Project Living Well
The goal of this Project is to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (DD). People with DD should choose their way of life. People with DD should have equal freedoms for jobs, living, and income.
To help people with DD, this Project created:
- Trend Reports
These reports are great for research and policy. They have data and trends. These reports track quality of life and service outcomes for people with disabilities. View the reports below. -
Comics
These comics are stories about people with DD. Kim and her friends talk about data that will help Kim live the life that she wants.
PLW Accessible Housing comic (English)
Accessible Housing
People with disabilities have the right to choose where they live. Do you have the support and resources to choose your home? Who can you ask for help? Kim, her Grandpa, and their friend Bruce have similar questions.
PLW Accessible Housing comic (Spanish)
Vivienda Accesible
Las personas con discapacidad tienen derecho a elegir su lugar de residencia. ¿Tiene usted el apoyo y los recursos para elegir su residencia? ¿A quién puede pedir ayuda? Camila, su Abuelo y su amigo Bruno tienen preguntas similares.
PLW Early Intervention Accessible comic (English)
Don't miss your child's milestones
Developmental milestones are things most children can do by a certain age. These include rolling over, laughing, or waving bye bye. What if your child isn’t meeting these milestones? Early intervention is key. Learn what you can do by reading here.
PLW Early Intervention Accessible comic (Spanish)
No se pierda los hitos del desarrollo de su hijo.
Los hitos del desarrollo son las destrezas que adquiere la mayoría de los niños cuando llegan a cierta edad. Estas incluyen voltearse, reírse y decir adiós con la mano. ¿Qué pasa si su hijo no ha desarrollado estas destrezas? La clave es la intervención temprana. Lea esto y aprenda lo que puede hacer.
PLW Education Accessible comic (English)
Does your child need extra support in school?
Every child learns differently. Is your child having difficulty learning? Read here to learn if he or she needs an Individualized Education Program (IEP). IEPs are tailored to each child's needs.
PLW Education Accessible comic (Spanish)
¿Su hijo necesita ayuda adicional en la escuela?
Cada niño aprende de forma diferente. ¿Su hijo tiene problemas de aprendizaje? Lea aquí cómo puede saber si él o ella necesita un programa de educación individualizada (IEP, por sus siglas en inglés). Los IEP se adaptan a las necesidades de cada niño. - Video(s)
These video(s) bring our comics to life.
These items give information about life and services for people with DD, families, people from agencies, and lawmakers. We hope this Project helps lead to policy change.
Health
The Early Intervention program, administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS), provides services and supports to infants and toddlers with developmental delays and their families, in accordance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These services may include, but are not limited to, speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, psychological services, and service coordination.
The services are intended to minimize developmental delay, maximize potential for independent living, and reduce costs to society by minimizing future need for special education and related services.
Project Living Well Trend Report - Early Intervention - Full Report
Project Living Well Trend Report - Early Intervention - Summary
Works Cited
Education has far-reaching effects on other areas of life. The results of a child's academic career impact their employment prospects and independent living. The mode in which that education is delivered may also have a considerable impact. Multiple laws were passed to ensure that children with disabilities receive a quality education. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) offers protections from discrimination, while the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act entitles students with disabilities to a free and appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
Project Living Well Trend Report - Education - Summary
Project Living Well Trend Report - Scorecard Layout - Education
Education Works Cited
Housing is more than having a place to live. Housing affects employment, access to services, community engagement, and more. After an investigation of Virginia's disability service system, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Commonwealth of Virginia entered into a Settlement Agreement in 2012. As a part of this Settlement Agreement, the Commonwealth closed four of five state institutions which housed people with developmental disabilities, and helped residents from these institutions transition into homes in the community. The Commonwealth continues to work to address housing barriers and expand home- and community-based services.
Project Living Well Trend Report - Housing - Summary
Project Living Well Trend Report - Scorecard Layout - Housing
Housing Works Cited
Despite protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Affordable Care Act, Virginians with disabilities had worse health outcomes than Virginians without disabilities. Research shows that these health disparities result from preventable social determinants, including discrimination and inaccessibility of healthcare services. Because of limited available data, this trend report discusses data on adults.
← Project Living Well Health Trend Report - Summary
PLW Health Trend Full Report →
Despite protections such as the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and Affordable Care Act, Virginians with disabilities had worse health outcomes than Virginians without disabilities. Research shows that these health disparities result from preventable social determinants, including discrimination and inaccessibility of healthcare services. Because of limited available data, this trend report discusses data on adults.
← Project Living Well Community Supports Trend Report - Summary
PLW Community Support Trend Full Report →
People with disabilities have historically faced employment discrimination which persists today. Consequently, many people with disabilities have not worked, or they have worked for subminimum wages in segregated settings. Several federal and state laws have prohibited discrimination and incentivized competitive, integrated employment. These laws have helped improve employment outcomes over time, though opportunity for further improvement remains. The full effects of the Coronavirus pandemic on employment are still being researched.
← PLW Employment Trend Summary
PLW Employment Trend Full Report →
If you have any feedback on this product, please email your thoughts to info@vbpd.virginia.gov.
We are particularly interested in hearing about how you have used the information and ways we can make it more useful for you. Thank you!
(804) 786-0016
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