What is the New Voices Committee?

Through a grant awarded in 2003 to the Partnership for People with Disabilities by the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, a New Voices Committee was formed. Ten self-advocates from across the state participated on the committee. As members of the committee, we planned events and examined ways that self-advocates can address some of the critical issues important to people with disabilities in Virginia.

In 2005, we, as New Voice members were featured in the Our Lives, Our Voices Video sharing our unique perspective on living with a disability and obtaining the necessary supports. This video is a powerful, touching, and informative 20 minute production.

The video is designed for personal or group use to educate citizens on the issues impacting individuals with disabilities in their communities. It can also be used in workshops and classes. To order a copy of the New Voices video (in DVD or VHS format) click on the link to the left for an order form. In October 2005, the committee also held a conference entitled Our Lives, Our Voices! with 175 stakeholders, including individuals with disabilities, family members, providers, agency representatives, and legislators in attendance. The conference included general sessions addressing the importance and value of the voices and experiences of individuals with disabilities, and workshop sessions featuring topics identified by the New Voices Committee as central to the lives of individuals with disabilities.

 

You can view the conference proceedings and pictures by clicking on the links to the left. Please note that due to graphics, the download may take a few minutes.

In 2006, we will hold focus groups and community awareness events. For more information on these events, please go to the Upcoming Events page.