Jurisdiction	1993 Population	Disability reported in 1990 Census data age16-65……..…..over 65
Franklin County	42,000	2,230……………….1,059
Patrick County	17,600	1,279…………………712
Henry County	56,700	3,562 ………………1,346
Pittsylvania County	55,700	3,445 ………………1,702
City of Danville	53,300	3,352……………….1,902
City of Martinsville	16,000	1,033…………………657
Total population	241,300	********14,901********

The City of Martinsville is not a member of our DSB (or any DSB) but we serve it's residents by referrals, transportation and other activities.

MAJOR FINDINGS

1. Transportation needs are extreme, lack of money as well as coordination among agencies is also an issue.
   • Continuing efforts to address transportation needs through the incentive grant and the use of the transportation coordinator will be carried out by meeting with other agencies and trying to remove some "red tape barriers" (i.e. People with disabilities being able to use more transportation services through the Aging Agency)-----local
   • Transportation needs are being brought to the attention of the state every year, but little system change or mindsets are being adapted that will promote this issue and make the system change feasible. Collaboration needs to be mandated and more funding for public transportation. (For e.g. DRS awards a local workshop with a wheelchair lift van, after transporting its employees to work, why can't this workshop van be available for shopping needs of someone in a wheelchair, or going to class at the community college? Right now the issue is insurance-make a state policy available to this vendor.)
2. Communities at large are unaware of existing local and state services available to them.
   • Continued efforts to promote our existence through Business shows and working with groups such as Martinsville/Danville Areas Disabilities Employment Network will continue-----local
   • Use more PSAs for providing information about DSB and contacts---local
3. Many schools, government agencies and especially businesses are being very slow to make public accessibility accommodations that are in compliance with ADA. Federal, state, local service agencies, as well as private businesses, too many to cite, are not in compliance and won't be by the year 2,000.
   • West Piedmont Disability Services Board should draft a letter to be used in an effort to increase awareness to businesses or other entities that are not in compliance with ADA suggesting they contact a local official to help "bring them up to code" or ask for assistance from our DSB to find resources to assist in this effort. -----local
   • Since the area covered is so large and all businesses and agencies cannot be surveyed, a notice on the WEB page requesting more information about accessibility issues in each locality, in order to raise awareness and to find out where there are more needs -----local
   • If questions are raised as a result of our above mentioned letters about accessibility issues, board members will need additional resources such as training, and materials, to help our DSB provide feedback about particular concerns. (i.e. about ramps, how high, wide etc.)-----state

General recommendations to state, brought to our attention by DSB members and public comment.

• Public awareness can be enhanced by paid media announcements and promote more information sharing about ADA and what is still needing to be addressed within the state.
• Since DSB members are volunteers with limited time, develop paid positions to work exclusively on DSB and ADA efforts
• Promote a central agency (DRS?) to oversee referrals of persons for services and assign a taskforce to look at ways to avoid duplication of services in some manner
• Consider replacing and hiring another counselor for the deaf and hard of hearing for Southside Virginia
• Increase funding for Consumer Services Fund
• Apply some pressure to the City of Martinsville to join our DSB as we are addressing and meeting needs from the residents. (i.e. incentive fund grant being used in City and Henry County.) Since this was a requirement of the state, perhaps another meeting with Martinsville to encourage their participation is necessary. (This is a joint effort-local DSB members can also promote this issue, but state level involvement would increase chances of success.)

Contact Donna Martin, DSB Liaison for further information about this report 540-632-7161 or email at dmartin@kimbanet.com

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