Self Advocates in National and Community Service
Project Description:
The primary purpose of this project is to increase the number of applications and the enrollment of individuals with disabilities in national and community service opportunities in Virginia and to provide support to Virginia?s AmeriCorps State and VISTA programs to enhance the success of programs that include people with disabilities as AmeriCorps Members. This will be accomplished through the collective expertise and experiences of the collaborative partners: the Partnership for People with Disabilities, the Virginia Commission for National and Community Services, and a consumer-directed organization, New Voices. The proposed activities include:
1. Develop agreements with collaborative partners that indicate the joint strategies that will be used to increase meaningful involvement of individuals with disabilities in national and community service.
2. Develop presentations and materials based on existing information available through NSIP and NSIP other grantees to heighten interest in and to explain national and community service options to individuals with disabilities.
3. Use the connections of New Voices members to established self-advocacy and other community groups to identify and assist 25 individuals with disabilities to apply/enroll in national and community service.
4. Develop a state-wide advisory team to assist with review of materials, identification of additional community organizations, and sustainability of the effort.
5. Serve as technical assistance providers to Virginia?s existing AmeriCorps State and VISTA programs to better include people with disabilities in national and community service activities.
6. With VCNCS, review and enhance their disability plan that supports meaningful involvement of individuals with disabilities in national and community service programs.
7. Document successes and challenges through a publication that can be shared with and used by others.
Projected outcomes include: Increase in successful working relationships among partner organizations; materials and presentations developed for individuals with cognitive and other disabilities that explain the project; placement of 25 individuals with disabilities in volunteer or member positions within national and community service projects and increased awareness of opportunities of at least 200 individuals with disabilities; increased knowledge among service projects regarding the recruitment, enrollment, and support of people with disabilities as volunteers and members; and a plan with VCNCS to sustain and expand these activities when the contract period ends. A longer term outcome is enriched communities that value contributions of individuals with disabilities.
Core Function(s):
Performing Technical Assistance and/or Training, Developing & Disseminating Information
Target Audience:
Professionals and Para-Professionals, Adults with Disabilities
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Geographic Areas, Empowerment Zone, Rural/Remote, Urban
Primary Target Audience Geographic Descriptor:
State
COVID-19 Related Data:
N/A
