Partnership for People with Disabilities

Partnership for People with Disabilities VCU’s Partnership for People with Disabilities is a University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at VCU's SOE.

We partner with people with disabilities and others to build communities where all of us can learn, work, and live together.

DID YOU KNOW? Ed RobertsEd Roberts, the first wheelchair user to attend UC Berkeley in 1962. Berkeley soon admitted more...
12/12/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Ed Roberts

Ed Roberts, the first wheelchair user to attend UC Berkeley in 1962. Berkeley soon admitted more students with disabilities, who formed The Rolling Quads, a group that pushed for curb cuts and broader accessibility.

In 1977, Roberts led the 504 Sit-In, occupying a federal building for 28 days to demand enforcement of Section 504, which prohibits discrimination on any program receiving federal funding.

This activism helped pave the way for the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990.

Who are we? partnership.vcu.edu

The Partnership is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Virginia Department of Education - VDOE

Did you know the first permanent Deaf school in America opened in 1817 in Hartford, CT? This school gave rise to America...
12/11/2025

Did you know the first permanent Deaf school in America opened in 1817 in Hartford, CT? This school gave rise to American Sign Language (ASL) and a new era of Deaf education.

It was called the "Mother School" because it trained teachers who went on to establish other Deaf schools across the U.S., spreading Deaf education nationwide.

The school became a cornerstone of Deaf education and culture, influencing the spread of ASL and the recognition of Deaf identity across the U.S.

Who are we? partnership.vcu.edu

The Partnership is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Virginia Department of Education - VDOE

DID YOU KNOW? BrailleDid you know Braille was invented by a 15-year-old?Louis Braille, blinded as a child, created the t...
12/10/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Braille

Did you know Braille was invented by a 15-year-old?

Louis Braille, blinded as a child, created the tactile system in 1824.

Using raised dots in a six-cell matrix, Braille represents letters, numbers, punctuation-even music. For the first time, blind people could read and write independently.

Fun Fact: Average Braille speed is 125 words per minute, but skilled readers hit 200 words per minute!

Who are we? partnership.vcu.edu

The Partnership is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Virginia Department of Education - VDOE

DID YOU KNOW? Hearing AidsFrom ear trumpets to Al-powered devices, hearing aids have evolved for 400 years to bring soun...
12/09/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Hearing Aids

From ear trumpets to Al-powered devices, hearing aids have evolved for 400 years to bring sound back to life.

• The earliest aids were ear trumpets in the 17th century, simple horns that funneled sound.
• In 1898, the first electric hearing aid was developed, inspired by telephone technology.
• 1950s: Transistor hearing aids-smaller, more portable.
• 1980s: Digital hearing aids entered the market, paving the way for today's Bluetooth-enabled, Al-powered devices.

Who are we? partnership.vcu.edu

The Partnership is affiliated with VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities Virginia Department of Education - VDOE

DID YOU KNOW? Close Captioning In 1972, PBS aired "The French Chef" with Julia Child as one of the first captioned progr...
12/08/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Close Captioning

In 1972, PBS aired "The French Chef" with Julia Child as one of the first captioned programs.
Advocacy Wins! Deaf advocates fought for widespread adoption, leading to the Television Decoder Circuitry Act of 1990, which required TVs to have captioning capability.

Captions opened television, film, and later online media to Deaf and hard-of-hearing audiences.

The CC under Julia Child reads:
“THE FIRST STEW IS DARK.
IT'S COOKED IN RED WINE.”

Who are we? partnership.vcu.edu

The Partnership is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Assam Police Virginia Department of Education - VDOE

12/05/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Wheelchair

King Phillip of Spain developed severe gout and arthritis. An unknown inventor created this plush chair that had leg rests and four small wheels.

It had to be pushed by an aid and was the first clearly recorded wheelchair.

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities

12/04/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Disability Symbol

A Danish student, Susanne Koefoed, designed the International Wheelchair Symbol.

For every six accessible parking spaces, one van accessible space is required.

The striped lines next to the parking space is called the
GORE, which allows a wheelchair user sufficient space to exit and enter their van.

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities

12/03/2025

A mental health intervention that uses virtual reality to teach social-emotional learning skills to youth has been shown to reduce conduct problems, aggression and other antisocial behavior, according to a new study published in Research on Child and Adolescent Psychopathology.

12/03/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Service Dogs

Throughout history, guide dogs have helped the blind but after WWl, many men came home who had been blinded by mustard gas

• 1916 - Germany, world's first guide dog school opened and in 1927 an article was written about this and published in the US
• 1929 - "The Seeing Eye" was the first American guide dog school
• 1975 - "Canine Companions for
Independence" opened to train service dogs for various disabilities, not just the blind

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities

12/02/2025

Registration is open for our next Statewide Continuing Education Workshop! https://dsa-virginia.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/fgzb3W4ZTHivjggQoy2MHw #/registration

Join us Friday, December 12, at 12 PM for a conversation with the Virginia Department of Health experts leading the Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Unit and Birth Defects Surveillance Program. We hope to see you there!

12/02/2025

DID YOU KNOW? Glasses

The earliest recorded use of optical lenses was in 1268.
Venice, already known for
manufacturing high-quality glass, became the center of eyeglass manufacturing.

By 1301, there were regulations in Venice governing the sale of
eyeglasses.

Who are we?
tinyurl.com/CFI-PPD-VCU

1 ON 1 SUPPORT | ALWAYS FREE

Find us on Instagram: center4familyinvolvement

The Center for Family Involvement is affiliated with: VCU School of Education Association of University Centers on Disabilities

Address

2235 Staples Mill Road
Richmond, VA
23230

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 5pm
Tuesday 8am - 5pm
Wednesday 8am - 5pm
Thursday 8am - 5pm
Friday 8am - 5pm

Telephone

+18048283876

Website

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