Resources for People with Disabilities and Families

Welcome!

If you are a person with a disability—or a family member of someone—who:

Is currently working in a job that pays less than minimum wage,
Used to work in a job like that but no longer does, or
Is a student age 14 or older who spends part of the school day in a separate classroom from other students,

then the EPIC program may be a good fit for you.

The EPIC Approach, offered by DARS, is designed to support people with disabilities in finding jobs in their community that are fully included with others and pay at least minimum wage.

EPIC District Coordinator in your area:

Capital District: Donna Grumiaux | donna.grumiuax@dars.virginia.gov
Southwest Ingrid Gagnon | ingrid.gagnon@dars.virginia.gov

Resources:

DARS - Virgina Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services

With the goal of sustainable employment, DARS provides vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to individuals with disabilities – from high school students to adults. Through 30 field offices across Virginia, our VR staff offer personalized career planning, skills assessment, job readiness and placement, advocacy and support, job accommodations and assistive technology.

Behind every successful agency, there is a dedicated team of specialists providing essential support. Welcome to the Division of Rehabilitative Services' Employment Services & Special Programs (ESSP). This dynamic team is composed of experts who are the backbone of our operations, ensuring seamless service and exceptional results.

The Team partners with community rehabilitation providers to deliver employment and vocational services throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia. We provide long-term support fund management; standards oversight of Employment Service Organizations (ESOs); and coordination, training, and technical support of special programs such as, Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Autism Services & Customized Employment, Transition & Pre-Employment, Mental Health & Substance Use Disorders, Behavioral Health Services, Individual Placement & Support (IPS) Services, and Older Worker Programs.

The Division of Rehabilitative Services (DRS) works together with students, youth, families, schools and community agencies and organizations to provide services that promote successful transitions from school to work and adult life. DRS offers two sets of services to help students with disabilities move from school to post-school life: pre-employment transition services (Pre-ETS) and vocational rehabilitation (VR) transition services.

Virginia Department of Education IDEA Transition Services

The Virginia Department of Education and the Commonwealth’s public schools work in partnership to support and improve teaching and learning through a variety of programs and activities, promoting the safety and well-being of students and staff.

Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services: Understanding Benefits and Medicaid Waiver

The Medicaid waivers are home and community-based offering supports and services to a Medicaid individual, both children and adults. The waiver services will differ based on individual need and program criteria met. Virginia Medicaid administers Developmental Disability Waivers jointly with the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services. There is a waiting list for these waivers, and the slots are assigned based on urgency of need.

Partnership for People with Disabilities’ (PPD) Center for Family Involvement (CFI)

Provide a family mentoring program that builds on existing family support structures and evidence-based services. A strength of the PPD CFI is authentic, collaborative relationships with LEAs and community-based organizations to achieve the organizational mission of all people having opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in communities throughout the Commonwealth.

Video on Family mentoring