Blue Ridge Independent Living Center

04/21/2026

******* Finding Open Caption Firms in Virginia *******
Open Caption Finder is a great resource to help you find open caption screenings near you! Open Caption Finder is a free app, available on Apple Store and Google Play that helps moviegoers find Open Caption (OC) showtimes nearby or anywhere in the US.

Find open caption movie showtimes near you. Created by a deaf person, free for everybody.

04/16/2026

* New Resource – Equity in Aging: Public Benefits and the Realities of Black Older Adults *
Black older adults face long-standing structural barriers and a history of discriminatory policies that drive persistent inequities in housing, health care, and economic supports.
For many, key safety net programs – now under threat – are essential lifelines yet still, too often, fail to serve Black older adults. Programs highlighted in this brief include Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, rental assistance, and Older Americans Act services.

Our new issue brief, Equity in Aging: Public Benefits and the Realities of Black Older Adults, examines how these programs support Black older adults and the challenges they face in accessing them. As policymakers look to restrict access and cut programs and services, defending the programs Black older adults use is critical to their ability to age with dignity.

Read our new brief.
https://justiceinaging.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=727c211cf7b5afb21ea9dada3&id=262a78e5d8&e=a195367e25

04/16/2026

****** Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly Housing Updates ******
Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly Housing Updates
Guest writers: Isabel McLain and Charles Miller, Virginia Housing Alliance
Virginia’s legislative session closed in March with a notable collection of housing wins. The General Assembly passed more than a dozen housing-related bills targeting everything from zoning reform to tenant protections. Governor Spanberger signed several of the session’s most-watched bills this week — here’s what they mean.

She signed SB531, requiring all localities to allow accessory dwelling units in single-family residential zones statewide. A modest but meaningful nudge toward more housing in more places. That one kicks in July 2027.
HB4 gives localities a Right of First Refusal on subsidized rental properties at risk of losing affordability — a tool to keep affordable homes affordable, not just build new ones.

HB15/SB48 extends the mandatory waiting period before a landlord can terminate a lease for nonpayment from 5 to 14 days, giving tenants more time to catch up before facing eviction.
SB373 — allowing evidence of uninhabitable living conditions as a defense in eviction cases — was signed, with HB281 amended to match by removing its delayed enactment. And HB837/SB273, which improves access to the Eviction Diversion Program by expanding eligibility and reducing burdensome requirements, was signed as well.

The Faith in Housing Act (SB388/HB1279) is still in play. The Governor returned it with amendments rather than a veto, so it heads back to the legislature at the April 22 reconvened session. If the amendments are accepted, by-right development of affordable housing on land owned by religious organizations and eligible nonprofits becomes law — effective January 1, 2027.

More Tools for Local Governments
The session quietly expanded what localities can do. They can now fast-track rezoning for qualifying affordable housing developments (HB594), establish stronger inclusionary zoning programs (HB867/SB74), and offer property tax exemptions for nonprofit-controlled affordable housing (HB854). More levers — whether localities pull them is another question.

The Budget Is Still Up in the Air
The General Assembly adjourned without a finalized FY27-28 budget. Legislators reconvene April 23 to send a final proposal to the Governor. The initial House and Senate bills together included roughly $70.4 million in housing-related investments for FY27 — covering the Virginia Housing Trust Fund, rapid rehousing services, and more. Watch this space.
What Didn’t Make It

Only one of VHA’s top priorities didn’t cross the finish line. The Right to Rest bill (HB1394), which would have protected unhoused Virginians from penalties for life-sustaining activities in public spaces, was continued to 2027 with a letter to the Housing Commission.

Real progress this session. But for a lot of Virginians, the hardest challenges aren’t resolved yet.

Want the full picture? Visit VHA’s legislative tracker for a comprehensive look at all housing-related bills introduced this session.

The post Virginia’s 2026 General Assembly Housing Updates appeared first on HousingForward Virginia.

04/16/2026

*** Milestone Ages in Special Needs Planning: Key Considerations at Ages 18 and 21 ***
Turning 18 and 21 bring significant legal, financial, educational, and benefits-related changes. This issue of The Voice® highlights core issues when a child 18 and then 21.

Read This Issue of The Voice®
https://specialneedsalliance.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d6910c896398ee6bf08993564&id=f63ad0df5a&e=598129e301

This issue of The Voice® was written by SNA Fiduciary Council Member Judith Bomster of Cambridge Trust Wealth Management in Manchester, NH, and SNA Sponsored Member Alicia Cahill of Morneau Law in Nashua, NH.

Share
https://specialneedsalliance.us14.list-manage.com/track/click?u=d6910c896398ee6bf08993564&id=925bf5b6ac&e=598129e301

Copyright © 2026 Special Needs Alliance, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email as a member of the Special Needs Alliance

Our mailing address is:
Special Needs Alliance
5507 Nesconset Hwy, Suite 10-415
Mt. Sinai, NY 11766

04/15/2026

***** Fighting Evictions in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities *****
When: Wednesday, April 29, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PT/2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET

Far too frequently, residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities are threatened with improper evictions. Sometimes the facility alleges that it cannot meet the resident’s needs, even though the facility is legally obligated to provide the required care. Or the facility blames the resident’s “behavior” when the appropriate response instead of eviction would be to address the situation through care planning. Unfortunately, because many residents and their family members may be unaware of their rights, they often fall victim to these and other illegal practices.
This webinar, Fighting Evictions in Nursing Homes and Assisted Living Facilities, will address common eviction scenarios and discuss how lawyers and other advocates can assist residents in asserting their rights and staying in place. The webinar will be based on federal nursing home law and the federal regulations governing assisted living facilities that accept Medicaid reimbursement, and will also cover common state laws applicable to assisted living eviction. This webinar will be useful to legal services and direct service professionals at all levels of experience, from beginner to advanced.
After attending this training, participants will be able to:
• Understand necessary eviction notice requirements;
• Base advocacy on legally permitted reasons for eviction;
• Recognize facilities’ common but improper practices;
• Develop strategies for hearings and trials;
• Assert assisted living protections established by federal Medicaid home- and community-based services (HCBS) regulations.
Presenter:
Eric Carlson, Director, Long-Term Services and Supports Advocacy, Justice in Aging
Background Information for Attendees:
• 25 Common Nursing Home Problems, and How to Resolve Them
• Justice in Aging Nursing Facility Eviction Defense Toolkit
This webinar will take place on Wednesday, April 29, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. ET and will run for 60 minutes.
https://justiceinaging.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=727c211cf7b5afb21ea9dada3&id=ce1dfb8d7b&e=a195367e25


We use the Zoom webinar platform for our trainings. See below for more information:
• Capacity for this session is limited to 3,000 participants. Please be sure to log onto the webinar a few minutes early in order to secure your place for the live presentation on Zoom.
• Closed captioning will be available.
• The presentation will be recorded and available for later viewing. The recording and training materials will also be emailed to all registrants within a few days after the training.
• All participants will have the option of accessing audio through the computer or by phone.
• This Zoom webinar is structured so that all participants are muted and off camera. We are unable to receive any communication from participants via the chat or answer raised hands. Questions are taken through the Q&A function. If you are unable to use the Q&A function, our inbox, trainings@justiceinaging.org, is monitored throughout the webinar and you can email us with any questions or technical difficulties.
• If you would like to request ASL interpretation or have other accessibility related questions, please email trainings@justiceinaging.org at least one week in advance.
• Zoom Registration Update: For security reasons, when you register for a webinar, the join link will no longer be displayed on the confirmation page of your web browser. Instead, you will find the join link in the email confirmation, which will be sent to you as usual. If you don’t receive an email from Zoom, check your junk folder, and add Zoom to your list of approved senders.

04/10/2026

*Announcing the Oral History Project: Pioneers of Disability Rights*
NCIL’s Oral History Project is a video series preserving the stories, lessons learned, and institutional memory of the National Council on Independent Living and its central, catalyzing role in the Independent Living movement. Each episode captures firsthand accounts from leaders and advocates so future generations can learn what worked, what changed, and what still needs defending.

The series is made up of stories about how the Independent Living movement built power through grassroots organizing, coalition work, and persistent policy advocacy. The first three guests in the series are founding members Colleen Starkloff and Charlie Carr, and former NCIL Executive Director Kelly Buckland.

View the Oral History Project video series: https://bit.ly/4bT3jV0

If you’d like to support this work, please consider making a donation: https://bit.ly/4caDDC2

If you have ideas about additional guests to include, email us at ncil@ncil.org.

Copyright (C) 2026 National Council on Independent Living. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you opted in via our website.

Our mailing address is:
National Council on Independent Living PO Box 31260 Washington, DC 20030-1260 USA

04/10/2026

*Notice of Public Hearing for the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development Annual Action Plan 2026-2027*
The Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) is developing an Annual Action Plan (AAP) to identify the prioritized needs and the proposed use of available resources to address those needs for the upcoming fiscal year spanning
July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.

DHCD will hold a virtual public hearing on
April 22, 2026 from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (ET).
This event will outline the 2026-2027 Annual Action Plan and accept stakeholder input on anticipated needs, statewide goals, use of resources, and methods of distribution. Instructions to join via video conferencing will be emailed to online registrants approximately
24 hours prior to the event.
Register today at the button below.

Register
https://aumheadab.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001k4YFceOJfa271I6hJhE5oeuqQBWm_-AEE2hUBes_g97gfq2cEOt2uDr5HamRqcRQvGb13WUcdnbXB-_j_TODrGOUjMY0tAhlynLFURkkbImtfHwHvcCTLf-E58BxGTfb7U-oXsMaeuEQg1Y_sY9Dv8JZmrz0jKPD2QquCUSNlAHEOByIUo9wBrY26vbWb6bUIzhKPZCSkTTy89QMuQGh8A==&c=hH87HBZA_schvT0ZqN_zAYMtcDTP9zAh28d54bZ7lT0UhkUBPEl0pQ==&ch=7mm2ht7crcH0cS_H59-_CwX1XhlQBpjDJDFsonIJ12PNYjY8e0hBDw==

The anticipated federal housing and community
development resources include:
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME)
National Housing Trust Fund
Emergency Solution Grant (ESG)
and Housing for Persons with AIDS (HOPWA)

A draft of the 2026-2027 AAP will be made available for public comment starting April 7, 2026 at the button below.

2026-2027 AAP Draft

Written comments can be submitted at the button below.
DHCD will accept, consider, and respond to all comments received through May 8, 2026.

Submit Written Comments
mailto:feedback.ppc@dhcd.virginia.gov

Any person with a disability requiring special accommodations to attend the public input session should notify DHCD at (804) 624-9215. Every effort will be made to provide reasonable accommodations.

04/09/2026

***** Take Action to Stop Harmful HUD Proposals *****
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) currently has three proposed rules with upcoming deadlines for public comment. HUD’s proposals would take away housing assistance from older adults, who are the fastest-growing group among people experiencing homelessness. Advocates can take action by submitting comments opposing the following proposals.
Proposed Rule on Mixed-Status Households

This proposal would prohibit families with mixed immigration status from living together in HUD-assisted housing. It would also impose unnecessary new administrative burdens around documenting citizenship and immigration status. See our alert for resources on submitting comments. Comments are due April 21, 2026. https://justiceinaging.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=727c211cf7b5afb21ea9dada3&id=90473ca2a5&e=a195367e25

Proposed Rule (Formerly an Interim Final Rule) to Rescind Eviction Protections

HUD is proposing to rescind a 2024 final HUD rule that requires Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and HUD-assisted owners to provide 30 days’ notice before terminating leases for nonpayment of rent. This rule also gives tenants 30 days to cure nonpayment to avoid eviction. See this template comment from the National Housing Law Project for more information. Comments are due April 27, 2026. https://justiceinaging.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=727c211cf7b5afb21ea9dada3&id=79d9fb6b75&e=a195367e25

Proposed Rule on Work Requirements and Time Limits
HUD’s proposal would allow PHAs and HUD-assisted owners to impose work requirements and time limits for all major HUD housing assistance programs. PHAs and owners would be able to impose work requirements of up to 40 hours per week and time limits as short as two years. See our fact sheet on HUD’s proposal and why it would harm older adults. Comments are due May 1, 2026. https://justiceinaging.us10.list-manage.com/track/click?u=727c211cf7b5afb21ea9dada3&id=f6e8d1f7da&e=a195367e25

04/09/2026

Disability EmpowHer Network and Memorial Art Gallery Partner to Advance Accessible Emergency Planning

A collaboration between the Disability EmpowHer Network and the Memorial Art Gallery is helping ensure that more members of the community can safely experience and engage with the arts—both in everyday moments and in times of emergency.

The initiative began through EmpowHer Camp, a leadership program where participants design community impact projects addressing real barriers faced by disabled people. Payton Roselli, a young artist herself, chose to focus her project on accessibility within art spaces, centering on a critical but often overlooked question: how people with disabilities safely evacuate public spaces.
Through her outreach, the Memorial Art Gallery welcomed Payton to conduct a full accessibility review of its emergency evacuation procedures. She assessed existing plans and provided a detailed report with recommendations to strengthen safety and inclusion.

One key outcome of this work was the installation of three emergency evacuation chairs, ensuring that visitors with mobility disabilities can safely exit upper floors of the museum if needed.

“As an artist, museums are spaces that matter deeply to me,” said Payton Roselli. “I wanted to make sure disabled people can not only experience art, but feel safe while they’re there. Accessibility should include every part of that experience.”

“Accessibility is not just about entering a space, it’s about being able to fully and safely participate in everything that space offers,” said Stephanie Woodward, CEO of Disability EmpowHer Network. “What makes this especially powerful is that it was driven by the leadership of a young disabled artist and resulted in tangible change that will impact visitors for years to come.”

The Memorial Art Gallery’s willingness to engage in this process reflects a growing recognition that accessibility must be embedded into all aspects of the visitor experience, including emergency preparedness.

“Working with EmpowHER's student Pay was an incredibly valuable experience,” said Susan Dodge-Peters Daiss, MA. MDiv, Senior Associate, Memorial Art Gallery and Department of Health Humanities and Bioethics, School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Rochester. “Her insights helped us strengthen our preparedness in ways that will better serve our entire community. We are grateful for the opportunity to grow through this collaboration.”

This work highlights how disabled youth are not only identifying barriers but actively shaping more inclusive, responsive, and thoughtful communities, ensuring that spaces designed for connection and creativity are accessible to all.

04/01/2026

*** RVARC invites public input for 2045 Rural Long Range Transportation Plan ***
Greater Roanoke and Alleghany Region —The Roanoke Valley-Alleghany Regional Commission (RVARC) is inviting residents, businesses, and community stakeholders to help shape the region’s transportation future by participating in public outreach for the 2045 RVARC Rural Long Range Transportation Plan (Rural LRTP).

The Rural LRTP will guide transportation priorities and strategies through the year 2045 for the rural areas and communities served by RVARC, including Alleghany, Botetourt, Craig, Roanoke, and Franklin Counties; the City of Covington; and the Towns of Clifton Forge, Fincastle, New Castle, and Rocky Mount.

The 2045 Rural LRTP will help identify transportation needs and potential solutions that improve safety, support a state of good repair for existing infrastructure, strengthen regional connectivity, and expand access to jobs, schools, healthcare, and essential services.

The planning process will consider roadway and bridge conditions, traffic operations and safety improvements, freight and goods movement, transit and human services transportation, and opportunities for bicycle and pedestrian connections where appropriate—reflecting the unique travel patterns and constraints in rural Virginia.

“Local knowledge is essential to this planning process,” said RVARC Director of Transportation, Chris Robertson. “We want to hear from the people who travel these roads every day—about what’s working, what isn’t, and where improvements are most needed.”

The public survey will be available from April 1 through April 30, 2026. Community members can also submit comments through the same website.

To participate online: https://engage.rvarc.org/2045-rlrtp

Prefer to Participate in Person? Community members who prefer to complete a paper survey can find copies:
• Through the local planning department staff in the region
• At select public libraries
• At the RVARC office: 313 Luck Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
Assistance / Accommodations

If anyone needs assistance in completing the survey or additional accommodations, please contact RVARC staff at 540-343-4417 or email astinnette@rvarc.org.

What RVARC Wants to Hear

Public feedback will help identify and prioritize needs such as:
• Safety concerns (high-crash locations, speeding, intersection issues, sight distance)
• Roadway and bridge maintenance needs
• Freight and truck route needs that support local employers and regional commerce
• Transit and mobility options for older adults, people with disabilities, and households without reliable vehicles
• Walking and bicycling connections near town centers, schools, parks, and key destinations
• Resilience needs (flooding, slides, winter weather impacts, detours)
Please consider participating in the project. RVARC looks forward to supporting your community transportation needs.

2045 Rural Roanoke Valley Transportation Plan Project Page and Survey

03/31/2026

*** New Fact Sheet: HUD Proposed Rule on Work Requirements & Time Limits Will Take Housing Assistance from Older Adults ***
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently released a proposed rule that would allow Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and HUD-assisted owners to impose work requirements and time limits for HUD housing assistance. PHAs and owners would be able to impose work requirements of up to 40 hours per week and time limits as short as two years.
Despite HUD’s claims to the contrary, this proposal would take away housing assistance from older adults. Justice in Aging’s new fact sheet provides an overview of HUD’s proposed rule and why it would harm older adults age 50 and over.

Exemptions for older adults age 62+ would not prevent them from losing housing assistance, and the proposal would punish older adults ages 50-61 who are unable to work or lose their jobs. Family caregivers for older adults would also lose assistance under HUD’s proposal. Learn more in our fact sheet.

Advocates can submit comments opposing HUD’s proposed rule by May 1, 2026.

03/30/2026

*** Justice Department Sues SeaWorld and Other Theme Parks over Wheeled Walker Ban ***
03/26/2026
The Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida filed a lawsuit today against United Parks and Resorts and its subsidiaries, which own and operate parks including SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando. The Department alleges in its Complaint that UPR’s policy banning guests from using wheeled walkers with seats (including rollators with seats) violates Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

If you believe you have been a victim of disability discrimination by United Parks & Resorts Inc., including parks such as SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Cove Orlando, and Aquatica Orlando, please file a complaint with the Civil Rights Division online at www.civilrights.justice.gov, or by calling the Department’s toll-free ADA Information Line at 1-800-514-0301 (1-833-610-1264 (TTY)).