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New Voices: Making Them Heard

Overview

A specific goal of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) 2001-2006 State Plan addresses providing technical assistance and financial resources to develop, strengthen, and promote a self-advocacy initiative to effect meaningful systems change for people with developmental disabilities in Virginia.

The Partnership received funding from the VBPD to establish a New Voices Planning Committee through assembling 10 individuals with developmental disabilities and enabling their voices to be heard. The Planning Committee identified issues, developed an agenda of the key issues, and organized a statewide conference.

Major Activities

• Identify and recruit statewide consumer applicants to serve on the New Voices Planning Committee that are diverse demographically and by disability area
• Screen and select Planning Committee members, attracting participants from isolated communities including institutions and group homes
• Facilitate a minimum of five meetings and provide all the necessary support for members of the Planning Committee to attend and participate
• Document the work of the Planning Committee and develop a mechanism for sharing their work with the public so consumers and advocates are aware and have opportunities for input into the deliberations during the planning phase
• Document the long term goals of the Planning Committee

In October 2005, the first New Voices Conference will be held in Richmond. Please see the New Voices web site for additional information.

Program Staff
Parthy Dinora, Nicole Rada, Rachel Valenti, Dana Yarbrough, and Tera Yoder

Contact
Dana Yarbrough (804) 828-0352, dvyarbrough@vcu.edu

Website:
http://www.vcu.edu/partnership/nv
New Voices DVD Order Form