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 Recognizes Employer of the Year

On Friday, October 28, 2011, the Disability Services Board (DSB) partnered with the Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS), the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) and Goodwill Industries of the Valleys to recognize area employers whose outstanding business and employment practices encourage all Virginians to contribute their skills, ideas and talents to the workforce as Champions of disability employment in observance of October as National Disability Employment Awareness Month. Piedmont Virginia Community College hosted the Charlottesville event, where awards were given to IHOP, The Laurels of Charlottesville, McDonald’s, Adams and Garth and Roses Store. DSB Chair Trisha Stevenson also presented the Martha Tarrant Employer of the Year Award to K-Mart, with Hugh Pleasants accepting the award. The DSB has recognized an Employer of the Year since 1998, renaming the award in 2004 for the late Martha Tarrant who served as DSB Chair from 2003 to 2004. For more information, contact Billie Campbell at TJPDC at bcampbell@tjpdc.org or 434-979-7310 x230.

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).

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.