Disability Rights of West Virginia

08/21/2026

On August 21, National Senior Citizens Day recognizes the achievements of the more mature representatives of our nation. The day provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication, accomplishments, and services they give throughout their lives.

Their wealth of knowledge, skill, and experience offer so much to the next generation. As technologies advance, these are the people who've experienced each step of change. Not only have they contributed to it, but they understand first hand the benefits and the drawbacks. They know life without the advancements that exist today.

Our senior citizens are pioneers of science, medicine, psychology, civil rights and so much more. Their valuable contributions to our communities create better places to live. They deserve the respect and dignity their achievements earn them. The day encourages supporting senior citizens to live their lives to the fullest and as independently as possible.

On August 21, National Senior Citizens Day recognizes the achievements of the more mature representatives of our nation. The day provides an opportunity to show our appreciation for their dedication, accomplishments, and services they give throughout their lives.

08/18/2026

Researchers from WVU invite birth parents, foster parents, grandparents, adoptive parents, and other caregivers with experience caring for an infant or child exposed to or diagnosed with hepatitis C virus (HCV) to participate in a virtual conversation about improving care for families in West Virginia.

We want to learn from your experiences supporting a child through infant follow-up care, navigating healthcare systems, and accessing family support services. Your perspective will help identify what works well, what challenges caregivers face, and what questions future research should focus on to improve care for children and families.

Participant time commitment will be approximately 2 hours total via virtual meetings.

Check out the full details and find out how to participate in this and other studies: https://research.cedwvu.org/participate/

WVU Health Sciences

08/14/2026

I received an email from the Governor's office, yesterday and he signed the proclamation yesterday I sent in to him in April to proclaim September Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Month in West Virginia! Another accomplishment made in the mountain state! To say that I am excited about this is an understatement! I am over the moon about this! I should receive the hard copy soon!
Ms. Wheelchair America Ms. Wheelchair West Virginia - America
WV Statewide Independent Living Council City of Moundsville, Moundsville WV The Arc of the Mid Ohio Valley SPINALpedia The Intelligencer / Wheeling News-Register WTRF 7News WTOV NEWS9

08/13/2026

08/10/2026

It's a Monday Myth Buster from WVABLE!

❌ MYTH: An individual with a disability must receive SSI or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) to be eligible for an ABLE account.

✅ FACT: Individuals with a disability do NOT have to be receiving public benefits, including SSI or SSDI to be eligible for WVABLE. As long as they have a qualifying disability with an onset before age 46, they can enroll and start saving in a WVABLE STABLE Account. This way, they can save and invest tax free and benefit from the WV State income tax deductions for contributions made into the STABLE account.

CLICK HERE to learn more: https://wvable.com/how-it-works/eligibility

08/05/2026

International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) begins the first Sunday in August and recognizes all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations.

Through a training program, owner and dog learn to work together and get to know each other. Throughout the course, they learn to knock on the doors or ringing the doorbell, alert their owner of a telephone ringing or if a smoke alarm goes off. The average training period for a training dog and its owner lasts about two months. The most popular breeds for assistance dogs include Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, and German Shepherds. These breeds are among the smartest and most trainable.

While on duty, assistance dogs have a job to do. With this in mind, if you see someone with an assistance dog, don't get too close or try to pet it. Whether it safely guides its master or provides other services, distractions are dangerous. If you must approach, speak to the handler. Keep your own pet restrained and at a distance. Don't assume a napping service dog is off-duty. If you see a service dog without its owner, that may be a sign of trouble. Seek help if you are able and let the dog lead you to its master.

While therapy and emotional support dogs provide a valuable benefit, they are not assistance dogs. They receive different training. Follow the link to learn more.

International Assistance Dog Week (IADW) begins the first Sunday in August and recognizes all the devoted, hardworking assistance dogs helping individuals mitigate their disability-related limitations.

08/04/2026

August is SMA Awareness month, and we are so excited to be celebrating with all of you!

Every research grant funded, every clinical trial advanced, every family supported, none of it happens alone. It takes our incredible community continuing to show up.

This month, we're celebrating researchers pushing science forward, families living with SMA and the supporters who make our work possible.

Follow along all August for stories, spotlights and other ways to get involved 💜🧡

07/31/2026

We're looking for new Center Advisory Committee members!

The WVU CED's Center Advisory Committee (CAC) is soliciting interest for new members to be appointed to the Committee. At this time, the Committee is looking for West Virginia citizens who have developmental disabilities as well as family members of people with disabilities. The CAC strives to represent and reflect the needs and expectations of all West Virginians with disabilities.

The Center Advisory Committee is an organization that is established by the WVU CED under the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (P.L. 106-402). The Committee's work is to advise the WVU CED regarding civil rights, needs, and services for people with disabilities that help assure their full inclusion in their communities. More specifically, the Committee advises the Center on the development and progress on its five year plan and to inform the Center on the needs of people with disabilities and the services provided by the Center.

For more information or to be considered for mentorship opportunities, please email Dr. Lesley Cottrell at [email protected].

Application to become a member of the CAC: https://cedwvu.wufoo.com/forms/z17a1aji0txvikw/

WV Developmental Disabilities Council
Disability Rights of West Virginia

07/28/2026

Morgantown, West Virginia, has taken a step away from park benches and other equipment designed to discourage unhoused people and others from resting or lying down. Morgantown City Council voted 5-2 on Tuesday to approve a resolution that prohibits the city from installing “hostile architecture”...