disAbility Resource Center

01/23/2026

📣 Upcoming Workshop – Learn What’s New at DBVI!

Join us for an informative workshop with the Virginia Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) to learn about services and supports available for individuals who are blind or vision-impaired. Discover programs focused on education, employment, and independence.

🗓 Tuesday, February 10
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 409 Progress St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401

✨ Accommodations can be provided with at least 10 business days’ notice.

📞 Questions? Call 540-373-2559
🌐 Learn more at www.cildrc.org

We hope to see you there!

01/23/2026

Upcoming Workshop: Consumer Directed Personal Attendant Services

Looking for a job that truly makes a difference? Join us for an informative workshop on Consumer Directed (CD) Personal Attendant Services and learn what it means to work directly for a person with a disability.

This session will cover:

What it means to work as a personal attendant

Responsibilities and expectations of the role

How personal attendants support independence

📅 Thursday, February 5
🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 409 Progress St., Fredericksburg, VA 22401
👥 Facilitators: Brenda Boggs & Debra Fults

Accommodations can be provided with at least 10 business days’ notice.
📞 540-373-2559 | 🌐 www.cildrc.org

01/23/2026

💙 Ed Roberts Day: Honoring a Legacy of Courage and Change

Today, we honor Ed Roberts, a visionary leader whose courage and determination helped shape the disability rights movement. He challenged discrimination, broke down barriers, and changed the way the world understands disability—not as a limitation, but as a matter of civil rights, dignity, and equality.

Ed Roberts’ advocacy laid the foundation for independent living, accessibility, and equal opportunity for millions of people with disabilities. Because of leaders like him, disability rights are recognized as human rights.

On Ed Roberts Day, we don’t just remember his legacy—we continue it by educating ourselves, raising awareness, and standing up for inclusion and accessibility for all. 💙♿

Let’s keep pushing for a world where everyone belongs.

01/21/2026

📍 Do you live in Madison County or the surrounding area?

We’ll be attending a Community Wellness Workshop this weekend (sponsored by the SQBA), and we’d love to see you there! This free community event brings together local organizations and resources focused on health, wellness, and community support.

Stop by our table to:

Learn more about the services we offer

Ask questions about accessibility, independent living, and support options

Connect with staff and other community members

Whether you’re looking for information, resources, or just want to see what’s happening locally, this is a great opportunity to connect.

👉 Learn more and get event details here:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/community-wellness-workshop-tickets-1978743574297?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=cp&aff=ebdsshcopyurl

Hope to see you this weekend!

01/19/2026

Today we honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King’s work challenged the idea that exclusion is natural or inevitable, and called for a society where dignity and participation are not reserved for a few. That moral framework continues to shape efforts to remove barriers and expand opportunity.

In observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, our office and Equipment Connection are closed today. We will reopen tomorrow.

01/16/2026

Great upcoming meeting with HLAA Rappahannock focused on fall prevention, aging in place, and making homes safer as we age!

📣 Upcoming HLAA Rappahannock Meeting – Monday, January 26 | 11:00 AM–1:00 PM @ the disAbility Resource Center (409 Progress St, Fredericksburg, VA 22401)

Join us for an in-depth and practical conversation about fall prevention, aging in place, and making our homes safer as we get older.

🕚 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Our own Judy Lawrence, joined by Samantha Davis, Home Modification Program Manager at the disAbility Resource Center, will walk through Judy’s real-life experience applying for a HUD Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP) grant.
They’ll cover eligibility, the application process, what the home assessment looks like, and the specific modifications being made in Judy’s home.

🕛 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
We’ll be joined by Shunaka White, the Occupational Therapist who works with dRC’s OAHMP program. Shunaka will talk about what occupational therapy is, fall prevention, and practical strategies for aging safely and independently at home.

We know we’ve talked about dRC’s home modification grants before—but this meeting will be a much deeper dive, focused specifically on fall prevention and aging in place, with real examples and expert insight.

👉 This is a meeting you won’t want to miss. We hope to see you there!

01/14/2026

📢 Legislation Update: Open Captioning at Movie Theaters 🎬♿

We’re excited to see the introduction of HB 602, a bill in the Virginia General Assembly that would expand access to open captioned movie screenings across the Commonwealth.

This legislation would require many movie theaters to offer open caption showings during a film’s release period and to respond to requests for captioned screenings in a timely and transparent way. It also includes requirements for theaters to clearly advertise open caption showtimes and provide contact information for requests.

Access to open captioning is an issue we regularly hear about from members of the disability community, particularly people who are Deaf or hard of hearing and others who benefit from captions. We’re encouraged to see this concern reflected in proposed legislation.

HB 602 is being carried by Delegate Phil Hernandez and is a recommendation of the Virginia Disability Commission.

If you’d like to learn more about what this bill would do, follow its progress, or find out how to stay engaged as it moves through the General Assembly, feel free to reach out to our office and we’re happy to help connect you with the right information.

🔗 Bill details: https://lis.virginia.gov/bill-details/20261/HB602

01/09/2026

💙 Cooking doesn’t have to be intimidating — and this class is FREE! 💙

Join Cooking with Vanda for a fun, supportive, hands-on class where you’ll learn how to prepare Penne Carbonara. Build practical cooking skills, gain confidence in the kitchen, and enjoy a shared culinary experience in a welcoming environment.

📅 Tuesday, January 27
⏰ 10:00–11:00 AM
📍 409 Progress St., Fredericksburg, VA

✨ This class is FREE, but registration is required.

👉 Register here:
🔗 https://forms.office.com/r/aeJtsmR7Uq

📞 540-373-2559 | 🌐 www.cildrc.org

♿ Accommodations are available with advance notice.

01/09/2026

🧶 New Year, New Hobby: Finger Knitting! 🧶

Looking for a relaxing and creative way to start the new year? Join us for Finger Knitting, a fun, beginner-friendly craft that anyone can learn—no prior experience needed!

Using just your hands and yarn, you’ll learn simple techniques and leave with a calming, portable creative skill. All supplies will be provided—just bring yourself and enjoy!

📅 Tuesday, January 13
⏰ 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
📍 409 Progress Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401

✨ Learn basic finger knitting techniques
✨ How to cast on and knit rows
✨ A relaxing, creative hobby
✨ All materials and supplies included

👉 Register here:
🔗 https://forms.office.com/r/aeJtsmR7Uq

📞 Questions? Call us at (540) 373-2559
🌐 Visit www.cildrc.org

♿ Accommodations can be provided with at least 10 business days’ notice.

01/08/2026

Do you have questions about special education or disability services in Virginia? Need help navigating IEPs, 504 plans, or understanding your child’s rights at school?

The Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC) is offering Community Office Hours right here in Fredericksburg!

This is a chance to talk one-on-one with a PEATC Family Support Specialist, ask questions, and get reliable, parent-centered guidance in a relaxed setting. Appointments are optional—you can call or text ahead to reserve a time, or stop by during office hours.

📍 Monday, January 26th, 9:15 am-10:45 am
📞 Call or text to schedule (optional): 703-923-0010
🌐 More info: peatc.org | partners@peatc.org

If you’re a parent, caregiver, or educator supporting a child with a disability, this is a great opportunity to get trusted information and support.

01/08/2026

👋 Do you work with students who are deaf or hard of hearing—or support literacy development for learners who struggle with reading?

If you’re a teacher of students who are DHH, a special or general education teacher, a speech-language pathologist, an educational interpreter, or another related service provider, this is a great professional learning opportunity to have on your radar.

📚 See the Sound: STS–Visual Phonics Online Training
Radford University’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH) Program is offering a no-cost, live online training focused on STS–Visual Phonics, a multisensory system designed to strengthen sound–letter connections and support reading, writing, and speech development for students who are deaf or hard of hearing and others considered at risk in literacy.

👩‍🏫 What you’ll learn:
✔ How STS–Visual Phonics supports decoding, spelling, and articulation
✔ How to recognize, produce, and blend Visual Phonics handshapes and symbols
✔ Practical ways to integrate STS–Visual Phonics into instructional and therapeutic settings

🗓 When: Mondays — Feb. 9, 16, & 23
⏰ Time: 5:30–8:30 PM (EST)
💻 Format: Live, interactive Zoom sessions (not recorded)
👥 Limited to 25 participants
💲 Cost: FREE (funded by the VA DOE)

🎤 Presenter: Ann W. Hughes, ICLI STS-VP Resource Specialist/Trainer, Teacher of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing, and VNOC Consultant.

♿ This is an inclusive and accessible training. Accommodation requests should be submitted to Dr. Brenda Tyler (bjtyler@radford.edu
) by January 14, 2026.

🔗 Register here:
https://radford.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_1SsPzAHgpupdkQ6

👉 Even if you’re not able to attend, this is a great opportunity to share with colleagues who work in literacy, special education, or DHH services.

01/06/2026

📣 Legislative Advocacy Workshop – Part 2 📣

Ready to take the next step in making your voice heard? Join the disAbility Resource Center for Legislative Advocacy: Part 2, a continuation of our advocacy workshop series designed to help you confidently engage in the legislative process.

👉 Part 1 takes place this week on January 8, and Part 2 will be held on January 22—don’t miss this opportunity to build on what you’ve learned!

This session will continue exploring advocacy tips and strategies, legislative basics, and how to prepare for CIL Day during the 2026 General Assembly.

📅 Thursday, January 22
⏰ 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
📍 409 Progress Street, Fredericksburg, VA 22401
👥 Facilitators: Deborah Lately & Seth Whitten

✨ Advocacy tips and strategies
✨ Legislative basics
✨ How to prepare for CIL Day (January 28, 2026)

Register here:https://forms.office.com/r/aeJtsmR7Uq

♿ Accommodations can be provided with at least 10 business days’ notice

👉 Join us and continue learning how to advocate with confidence!