Home > Advocacy in Action > Join the WVSILC
The West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council is recruiting applicants to fill vacancies on the Council. This is an opportunity for you, or someone you know, to have your voice hear and represent the people of the disability community of West Virginia.
Mountain State Centers for Independent Living is encouraging anyone with the desire and interest to participate in this important process. As a council member you would represent the disability community as decisions are made that impact funding, strategic planning and communication of and for the needs of people with disabilities in West Virginia.
Mountain State Centers for Independent Living strongly believes there is a need for representation for under-served areas of West Virginia. As a council member, your voice will be hear and you will make a difference. We encourage you to apply for membership today.
If you are interested in applying and have questions, please contact Anne Weeks, CEO at Mountain State Centers for Independent Living [aoweeks@mtstcil.org or 304-525-3324] or Brenda Goodfellow, Vice President Programs at Mountain State Centers for Independent Living.
The Council (mandated by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 as amended and the 2001 WV Independent Living Act) monitors, reviews, and evaluates independent living services provided through the State Plan for Independent Living, developed jointly with the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services.
Applications will be reviewed by, and nominees selected by, the Council. Nominees selected will be submitted to the Governor for appointment to the Council. This process can be lengthy and new members are not always appointed before the terms begin in July. We appreciate your patience. If you have questions or need further information or assistance, please feel free to contact me.
The West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (the Council) is a thirty (30) member council with twenty-four (24) voting members appointed by the Governor and six (6) ex-officio, non-voting members representing state agencies and/or providers. A majority of the voting members must be individuals with disabilities who do not work for a center for independent living or any state agency. The Council functions as a partner with the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DRS) to ensure the existence of appropriate planning, financial support and coordination, and other assistance to appropriately address, on a statewide basis, the independent living needs of West Virginians with disabilities.
The Council meets six times per year, usually in Institute, WV. Reimbursement is provided for travel, lodging and other approved reasonable and necessary expenses for attending meetings. A term of appointment is three years and council members may serve two full consecutive terms.
It is the responsibility of each council member to:
The Council supports the participation of its members by ensuring that council meetings and activities are fully accessible and providing accommodations to Council members with disabilities upon request.
Print, complete and return the West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council application by March 14, 2010.
