Independence Empowerment Center

With only four months under my belt, I can still get away with calling myself the new kid on the block, but I don’t know how long I will be able to do that! I have been making my way around our service area, and to places like Richmond and Winchester, and have even made a trip or two up to Washington, DC and to Maryland. I’ve met a lot of people including the consumers who drop in, local business, non-profit and chamber people and local politicians. I was fortunate enough to meet and exchange words withour now departed, Delegate Harry Parrish. (What a beautiful and kind man he was.) I have a lot to learn, however, so I think I’ll still be safe calling myself a new Director until November rolls around and I have my first anniversary.

The atmosphere at our Center is ever-changing. Connie Sampson left for North Carolina, and I have hired two more people, Mary Mannhardt and Stephanie George. Each introduce themselves elsewhere in this newsletter. We continue to work to expand our Community Action Group. This is the group that rolls up its sleeves and tackles disability issues in the community. They are working on transportation issues for people with all disabilities and are working on better communication between Deaf or Hard of Hearing persons and police officers. There are more than these two issues to be concerned with, but we need larger numbers to show their passion on behalf of their concerns and to help get more balls rolling with our Community Action Group. IEC is a consumer driven organization, but it is clear we need some more consumers to come out and do more of the driving! Stephanie George assists Roberta McEachern with the Community Action program so call her to join.

Good news here at the Center. We have done a lot to address accessibility issues at our office. We have always had computers for consumers to use for their own research into housing, vocational and transportation needs; now our equipment is better equipped for people who are either Deaf or Hard of Hearing or who are Visually Impaired or Blind. These changes were not made for us, but for you.

Another new thing we have started is our library. We will slowly, but surely, build upon the 15 or so books we have just acquired so that our consumers will be able to learn about the disability community of which we are all a part. You will be able to check these books out for three weeks at a time. Call us if you will need your books sent by mail.

Finally, we are also starting sign language classes. Please look for more information about them later in this newsletter. So, new or not, and knowing everything about all of the workings of our service area or not, there is still plenty to do and plenty to get started on already. Call me if you want to discuss any of your own idea. (703) 257-5400 v/tty.

From Spring 2006 Newsletter

by Mary D. Lopez, Ph.D.