Independence Empowerment Center

Roberta first came to IEC as a volunteer, while attending school to become a medical assistant. On the last day of her externship she was offered a part-time job at IEC as an office assistant. She quickly moved to full-time as she was promoted to the Community Action position. From that position she learned, from hands on experience, about advocacy, The American’s with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Independent Living history. She then moved into the position of Service Facilitator where she was able to meet people face-to-face and worked hard to get the services they so badly needed. Currently, she holds both the position of the Community Action Specialist and an EDCD PAS Facilitator. Her time is split between visiting consumers to make sure they are receiving the proper amounts and kinds of care needed in their own homes and working with groups of people interested in making positive changes for people with disabilities in Virginia.

Her Community Action position has her now working on a five-week course on Legislative Advocacy Training where she will train a committed group of advocates about the ADA, how to work with legislators, independent living history and much, much more.

Though her focus is primarily the Community Action position followed by her work on the EDCD PAS program, working in a small office, everyone is asked to pitch in on other projects. Roberta also writes for our quarterly newsletter, takes her turn for outreach projects such as at fairs, conferences and Chamber events, and does so many other things that we wouldn’t have the time or space to mention!

Finally, she says as a mother of a child with a disability, IEC has been a great platform for her to fight for her daughter’s rights as well as the rights of others. She will proudly work for the rights of the disabled community, even if that means going to Richmond, to Washington, DC or to the moon!

Email address: rmceachern@ieccil.org