Independence Empowerment Center

Livable communities work for everyone, regardless of age or ability - they offer affordable and appropriate housing, supportive community features and services, and adequate options for transportation.  Livable communities foster personal independence and offer a variety of employment opportunities for all who want to work.  They engage residents in civic and social life.

How do we make our communities more livable?  Good community planning and sound public policy lay the foundation for a livable community.  The policies and goals of the community need to be stated in a way that encourages commercial and government organizations to consider the needs of people with disabilities and our aging population, groups who may have been left out of the planning process in the past.  Starting with the comprehensive plan, we need to ensure that:

• appropriate and affordable housing choices are promoted
• a variety of mobility options are provided
• Civic economic and social life is accessible
• and the marketplace addresses the needs of elders and people with disabilities

We need to enable all citizens to be involved in community and civic life - that is the keystone of our democratic society.

Next, we take a look at housing, transportation and community services.  We, as advocates for ourselves and for others with disabilities, need to push the private sector to provide products and services that meet our needs.  We represent a sizable segment of the economy, but we will not produce a response from private enterprise unless we make our wishes clear to them.  Home builders, for example, need to know that we expect choice, affordability, and accessibility.  Transportation officials need to be made aware that systems in our area currently do not meet the needs of people who do not drive, and that we need options.  While the Americans with Disabilities Act requires that our public buildings be accessible, many of them still are not.

July 1, 2008 is the date Virginia requires that local comprehensive plans take into account the needs of our aging population and people with disabilities.  HB2407 says:

“The comprehensive plan shall be made with the purpose of guiding and accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted and harmonious development of the territory which will, in accordance with present and probable future needs and resources, best promote the health, safety, morals, order, convenience, prosperity and general welfare of the inhabitants, including the elderly and persons with disabilities.

It is up to us to ensure that community planners hear our voices!

From Spring 2008 Newsletter
Volume 3, Issue 2