Blue Ridge Independent Living Center

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)).

03/30/2026

** Exhibit Opening - Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine **

03/30/2026

*** U.S. Access Board Webinar: Connecting Corners: Curb Ramps, Blended Transitions, Accessibility and PROWAG Basics ***
Curb ramps and blended transitions are critical connections in pedestrian access routes, allowing people to move between sidewalks and crosswalks. They must be designed and constructed so that they are usable by all pedestrians. This webinar on Thursday, April 2, from 2:30 - 4:00 PM (ET), will present the Laws, Standards, and Guidelines, regarding pedestrian accessibility. It will review requirements in the Public Right-of-Way Accessibility guidelines (PROWAG) for accessible curb ramps and blended transitions.

Registrants will be able to submit questions in advance during the registration process. Real-Time Captioning and Sign Language Interpretation will be provided.

Learn More
https://links-1.govdelivery.com/CL0/https:%2F%2Fwww.accessibilityonline.org%2Fao%2Fsession%3Fid=111213/3/0100019d30231ee8-503ff235-ba15-473c-b532-1afa9be21d88-000000/_Yl6AGmo8SyYAi9DXuM3PdsbMvccPsqif6B08Zx9emU=450

03/30/2026

*From DC: HUD Pauses 30-Day Notice Rule, Medicaid Work Requirement Risks for Older Adults, and more*
Here’s what we’re watching in Washington:
HUD Pauses Rescission of 30-Day Notice Rule
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which had published an interim final rule (IFR) revoking certain eviction protections in HUD-assisted housing, will now treat this IFR as a proposed rule instead.
As a result, any changes are paused and will not go into effect until the agency reviews comments on the proposed rule and issues a new final rule. HUD announced this decision after litigation challenging the IFR and HUD’s attempt to bypass standard rulemaking procedures.

HUD’s proposed rule aims to rescind a 2024 HUD final rule that requires Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and owners to provide 30 days’ notice before terminating a lease for nonpayment of rent. Importantly, this rule also created a right to cure nonpayment within 30 days regardless of more restrictive state laws.
Justice in Aging advocated for HUD’s 30-Day Notice Rule, which helps prevent evictions and homelessness for older adults and other tenants. Advocates can submit comments opposing HUD’s proposed rule until April 27, 2026.

Research Confirms Work Requirements Would Put Older Adults’ Medicaid at Risk

Researchers at the Urban Institute released new national and state estimates of projected reductions in Medicaid Expansion enrollment under H.R. 1 work requirements and six-month redeterminations.
They project that between 4.9 and 10.1 million fewer people will be enrolled in Medicaid Expansion coverage in an average month in 2028, depending on what actions states take to minimize the burdens of these policies and make it easier for people to keep their coverage.
Enrollment is expected to decrease in every state that has fully or partially expanded Medicaid by 18% to 33% with high mitigation efforts and by 37% to 68% with low mitigation efforts.
Between 19% and 37% of Expansion enrollees who are working are expected to have their coverage terminated, including some who are meeting the work requirement but would face challenges documenting their compliance or exemption.
Older adults ages 50 to 64, people with a health condition affecting their ability to work, and family caregivers are among those at higher risk.
For advocacy tips to protect Medicaid coverage for older adults, people with disabilities, and family caregivers, check out Justice in Aging’s webinar, Implementing New Medicaid Work Requirements: Strategies to Mitigate Harm in Your State and our Medicaid Work Requirements toolkit.

Find all of Justice in Aging’s H.R. 1 and Medicaid defense resources on our website.

New Justice in Aging Resources
• Fact Sheet: How H.R. 1 Impacts People Dually Eligible for Medicare and Medicaid (3/24)
• Article: Federal Housing Protections for People with Disabilities (Justice in Aging, The Kelsey, and Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund) (Updated 3/23)
• FAQ: Payment Options for Individuals Who Owe Past-Due Medicare Premiums (3/23)
• Fact Sheet: The Medicare Low-Income Subsidy Can Save Enrollees Thousands of Dollars (3/23)
• Fact Sheet: How to Access Free Part D Plans for Low Income Subsidy Enrollees (3/23)
• Alert: Help Immigrant Families Stay Whole and Housed (3/12)
• Comment Letter: Justice in Aging Comments on the 2027 Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters (NBPP) (3/13)
• Fact Sheet: Behavioral Health Services Act Advocacy for Older Californians (3/10)
• Issue Brief: The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Restoration Act (3/5)
• FAQ: Supplemental Security Income (SSI) (3/5)
• Fact Sheet and Advocate Guide: In-Home Supportive Services: California’s Personal Caregiving Program (3/5)
• Statement: Attacks on Medicaid Aging & Disability Care Are Cover for Cuts (3/4)
• Blog: Lawmakers Knew All Along They Were Voting to Cut Medicaid for Older Adults (3/4)
• Comment Letter: Letter from Aging and Allied Organizations to Congress about Immigration Enforcement (2/26)
• Toolkit: Facilitating Prompt Access to HCBS: A Toolkit for Advocating for Provisional Service Plans in Your State (2/26)

Upcoming Justice in Aging Webinar
• Navigating the Social Security Administration: Options for Advocates (4/14)

Justice in Aging Webinar Recording
• Protect Medicaid: State Revenue Strategies for Aging & Disability Advocates (3/10)

03/27/2026

**** Joint Meeting of ACL's Caregiving Advisory Councils ****
Joint Meeting of RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council & Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
Wednesday, April 29, 2026 | 12:00-4:30 p.m. ET

Join us for a virtual meeting of the RAISE Family Caregiving Advisory Council and Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren that will be held on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, as required by the Recognize, Assist, Include, Support, and Engage (RAISE) Family Caregivers Act and the Supporting Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (SGRG) Act.

The primary purpose of this meeting is to hear from thought leaders about how the family caregiving landscape is evolving. This will inform council members’ contributions to the update of the National Strategy to Support Family Caregivers, expected by year’s end.

The meeting will be open to the public. Registration is not required to attend. The Zoom meeting link will be operational (live) five minutes prior to the meeting start time. Closed captioning will be available.

All information for this meeting, including an agenda, will be posted on the RAISE and SGRG webpages linked above in advance of the meeting. For questions, please email SGRG.mail@acl.hhs.gov or RAISE.mail@acl.hhs.gov.

Join the Zoom meeting
https://click.connect.hhs.gov/?qs=eyJkZWtJZCI6ImNkODA1MjNjLWE2NmYtNDAwYy05MmY0LWJkNjliZmVjNDY5ZiIsImRla1ZlcnNpb24iOjEsIml2IjoiTExCejQyVDl5V240eU05b3JNWFpxQT09IiwiY2lwaGVyVGV4dCI6ImVaR0pTd0paTlRTMlhiN05DWnJmOTlGMm8wOGI2ZVl4cXpMamEzVGhSZ09VamcyWTkxcGx1ZTZrR0Iyek1oRUs5VkljMkQyOUVIbWV2ekdxem0vRFVyVml5eXl3YytOay9jbHArTWpQYUt6RjJhZz0iLCJhdXRoVGFnIjoiMkQyOUVIbWV2ekdxem0vRFVyVml5dz09In0%3D

03/27/2026

**** Service Dog Named Alfred Sparked Lyft Settlement ****
https://abcnews.com/US/wireStory/service-dog-named-alfred-sparked-lyft-settlement-minnesota-130980908

03/26/2026

*** “Affordable Federal Housing and Community Development Programs” ***

https://nlihc.org/explore-issues/publications-research/advocates-guide?utm_source=NLIHC+All+Subscribers&utm_campaign=97401fcac4-Memo_032326&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-41cf60b129-291773737&ct=t(Memo_032326)

03/23/2026

*** Join us for a Day of Impact: Renovation Celebration! ***
Looking for a quick way to make a big difference in the Roanoke Valley? Join us for Renovation Celebration, a high-impact morning where you can roll up your sleeves and help neighbors in need!
The Plan:
• 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM | Serve: Help us build accessible modular ramps for local homeowners. No prior construction experience is needed!
• Future Builders Zone: We'll have a special supervised opportunity for kids of all ages to get involved with community service.
• 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM | Celebrate: After the build, we’ll enjoy lunch featuring special speakers, live music, and a silent auction.
Tickets: Every dollar raised goes directly toward our mission of providing critical home repairs for Roanoke area neighbors in need.
• Adult Tickets ($25): Includes your build session, safety gear, and lunch.
• Youth Tickets ($5): Includes supervised kids' service project and lunch.
It's the perfect opportunity to connect with like-minded neighbors while making a tangible impact on local housing accessibility.
Ready to pick up a hammer? Secure your spot on the crew today and help us ensure every neighbor in the Roanoke Valley is able to reside in a safe and healthy home.
Tickets on sale now!

We can't wait to build and celebrate with you!

Best,
The Renovation Alliance Team

03/19/2026

**** New Blog Series: Investing for Independence. ****
A New Blog Series Dedicated to Your Financial Freedom

Many people assume investing is out of reach—reserved for those with extra income, financial expertise, or exclusive networks. This perception is exactly what needs to change. A new three-part blog series, now live on ablenrc.org, explores how Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) accounts can expand financial opportunity and inclusion for people with disabilities, their families, and the broader network of service providers and partners who support them. Designed to be accessible and practical, the series offers a clear entry point into building more equitable financial futures.
Introducing: A Beginner's Guide to Investing for People with Disabilities

This series was developed by experts in disability finance and economic empowerment, offering clear, honest guidance on building a more secure financial future.

Blog 1: Investing for Independence: How People with Disabilities Can Build Their Financial Future
By Thomas Foley, Executive Director, National Disability Institute
Tom opens the series by addressing a common belief—that financial growth is something reserved for others. He challenges this idea directly, breaking down the fundamentals of investing and highlighting how it can support greater independence and long-term security for people with disabilities. This blog provides a strong starting point for those new to investing.
https://realeconomicimpact.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ea6584491b7ab9daf6b074fe6&id=83f8e7f1e5&e=ee97e918b4

Blog 2: A Practical Guide to ABLE Investment Options: How to Invest in an ABLE Account
By Ryan Fitzgerald, CFA, Principal, Sellwood Investment Partners LLC
With an ABLE account in place, the next question is how to use it effectively. Ryan outlines the full range of investment options available in most ABLE plans, from low-risk cash and money market options to target-risk portfolios for longer-term goals. He also explains key tax advantages and common pitfalls, offering practical guidance for informed decision-making.
https://realeconomicimpact.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ea6584491b7ab9daf6b074fe6&id=42e4a30190&e=ee97e918b4

Blog 3: You Belong Here
By Jody Ellis, Director, ABLE National Resource Center
Jody closes the series with a powerful reminder: financial inclusion matters. The skills required to manage daily finances—budgeting, planning, and navigating complex systems—are the same foundations that support successful investing. This blog reinforces that wealth-building tools, including ABLE accounts, are increasingly accessible and designed to support broader participation.
https://realeconomicimpact.us8.list-manage.com/track/click?u=ea6584491b7ab9daf6b074fe6&id=42e4a30190&e=ee97e918b4

Why This Series Matters
People with disabilities continue to face structural financial barriers, including lower incomes, higher costs of living, and systems that have historically discouraged saving. ABLE accounts were created to address these challenges. However, awareness alone is not enough—understanding how to use these tools for long-term growth is what drives meaningful change.

This series brings that knowledge together in a practical, accessible format to support individuals, families, and the professionals and partners working alongside them.

Readers are encouraged to explore the series, share it across networks, and support continued progress toward more inclusive financial futures. Every step forward makes a difference.

With gratitude,
National Disability Institute

03/19/2026

**The National Center on Law & Elder Rights Contract Terminated**
The Trump Administration has terminated Justice in Aging’s contract to administer the National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER), effectively ending a critical program that efficiently protected elder rights, promoted the well-being and independence of older adults, and helped them live free from abuse and exploitation.

NCLER, a resource center which Justice in Aging operated for nearly ten years, provided tools, specialized expertise, and trainings to assist legal and aging services providers in serving their low-income older adult clients.

The Termination’s Impact on Older Adults
The Administration’s decision to terminate the NCLER contact creates even more challenges for older adults and their families, during what is already a perilous and uncertain moment.
Low-income older adults and people with disabilities are already facing the largest cuts to Medicaid in history, as well as cuts to SNAP, affordable housing, and other programs. At the same time, scammers are getting ever more sophisticated, and staffing cuts at various government agencies leave older adults with fewer places to turn for help.

The Termination’s Impact on the Aging and Elder Rights Community

With the end of the NCLER contract, the elder rights and aging community has lost the central hub that provided resource support on the priority issue areas impacting older adults. And they have also lost a network where they could participate in cohorts and receive capacity support that helped them build their programs to prioritize and serve older adults with the greatest social and economic needs. Older adults across the country who rely on these networks will suffer.

Justice in Aging Resources and Trainings

Though Justice in Aging is no longer administering the NCLER contract, a core part of our mission has always been to provide training, resources, and case consultations to the aging network on the issues low-income older adults face. That’s not going to change.

Justice in Aging has many new resources and trainings available for advocates including:
• Webinar Recording: Protect Medicaid: State Revenue Strategies for Aging & Disability Advocates
• Fact Sheet: Understanding the Impact of H.R.1 on Older Immigrants’ Access to Health Care
• Webinar Recording: Implementing New Medicaid Work Requirements: Strategies to Minimize Harm in Your State
• Webinar Recording: Overpayments, In-Kind Support, and Operational Impacts - How Current SSA Policies Could Affect Your Clients

More resources are available in Justice in Aging’s Resource Library, and our experts are available for technical assistance and consultations by emailing info@justiceinaging.org.
Advocates who join our email list will continue to get updated information and resources to help serve and advocate for older adults. Please share our sign-up page with your colleagues and partners.

NCLER Background
The Older Americans Act (OAA) requires the Assistant Secretary for Aging to make grants and enter into contracts to provide a national legal assistance support system. The Act specifies the activities for this support system, who can operate it, and the target audience.
Since 2016, Justice in Aging had been the prime contractor selected by the Administration for Community Living (ACL) to develop and administer this support system as the National Center on Law and Elder Rights (NCLER).

For decades prior to 2016, Justice in Aging was one of several grantees who fulfilled this requirement, although not through a centralized entity like NCLER. Justice in Aging had the first five-year contract to administer NCLER from 2016-2021, and was selected for a second five-year contract in 2021.

Over the last nine years, NCLER provided training, technical assistance, and capacity building support to its network, which had over 64,000 professionals from the legal, aging, and disability fields. NCLER trainings and technical assistance services reached individuals in all 50 states.

The contract was renewed for its 10th year in early August 2025.
On September 30, 2025, the Department of Health & Human Services suddenly, and without explanation, terminated Justice in Aging’s contract to operate NCLER. The Department has shared no information about how it plans to continue to provide this important service to the community in accordance with the requirements under the Older Americans Act.