The Individual and Family Support Program (IFSP) at DBHDS provides a monthly news digest to highlight resources, events, and trainings that may be of interest to self-advocates with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families. | |
Summer is a busy time for our program, but our Community Coordination Supervisor Rhonda and our Program Manager Heather enjoyed the chance to represent DBHDS at the I'm Determined Youth and Family Summit at JMU on June 11th! The Sip and Chat was a special opportunity for us to meet families, answer questions, and share information about the DD waivers, the Waitlist, and the IFSP. If you attended this event, it was great to meet you!
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We also want to share a special announcement about this newsletter: The IFSP Digest is changing!
Why is the IFSP Digest changing?
At DBHDS, we are committed to improving information access for Virginians with DD and their families. It is important for us to make sure the information we share with you is easy to understand. This will benefit our readers with disabilities, readers who have limited English proficiency, and readers who need information quickly.
What does this mean for IFSP Digest readers?
You can expect to see content written in plain language. We will also try to structure the Digest so dates, important links, and contact information will be more visible!
But don't worry—we'll continue to share the same types of information about events, trainings, and resources that might be helpful or interesting.
When will the IFSP Digest change?
Look for these changes in our next issue for July 2026!
| | Thank you,
The IFSP Staff | | |
If your contact information changes (e.g., your email and/or mailing address), please remember you can contact your CSB and/or Support Coordinator to update it in WaMS! By doing this, you will be able to receive important information about the resources you or someone else are eligible to receive while on the Waitlist.
P.S. Don't forget to update your Choice form at least annually! Updating this form will help you remain active on the Waitlist. Visit My Life, My Community for links to this form, the optional Needed Services form, and instructions!
| | | | Please read our Funding Update for the latest information about the upcoming funding cycle in Fall 2026. | | |
IMPORTANT: Were you approved for IFSP funds that were issued in December 2025? If you were awarded funds during that funding cycle, you must activate/register your card as soon as possible! Failure to activate/register your card may result in your ineligibility for future funding cycles, including the upcoming Fall 2026 cycle. Please read this announcement for information about activating your card or obtaining a replacement.
Reminder: All Funding updates will be sent via this mailing list and posted on our My Life, My Community IFSP-Funding page.
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The IFSP State and Regional Councils | | -
Save the Date: Our next virtual Regional Council information session will take place this evening, Thursday, July 16 from 6 to 8:15 p.m. on Microsoft Teams. We will be learning about safety planning and emergency preparedness! This event will be hosted by our IFSP Eastern Regional Council. As always, it is free and open to anyone interested in attending.
NOTE: Can't make it on such short notice, or have other plans tonight? Please register anyway! If you register, you'll be the first to get the link to the recording as soon as it goes up on YouTube.
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2027 IFSP State and Regional Council Recruitment: Want to be more involved with us next year? Join one of our IFSP Councils! Our Council members are volunteers who help us plan our Regional Council meetings and help DBHDS make information easier to understand. If you are over age 18 and want to share your lived experience, there is a Council role for you!
We'll announce when the application goes live in August. Want to connect with us early? Please email us: IFSPCommunity@dbhds.virginia.gov
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The Arc of Virginia
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Peer Mentoring Program: The Arc of Virginia is seeking people with developmental disabilities who are interested in helping others achieve their goals! Learn more about the program and eligibility requirements at The Arc of Virginia. For questions, email Natasha Cooper at ncooper@thearcofva.org.
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Tech Mentoring Program: Peer Mentors can choose to be certified as Tech Mentors! Tech Mentors specialize in helping to identify everyday technology solutions-smartphones, tablets, apps & home devices — for greater independence at home, at work and in the community. Through this support, Tech Mentors help develop practical digital skills that promote greater self-reliance and inclusion.
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Power Up With Tech! This FREE training series is going strong! It is designed for people with developmental disabilities, families, and professionals. Past topics have included internet basics, cybersecurity, and email basics, and more! The next session takes place next Wednesday, July 22 at 12 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., so you can find a time that works for your schedule. Register here. For questions, please contact Shawn Kirk at skirk@thearcofva.org.
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Family to Family Network of Virginia (F2F Network)
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Family Mentoring Program: Getting support from someone who's been in your shoes can make a difference! Learn how the Family to Family Network of Virginia at the Center for Family Involvement can help.
| | This section of The IFSP Digest features items submitted by our IFSP Regional Councils! We hope the content in this section is inspiring, interesting, or useful. This month's item comes from our Central IFSP Regional Council. | |
29News WVIR
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3D-Printed Wheelchair Changes Learning and Play for Louisa County Pre-K Student: Modern technology such as 3D printing can be used to make a major impact in the lives of people with disabilities. The difference this 3D-printed chair will make in a young child's cognitive, social, and emotional development is enormous. Another reason this chair extra special is because it was a project created by Louisa County Public Schools students and faculty! Watch this local news story and see the chair for yourself.
| | DBHDS Office of Integrated Health Support Network (OIHSN) | |
June 2026 Newsletter Highlights
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The Measles (Rubeola): As of May 15, 2026, the Johns Hopkins U.S. measles tracker reported 35 cases of measles in Virginia—a 600% increase compared to the 5 cases reported in 2025! Measles is a highly transmissible virus that spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs, or sneezes. This virus is dangerous for children and can be severe or deadly to people with disabilities. In this OIHSN newsletter, they explain the two phases of measles symptoms and share facts about measles vaccines.
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OIHSN Trainings
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COVLC Trainings: Provider agencies can access OIHSN trainings on the Commonwealth of Virginia Learning Center (COVLC) at no cost. Trainings are available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week. Downloadable resources and certificates of completion are available with each training.
| | Opportunities, Events, and Resources for Professionals, Self-Advocates, and Families | |
The Partnership for People with Disabilities at VCU
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Just Ask Parent and Provider Resource Line: Got questions about a child's big feelings, developmental milestones, screening and evaluation guidance, child care referrals, or something else? Support is just a call or click away! This new initiative connects families and early childhood professionals with trusted guidance, information, and resources for children 0 to 7. Just Ask is free and available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Reach out by calling 804-628-5124 or emailing justask@vcu.edu. (The project serves Richmond City, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, and Petersburg City.)
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Sensory Disabilities Family Summit: Build your community and find resources at this free summit with the Virginia Educational Hub for Sensory Disabilities! Families of children and youth (birth to 21) who are blind/Vision impaired, Deaf/Hard of Hearing, and DeafBlind are encouraged to attend the summit in the Richmond area on Sunday, August 30 from 12 to 4 p.m. More information will be provided after you register. For questions, please email vadeafblind@vcu.edu.
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The Arc of Virginia
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2026 Statewide Convention: Registration is open for this year's convention in Charlottesville! Join staff, people with disabilities, families like yours, and other advocates from Monday, September 14 through Wednesday, September 16. Register by Wednesday, August 19. Tickets are $175 for people with disabilities and DSPs, $275 for families or chapter members, and $375 for general attendees. A limited number of scholarships are available! You can also book your hotel room at The Virginia Guesthouse and Conference Center on Ivy Road for a discounted rate of $195 per night. Learn more and register at https://www.thearcofva.org/statewide-convention.
| | COVID-19 Information and Resources | | While the IFSP has done our best to share information on COVID-19 resources, this information is not a substitute for medical advice. Stay up to date and visit virginia.gov/coronavirus. | | -
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) provides some easy to read information for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Find them here!
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We understand that finding the information you need is not always easy. Not sure where to begin? Read our IFSP: First Steps guide to learn about the IFSP program at DBHDS and other important resources, supports, and services offered in the Commonwealth of Virginia! Visit mylifemycommunityvirginia.org/ifsp-first-steps, or use your mobile device to scan this QR code. | |
| Thank you for reading the IFSP Digest! | | |
Do you have a program, resource, or event you want to share with individuals with DD and their families? The IFSP might be able to share it in our monthly Digest or on Facebook! Tell us more at IFSPCom@dbhds.virginia.gov.
If you liked the information in this digest, give us a follow on Facebook by clicking the Facebook icon underneath these buttons! To receive updates about events in your community, also follow your regional IFSP Council’s Facebook page. (Not sure which region you're in? Find out on My Life, My Community!)
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