Disability Rights of West Virginia

03/16/2026

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Registration Now Open!

Always be learning! Join us for a day of exceptional training with Pete Wright, Esq. (Wrightslaw), a nationally recognized leader in Special Education and Advocacy.

Current or former members of Guiding the Journey will receive complimentary registration upon request.

A limited number of complimentary registrations are also available for West Virginia families of children and youth with disabilities, as well as individuals with disabilities. To check availability and sign up, please call our office at 1-800-281-1436.

Standard Registration Fees:
Families: $75
Professionals: $175

Registration will remain open until April 20, 2026, or until all seats are filled. Spots are limited, so we encourage you to register as soon as possible to reserve your place.

Register here: https://pci.jotform.com/form/260605824077155

03/13/2026

March 13th recognizes National K9 Veterans Day and the dedicated K9 units who've served since World War II.

A lot of things changed after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941. We rationed oil, leather, and rubber. The military draft men into service. Women rolled up their sleeves and built war supplies. And, dogs were called to duty. During the first world war, the United States took notice of the European use of canines as sentries, message carriers, and several other functions.

A private citizen, Mrs. Alene Erlanger initiated a program called Dogs for Defense. Along with the American Kennel Club and a handful of breeders, the group aimed to train the dogs for military use. By November of 1942, the military prepared the first Dogs for Defense for duty in North Africa. While they were gun shy at first, they proved to be well trained. As the war progressed, Dogs for Defense was unable to keep up with the demand, and the Remount Branch, Service Installations Divisions took over the training of the dogs.

Over the years, the military, police, and rescue have developed a variety of training methods for K9 units. Their training is tailored to meet the demands of the job, and each animal and handler carries out his or her duties to the fullest.

NATIONAL K9 VETERANS DAY March 13th recognizes National K9 Veterans Day and the dedicated K9 units who've served since World War II. A

03/12/2026

03/06/2026

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03/06/2026

Get ready to spring forward!

Daylight Saving Time (DST) begins on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at 2 AM. At that time, you should set your clocks forward one hour.

As you set your clocks, use the day as a reminder to change the batteries in your smoke alarm and other safety devices including carbon monoxide detectors, weather radios and flashlights. The simple steps will also help protect your family when spring storm season arrives.

03/05/2026

‼️Go ahead and mark those calendars!!! 🗓️✍🏼

The most ✨magical✨ fashion show in town returns August 16, 2026 at the Charleston Marriott Town Center! You don’t wanna miss it💙💛🪩💃🏼🕺🏾

Follow our page and stay tuned for more details to come! If you want to know how you can contribute or get involved send us a message or email at
📧exceptionalpossibilitieswv@gmail.com

Model applications will be shared early May!🤗

03/05/2026

National Multiple Personality Day is today, March 5th.

Multiple Personality Disorder is better known as Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID). It is characterized by at least two distinct and relatively enduring identities or dissociated personality states that alternately control a person’s behavior. Someone with DID will experience memory impairment for important information not explained by ordinary forgetfulness.

While the disorder affects less than .1 to 1 percent of the population, its impact is profound for that community and their family. The continued need for treatment, support, and research remains.

NATIONAL MULTIPLE PERSONALITY DAY National Multiple Personality Day on March 5th has two separate approaches to recognizing this day.

03/04/2026

Advocate Alia Tanner in action!

03/04/2026

West Virginia job seekers with disabilities, and the advocates, workforce partners, and local business owners who support them, run into employment barriers long before day one on the job.

Accessibility in recruitment often breaks down with application systems, interview formats, and screening steps that assume one way of seeing, hearing, moving, or communicating. Layers of bias about productivity, attendance, and “fit,” and inclusive hiring challenges become routine rather than rare, widening the disability employment gap.

Naming these obstacles clearly helps employers and communities focus on what must change to make work genuinely reachable. Follow the link to read the article by Ed Carter.

Boosting jobs for people with disabilities

03/03/2026

March is Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Awareness Month, dedicated to raising awareness, supporting those with the chronic neurological disease, and advancing research. The 2026 focus includes empowering, educating, and fostering self-advocacy for patients. To show your support, wear orange which is the official color for MS awareness.

https://msfocus.org/Get-Involved/MS-Awareness-Month
Follow the link to learn more and don’t forget to wear orange which is the official color for MS awareness

03/03/2026

Advocate Alia Tanner is at the Born to Stand Out event by the Special Needs Collaborative of Mercer County, WV

03/03/2026

World Hearing Day on March 3 every year is observed to raise public awareness about how to avoid deafness and hearing impairment, as well as to support ear and hearing care around the world.

The World Health Organization (WHO) seeks to demonstrate the need for early detection and treatment for hearing loss on World Hearing Day. Many people have undiagnosed hearing problems, and are unaware that they are missing out on important sounds and phrases. The first step in dealing with the problem is to assess one’s hearing.

Follow the link to learn more.

Join us to give ear care the attention it deserves as we mark World Hearing Day.