. The purpose of the project was to increase access to printed educational materials by visually, perceptua lly and physically disabled students in middle, secondary and vocational schools, particularly in the rural parts of the planning district. The FY1999 grant funds were used for seed money to provide tapes and equipment for six new schools, with the expect ation that all or most of these schools would register for the program with their own funds at the end of the grant funded period. This approach has proved successful, with five of the six schools already registering at higher levels of service than that provided during the grant period. The sixth school is also expected to register fo r service.
• Jefferson Eldercare/Jefferson Area Board for Aging, Inc. received a grant to introduce and proliferate the "Minnesota Ramp" project to all six jurisdictions in the Thomas Jefferson Planning District. The Minnesota Ramps are recyclable ramps, not anchored into the ground. The grant funds will be used to purchase tools and ramps. The ramps may be re-used as need s change, significantly reducing the cost of future ramps.

1998

• The RSIF grant was split between two area agencies, the Monticello Avenue program and Piedmont Works, an umbrella agency which coordinates regional employment programs. Working together, and in close cooperation with the regional Department of Rehabilitative Services office, the two agencies developed an Internet Job Board for the Thomas Jefferson region which includes information useful to the general public and people with disabilities. In addition to local public and private job listings, with information about jobs that is relevant to people with disabilities, the Job Bank includes links to career development resources for people with disabilities, some of which were identified as part of the FY97 grant.

1997

• The Disability Services Board was awarded an RSIF grant to support the development of improved Internet access for agencies serving people with disabilities. Twelve agencies received training and equipment to develop a Web page, participate in a locally developed newsgroup geared to their needs, and use the Internet as a research tool to improve staff effectiveness on the job. The Monticello Avenue program of the Jefferson Madison Regional Library manag ed the training project. At the conclusion of the training sessions, participating staff were asked to serve as advisors, assisting the library in improving Internet resources for people with disabilities. This helped lead to the development of the FY98 Rehabilitative Services Incentive Fund grant, and will be a useful resource for other activities and grant ideas.

1996

• Development and distribution of a Quick Guide to disability resources in the region. The Quick Guide was developed in cooperation with the local Virginia Assistive Technology Systems (VATS) agency and the United Way Information and Referral Service. Data from the two agencies' resources lists was updated and published in the Guide, as well as posted in a key-word searchable form on the Information and Referral Internet home page. Information and Referral has agreed to maintain the directory and publish future updates. As a byproduct of this project, Information and Referral and VATS merged their databases. This gave a "home" to the VATS information, in anticipation of federal funds ending in the year 2000, and served as a model for merging databases in a similar fashion across the state.
• Purchase and distribution of "Pocket Talkers" portable hearing assistance devices. About 80 Pocket Talkers, which are small, portable amplifying devices with earpieces (their appearance is similar to a "walkman" radio), were distributed free to area agencies who served the deaf and hearing impaired. The devices, kept at the agency, help staff communicate more easily with customers who are hard of hearing. Agencies offer the customer an opportunity to try them during their time at the agency, easing interaction on the site and allowing the customer to see if the device might be an appropriate, affordable alternative to a hearing aid.
• Development and Distribution of "Courtesy Tip Cards" to agencies serving people with disabilities. The Tip Cards, suitable for posting, include about a dozen suggestions on communicating courteously and effectively with people with disabiliti es.