PROJECTS
GRAPHIC of WVSILC TITLE


New Smoke Alarm Program

The West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (SILC) and the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (WVCDHH) have received a grant from the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) to provide free smoke alarms to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing. The SILC and WVCDHH will be working with the WV Association for the Deaf (WVAD) and the State Fire Marshal’s office to set up the program and get the word out.

Individuals in need of this equipment will apply through the WVCDHH. Once an application is submitted, someone will go to the individual’s home conduct an assessment and determine what type(s) of alarm(s) are needed. Three types of alarms will be available:

  1. A standard smoke alarm that sends an extra-loud warning when fire danger is sensed.
  2. An alarm clock with a monitor that is programmed to “hear” the standard smoke alarm. When the standard alarm sounds, the alarm clock initiates three different signals designed to awaken and alert a sleeping person who is deaf or hard of hearing: a special square-wave alarm sounds, designed to be more likely heard by a person with hearing loss; an attached bed-shaker vibrates to provide a tactile signal; the clock display flashes the word FIRE.
  3. An alarm that produces an extra-loud warning and has a strobe light, providing visual notification of danger from multiple locations in the home.

Individual needs and the arrangement of the home will be considered in determining the type and number of alarms a person will receive.

For more information and/or to submit an application, contact the West Virginia Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at 304-558-1675, 877-461-3578 or by video phone 304-553-7384.

For further resources related to smoke alarms, including for people who are not hearing impaired, contact your local Center for Independent Living.

Appalachian Center for Independent Living

Elk Office Center
4710 Chimney Dr. Suite C
Charleston, WV 25302-4804

Voice: 304-965-0376
Fax: 304-965-0377
TDD: 800-642-3003
Email: acil@yahoo.com

Counties served: Kanawha, Clay, Putnam, Boone Roane, Calhoun and Jackson
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Monday - Friday

Mountain State Centers for Independent Living

821 Fourth Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701

Voice/TTY: 304-525-3324
Fax: 304-525-3360
TDD: 304-525-3324
Toll free: 1-866-MTSTCIL (1-866-687-8245)
Email: aoweeks@mtstcil.org

Counties served: Cabell and Wayne
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Monday - Friday

Mountain State Centers for Independent Living

Beckley office:
329 Prince Street
Beckley, WV 25801

Voice: 304-255-0122
Fax:304-255-0157
TDD: 304-255-0122
Email: aoweeks@mtstcil.org

Counties served: Raleigh
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 4:15 p.m. Monday - Friday

Northern West Virginia Center for Independent Living

601-603 East Brockway, Suite A & B
Morgantown, WV 26501

Voice: 304-296-6091
Tollfree: 800-834-6408
Fax: 304-292-5217
TDD: 304-296-6091
Email: nwvcil@nwvcil.org

Counties served: Monongalia, Marion, Preston, Doddridge, Harrison, Taylor, Gilmer, Lewis, Upshur, Barbour, Braxton, Randolph and Tucker
Hours of Operation: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Consumer Satisfaction Survey results analyzed

The WV Statewide Independent Living Council conducted a survey of consumer satisfaction with Independent Living services in West Virginia. The Council continued to use the instrument they developed several years ago. In the survey, consumers were asked to rate their level of agreement with statements about the independent living services they received. Consumers were also asked about specific services and their rights as a consumer. A final section included open-ended items designed to determine the consumers’ opinion about program changes or improvements that could be made.

A report of the survey findings from 2007 to 2010 is now available here.



SILC/SRC Joint Strategic Plan
June 2, 2011

Disability Liaison in Governor's Office

Goal 1:  Establish a liaison relationship within the Governor’s Legislative Office

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

1.1  Develop a purpose/concept paper for the liaison relationship.

Jan Lilly-Stewart

Ann McDaniel

Sherry Taylor

Debbie Lovely

See concept paper

 

August 2011

Governor’s legislative office is in agreement with our priorities and will help us achieve them, get disability issues to the forefront, and the mandated rights of people with disabilities upheld
Goal 2:  Hold a Disability Policy Summit/Forum to establish a cohesive common agenda within the statewide disability community

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

2.1  Recruit SILC/SRC members to refine the process of holding the policy summit

Brenda Lamkin

WVA, FSN

 

June 2, 2011
(Today)

Effective advocacy effort from the disability community on a unified policy agenda

2.2  Establish time line for disability policy summit

Brenda Lamkin

 

 

August 2011

 

2.3  Invite disability advocacy groups to participate in the policy summit

SRC/SILC

FSN, WVCILs, WVMHCA, Autism Society, Olmstead Council, DD Council, CDHH, etc.

 

December 7th between SILC & SRC meetings

A unified agenda for the active disability advocates across the state

Employment

Goal 1: Educate SILC/SRC members on roles and responsibilities of WIBs

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

1.1  Secure Workforce Office representative to come to joint meetings to explain role & responsibilities

SRC – Ginny/Sherry

WIBs, DRS, SILC

Meeting space

October 2011

WIBs are aware, understand, and are responsive to disability issues related to employment

1.2  Invite DRS Workforce staff to joint meetings to explain their role

SRC

DRS, SILC

Meeting space

October 2011

 

1.3  Invite local One Stop representative to joint meeting to explain their role & responsibility

SRC

SILC

Meeting space

October 2011

 
Goal 2: SILC/SRC influence the implementation and operation of the One Stops to ensure people with disabilities are served inclusively and appropriately

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

2.1  Recruit SILC/SRC members to become active advocates to attend regional WIB meetings and report back to their respective councils

SILC/SRC

 

Meeting space

October 2011

PWDs are effectively served by One Stops
Goal 3:  Evaluate the effectiveness of DRS’ working/partnership with the WIBs.

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

3.1  Involve Pisnu Bau-Iam – What is DRS tracking?  How is agency tracking One Stop services (i.e. Blind or Visually Impaired, Deaf or Hard of Hearing, CRPs, transitioning, WIBs, Intellectual Disability) – also get data from Workforce WV on PWDs served

Michael Meadows & SRC

SILC/SRC/
DRS

Joint meeting

February 2012

We understand the current situation - # of PWDs in Workforce system and the # of those referred/served by DRS

Healthcare/Personal Assistance Services

Goal 1:  Facilitate public access to healthcare/PAS (Personal Assistance Services) resources and information

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

1.1  Develop Resource Pamphlet of Available Resources (find resources if out there)

Darla Ervin

State Agency support staff, DRS, SILC, FSN

Staff time

June 2012

PWDs have increased & easier access to healthcare/PAS

1.2  Develop Web site – possible 800# resource line

Darla Ervin

Liaison from DRS staff

Staff time
211?
AARPF Helpline

June 2012

 
Goal 2: Improve quality of Personal Assistance Services

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

2.1  Examine policies statewide (find inconsistencies)

Darla Ervin

 

Staff time

June 2012

 

2.2  Find out minimum qualifications to be a personal assistant (appear to have different qualifications throughout state)

Darla Ervin

 

Staff time

June 2012

PWDs who receive PAS are safer, have better care, can participate in the community, and have more IL opportunities
Goal 3: Certification of Personal Assistants (Win-Win for person & worker)

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

3.1  Statewide training for PAs

3.2  Develop/acquire videos

3.3  Develop registry of trained PAs

Beverley Jones

CILs
DHHR

Virtual CIL

 

PAs knowledge, skills, and abilities would be consistent statewide

Transportation

Goal 1: Continue Intelligent Transit transportation between Huntington and Charleston

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

1.1  Talk to IT passengers who live in Putnam County and get their support

Nathan Parker

Paul Davis – TTA &
KRT and their boards

Paul Davis

12-31-2011

People have affordable transportation between Huntington and Charleston

1.2  Get passengers to sign a petition asking Putnam County to provide financial support for IT transportation (like Cabell and Kanawha County levies)

Nathan Parker & James Qualls

Paul Davis – TTA &
KRT and their boards

Paul Davis will draft

 

Use this as a model program to be replicated in other areas of the state

1.3  Talk to the Putnam County Commission and present petition

Nathan Parker & James Qualls

Paul Davis – TTA &
KRT and their boards

 

 

 
Goal 2: Increase access to accessible transportation to activities (People First, ADA Coalition, etc.)

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

2.1  Develop a network of friends & neighbors & every group who’s taking you anywhere – pay the mileage or give them a fuel card – that way you get 2 or more friends or neighbors to help you

James Qualls

 

Informal supports – friends, neighbors, churches, etc.

 

PWDs have more options for reliable, independent transportation
Goal 3:  Increase transportation for rural areas (Beckley, Oak Hill, etc.)

Activity

Lead Person

Partners

Resources

Target Date

Outcomes

3.1  Meet with legislators

Donald Carson

FSN

 

 

People in rural areas can get where they need to go

3.2  Work with State and National government

 

DHHR, DPT, transit providers

 

 

 

3.3  Advocate for increased fines for speeding, cell phone use & texting while driving, running red lights for funding for transportation

 

 

 

 

 

3.4  Advocate for a casino surcharge to fund increased transportation in rural areas

3.5  Identify barriers to coordinated transportation

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more information about the SILC, please contact:

WVSILC
P.O. Box 625
Institute, WV 25112-0625
Telephone: 304-766-4624 (voice or TDD)
304-766-4721 (fax)
1-800-642-8207 (toll-free)
wvsilc@wvsilc.org
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Updated 08/19/11