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2009 Needs Assessment Findings

2009 Needs Assessment: Report on Findings
Fairfax Area Disability Services Board
April 2009

Fairfax Area Disability Services Board

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board has 15 representatives, all appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The board represents and advocates for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area, and its monthly meetings are open to the public. More information about the board can be found at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dsb.

The board’s mission is to include people with disabilities into community life by identifying, communicating, and advocating their diverse abilities and needs to state and local governments and the private sector, and to provide resources to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.

Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Members

Ann Pimley, Chair	Sully District
Michelle (Cookie) Hymer Blitz, Vice-Chair	Hunter Mill District
Marianne Floyd, Secretary	Providence District
Tapan Banerjee	Dranesville District
Keysha Blakely	Springfield District
Jacqueline Browne	Mason District
Thomas Choman	City of Fairfax
Joy Koeppen	Braddock District
Linda Collins	At-Large
Judy Corn	At-Large
Kelly Greenwood	At-Large
Barbara Lawrence	Lee District
Georgia Rangel	Mount Vernon District
Anne Rohall	City of Falls Church

For more information about this report, e-mail the Department of Family Services’ Fairfax County Disability Services Planning and Development, or call 703-324-5421, 703-449-1186 (TTY).

To request this information in an alternate format, call Fairfax County Disability Services Planning and Development, 703-324-5421, 703-449-1186 (TTY).

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Fairfax Area Disability Services Board
2009 Needs Assessment: Report on Findings: Executive Summary

Every three years, the Fairfax Area Disability Services Board conducts a needs assessment for individuals with disabilities residing in the Fairfax area. The needs assessment determines which services need funding, resources, and improvements to maximize the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area. The board prioritizes its goals and initiatives based on the needs assessment’s findings.

Additionally, the board uses the needs assessment to advise elected officials and state and local agencies that serve individuals with disabilities of the unmet needs of people with disabilities.

The 2009 Needs Assessment survey was distributed through local disability organizations, Fairfax County agencies, Fairfax County Public Schools, Disability Services e-News, the Golden Gazette, and at public outreach events from October 27, 2008 to February 2, 2009.

Characteristics of Respondents: The needs assessment generated 371 responses. The majority of responses were received from people ages 22 and under (31 percent) and 51-65 (29 percent). Most people who responded have a physical and/or sensory disability (69 percent), and more than half of the respondents have had their disability less than 20 years (52 percent). Approximately 33 percent of the respondents work part or full time, and 29 percent of responses were from students. Approximately 41 percent of respondents own homes, 38 percent live with their parents, family members, roommates, or significant others, and 15 percent rent a home.

Most Important Services: The needs assessment requested respondents to select the five services that are the most important for them to live independently and for maintain a high quality of life.

Ranking	Service	Percentage
1	Transportation (Affordable and accessible public or private transportation).	53%
2	Case Management (A person or agency to help you access and coordinate all available services)	51%
3	Assistive Technology (Services, devices, home or workplace modifications such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, audible devices, accessible software, switches, signalers, TTYs, Braille materials, scooters, walkers, ramps, computers, etc).	46%
4	Medical/Therapeutic Assistance (Accessible and affordable medical services, dental services, physical and occupational therapy, medical insurance, etc.).	38%
5	Employment (Job search and placement, job preparation, on-the-job training, work site adaptations, job coaching)	37%

Top Barriers: The needs assessment survey required respondents to identify the top three barriers in accessing services.

Ranking	Barrier	Percentage
1	I need information/referral regarding services	62%
2	Other barrier identified	39%
3	The service are too expensive	35%

I. Introduction

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board, established on November 1, 1992, is composed of 15 representatives appointed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The disability board represents and advocates for individuals with disabilities in the Fairfax area.

The board’s purpose is to:

Inform and educate to ensure that persons with disabilities can participate to the fullest extent possible.
Advisethe elective bodies of Fairfax County and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax of important issues for persons with disabilities, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Assess local needs and services. Provide input to state and local agencies on service needs and priorities of persons with disabilities.
Serve as a catalyst for public and private funding for needed services.
Monitor compliance with federal, state, and local laws regarding disabilities.
Develop and support linkages between services to improve the coordination of services for persons with disabilities.
Advocate for the rights of persons with disabilities.

The Fairfax Area

According to the United States Census, 11 percent of Fairfax area residents have a disability. The Fairfax area consists of Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church.Fairfax County is the largest and most populous jurisdiction in Virginia, with a population of over 1 million people. Over 20,970 residents live in the City of Fairfax and approximately 10,948 residents live in the City of Falls Church.

The county has grown more diverse over time—about 68 percent of the current population is White; African-Americans make up 9.5 percent of the population; Asians and Pacific Islanders compose 16 percent of the population; and 13 percent of the population is Hispanic. About one-third of Fairfax County residents speak a language other than English at home.

II. Purpose of the Needs Assessment

Every three years, the board conducts a needs assessment for individuals with disabilities living in the Fairfax area. The needs assessment determines which services need funding, resources, and improvements to maximize the independence and quality of life for people with disabilities in the Fairfax area. The board prioritizes their goals and projects based on the needs assessment’s results.

Also, the board uses the needs assessment to advise elected officials, as well as state and local agencies serving persons with disabilities of the unmet needs of people with disabilities.

III. Methodology

The board’s Assessment and Evaluation Committee developed a comprehensive survey for the 2009 needs assessment consisting of 14 service areas, including transportation, employment, housing, and emergency preparedness.

The needs assessment was created with SurveyMonkey, a Web-based program meeting Section 508 compliance, a federal law outlining standards for online information and services accessible to users with disabilities. For people who did not have access to a computer, paper copies were distributed upon request. Alternate formats of the survey were provided upon request. In addition, Disability Services Planning and Development staff members were available to conduct surveys via telephone.

In October 2008, the survey was disseminated throughout the Fairfax area, including local organizations that serve people with disabilities, all county agencies, Fairfax County Public Schools, the Disability Services Planning and Development mailing list, and regular announcements in Disability Services’ e-News. The information was also distributed at public outreach events during the winter.

The needs assessment survey required respondents to indicate whether or not their needs were being met in 14 service areas including case management, housing, and transportation. Respondents who identified an unmet need were asked to specify the reason(s) for their unmet need. They were also asked to identify the five most important services for living independently and maintaining a high quality of life and the top three barriers to accessing the services they need to live independently.

The needs assessment survey obtained demographic data that provides insight into needs of county residents with disabilities, as well as more information about their living situation, employment status, age, and nature of their disability. The information is useful to the board, local organizations serving people with disabilities, elected officials, and county staff.

IV. Analysis

Demographics

The needs assessment requested respondents to provide demographic information, including the following:

Area that the person lives
Zip code of home address
Current living situation
Employment status
Age
Nature of disability
How many years has the person had a disability

A. Respondents were asked to identify where they live in the Fairfax Area. 91 percent of those surveyed live in Fairfax County, 5 percent reside in Fairfax City, and 4 percent live in the City of Falls Church.

B. Respondents were requested to provide their zip code for numerous reasons. By filtering zip codes by geographic area, it is possible to indentify the needs and barriers in specific areas of the Fairfax area (e.g. south county, western Fairfax). Furthermore, zip codes enable filtering by supervisory district. Therefore, each Fairfax County Supervisor is able to see the priority areas and specific needs within his/her district.

The needs assessment survey had a well-rounded response rate from each of the supervisory districts. The outliers for supervisory districts is the Braddock District, which had a significantly higher response rate than the other 10 districts, and the cities of Falls Church and Fairfax that had significantly less responses.

C. Current Living Situation

The majority of respondents owns their homes (38 percent) or lives with a parent, relative, friend, or significant other (37 percent). The rest of the respondents (25 percent) rent, live in a group home, reside in a nursing home, or have an unidentified living situation.

D. Employment status

Status	Percentage *(Note: Will not add up to 100% because respondents were asked to choose all applicable answers)*
Student	29%
Full time	18%
Part time	15%
Retired	15%
SSDI/SSI and no paid work	13%
Unemployed	8%
Volunteer	2%
Work Incentive Program	0.5%

E. Age

Age	Percentage
0-22	30%
23-35	12%
36-50	15%
51-65	28%
65 and over	15%

F. Nature of the Disability

Type of Disability	Percentage *(Note: Will not add up to 100% because respondents were asked to choose all applicable answers)*
ADD/ADHD	6.5 %
Autism spectrum disorder	15%
Blind or Vision loss	11%
Brain injury	14%
Chronic medical condition	16%
Deaf or Hearing Loss	24%
Learning disability	18%
Physical disability	35%
Speech disability	15%
Other disability	33%

G. How many years has the respondent had their disability?

Number of Years	Percentage
0-10	35%
11-20	17%
21-30	17%
31-40	10%
More than 40	21%

United States Census 2000 Data[1]

The 2000 Census estimates that there are 112,721 people with disabilities, age 5 and older, in the Fairfax area. This total represents 12.4 percent of the population aged 5 and older, a rate of disability that is approximately only two-thirds the rates for Virginia (18.1 percent) and the United States (19.3 percent).

Of all the people age 5 and older with disabilities in this area, 36,039 have physical disabilities and 18, 394 have sensory disabilities, or 3.9 percent and 2 percent respectively. For the population 65 and older, the percent of people with physical and sensory disabilities rises to 21.5 percent and 10.6 percent. The percent of people with physical disabilities in the Fairfax area is less than half the national rate (8.2 percent), and the percent of people with sensory disabilities is slightly greater than half than the national rate (3.6 percent).

People with disabilities, ages 21 through 64, have an employment rate of 70.6 percent in the Fairfax area, or approximately seven-eighths of the 81.2 percent employment rate for people without disabilities in the same age group. Nationally, only 56.6 percent of all people with disabilities are employed, or less than three-quarters the national employment rate for people without disabilities (77.2 percent). However, employment rates among people with physical and sensory disabilities in the Fairfax area are 54.5 percent and 67.8 percent respectively.

The rates for all people age 5 and older in Fairfax living below poverty level are less than half the national rates. But people with disabilities are almost twice more likely to live below poverty than people without disabilities: 7.8 percent versus 4.1 percent locally and 17.6 percent versus 10.6 percent nationally. The highest rate in the Fairfax area of people living below poverty level is among persons 21 to 64 years old with disabilities, 8.5 percent (or almost two and a half times greater than for their peers without disabilities). Nationally, 16.2 percent of people without disabilities between the ages of 5 and 20 live below poverty level, while 24.1 percent of people with disabilities in the same age group do so. By comparison, only 5.6 percent of people without disabilities between the ages of 5 and 20 and 7.3 percent of the same age group with disabilities live below poverty level in the Fairfax-Falls Church area.

V. Service Area Needs for Fairfax County

Assistive Technology

Survey findings

Assistive technology consists of services, devices, or home or workplace modifications including wheelchairs, hearing aides, audible devices, accessible software, switches, signals, TTYs, interpreters, Braille materials, scooters, walkers and ramps. Of the 61 percent of respondents who use or need assistive technology services, 41 percent have an unmet need.

People indicated the following reasons for their unmet need:

Difficulty accessing (56 percent)
Affordability (19 percent)
More information or a referral is needed (17 percent)
Ineligibility (5 percent)
Waiting list (3 percent)

35 percent of survey respondents in the age group of 22 and under indicated that they have an unmet need for assistive technology. In comparison, 9 percent of respondents ages 65 and over have an unmet need for assistive technology.

Implications

Assistive technology is too difficult to access and afford in the Fairfax area. The state and county must develop programs to help people obtain these services, as well as provide resources for those who cannot afford assistive technology. Additionally, local organizations such as FREE of Northern Virginia, which provides assistive technology donations to those in need, and the NewWell Fund that provides low-interest loans to obtain assistive technology, should be publicized to interested individuals.

Moreover, because the majority of respondents with an unmet assistive technology need are 22 and under (35 percent), the board recommends that more assistive technology resources be placed in the Fairfax County Public Schools.

Case Management

Survey findings

Case management is services that help individuals access and coordinate available services. Overall, of the 56 percent of respondents who use or need case management, 45 percent have an unmet need.

Among the reasons for the unmet need include the following:

38 percent of respondents have difficulty accessing case management services
33 percent of respondents need more information or a referral for case management
15 percent of respondents do not meet the eligibility requirements for case management
6 percent of respondents have lost case management due to state budget cuts
4 percent of respondents are on a waiting list for case management

Implications

The county and state should work together to improve access and information for case management services. Additionally, more state funding is required in order to meet the demand so that the waitlist for services can be eliminated. Also eligibility requirements should be examined in order to ensure that they are not excluding people who may need services

Communication Access

Survey findings

Communication access is the removal of communication barriers through the use of interpreter services, auxiliary aids, descriptive services, readers/scribes, accessible software, and alternative formats. Of the 56 percent of survey respondents who use or need communication access services, 55 percent have an unmet need for the services.

Among reasons for the unmet need include the following:

38 percent of respondents need more information
31 percent of respondents need an accommodation like an interpreter for events and medical appointments
19 percent of respondents have difficulty obtaining communication access services
12 percent of respondents are ineligible for communication access services

Implications

The county should develop publications and outreach materials on how to obtain communication access services available to Fairfax area residents. The county must also educate the individuals with disabilities on their right to reasonable accommodations, including interpreters. Additionally, the board and Disability Services Planning and Development should partner with Fairfax County Public Library’s Access Services to promote communication access services throughout the county

Counseling

Survey findings

Counseling services are provided by social workers, therapists, or rehabilitation counselors. Of the 50 percent of respondents who use or need counseling services, 42 percent have an unmet need.

Among reasons for the unmet need include the following:

43 percent have difficulty accessing counseling services
22 percent need information about services available
14 percent have insurance that does not cover counseling
8 percent cannot afford the service
8 percent are on a waiting list for services
3 percent need an accommodation like an interpreter
2 percent are ineligible for counseling services from the state or locality

Implications

Disability Services Planning and Development can provide resources for the board Web site and at public outreach events on counseling services. On the state level, agencies working with people with disabilities should examine alternate options for people to obtain counseling services who lack adequate insurance coverage

Education

Survey findings

Education addresses the needs of children and youth with disabilities in the education system from early intervention through high school (up to age 22), as well as the transition services to a work or higher education setting. 15 percent of respondents indicated an unmet need for education services.

Among the reasons for the unmet need include the following:

38 percent indicate program improvement is needed (more resources, stronger curriculum)
17 percent indicate better transition services are needed
14 percent indicate personnel shortages
10 percent indicate ineligibility for services
7 percent indicate better technology is needed
4 percent are wait listed

Implications

Disability Services Planning and Development should continue to collaborate with the Fairfax County Long Term Care Coordinating Council Young Adults with Disabilities Committee for ways to improve transition services. The Fairfax County Public Schools must ensure that their special educators are well-prepared and qualified and that the schools offer comprehensive transitions resources.

Emergency Preparedness

Survey findings

Emergency preparedness addresses the needs of persons with disabilities during emergencies, through services such as voluntary registries for people with medical needs or organizations representing people with social needs. 21 percent of respondents have an unmet need for emergency preparedness services.

Among the reasons for the unmet need include the following:

79 percent need information about emergency preparedness services available
12 percent need transportation in emergency situations
9 percent need accommodations such as captions

Implications

The board should collaborate with the Fairfax County Office of Emergency Management to promote emergency preparedness information to residents with disabilities. Also, the board and Disability Services Planning and Development should continue to encourage enrollment in the county’s Special Needs Registry.

Employment

Survey findings

Employment services include job search and placement, job preparation, on-the-job training, work site adaptations, and job coaching. Of the 37 percent of respondents who use employment services, 43 percent have an unmet need in the service area.

Among the reasons for the unmet need in employment include the following:

32 percent need help finding a job
12 percent need information about what services/programs are available
12 percent need more training
12 percent need accommodations in the workplace
9 percent are ineligible for employment services
6 percent indicate there is a lack of program funding
6 percent allege discrimination in the workplace
5 percent are waitlisted for employment services
3 percent were laid-off
3 percent do not receive benefits at their current job

Implications

The board should partner with local organizations and businesses to promote employment of people with disabilities. Disability Services Planning and Development can create resources for job training and finding employment for people with disabilities. Disability Services Planning and Development will continue to support the Fairfax County Disability Awareness and Action Network, a group made up of Fairfax County employees with and without disabilities committed to improving and achieving an accessible work environment for current and future employees with disabilities

Family Support

Survey findings

Family support consists of assistance to family members, family counseling, support groups, and respite programs. Of the 50 percent of respondents who use family support services, 43 percent indicated an unmet need.

Among the reasons for the unmet need in family support services include the following:

43 percent need more information about family support services
14 percent need help locating respite programs
14 percent cannot find support groups
7 percent experience family strife
5 percent need long-term care
5 percent experience language barriers in accessing services
8 percent cannot afford family support services
2 percent are ineligible for services
2 percent mention there are no support services in their area

Implications

Disability Services Planning and Development can provide publications/outreach materials that promote local respite services and support groups on the board Web site and at public outreach events. Also, Disability Services Planning and Development can work with disAbility Navigator to ensure that family support resources are placed on the Web site.

Housing

Survey findings

This service area supports the need for affordable, accessible housing. Of the 42 percent of respondents who use housing services, 47 percent indicated an unmet need for accessible, affordable housing.

Among the reasons for the unmet need include the following:

32 percent indicate there is a lack of supply of accessible, affordable housing
30 percent are waitlisted for housing
14 percent cannot afford housing
15 percent need information about housing programs
7 percent are ineligible for housing
2 percent believe there is not enough funding available to support housing programs

Implications

The board should continue to partner with county agencies and local stakeholders to promote and increase the supply of accessible, affordable housing. Also, the board should promote universal design and visitability in the community. Disability Services Planning and Development should continue to disseminate information to residents about housing assistance programs, home modifications, fair housing, and reasonable accommodations.

Independent Living

Survey findings

Independent living consists of training and services, including advocacy, peer counseling, and community education to allow maximum self-sufficiency. Of the 41.5 percent of survey respondents who use independent living services, 38 percent indicated an unmet need.

Among the reasons for an unmet need include the following:

44 percent indicate that program improvement (i.e. training, daily living skills, life coaching, lower staff to client rations) is needed
41 percent express they need more information about independent living services
6 percent mention there is a lack of funding for these programs
3 percent are waitlisted
3 percent have difficulty accessing these services
3 percent are ineligible

Implications

The board should continue to promote and collaborate with the local independence center of living, the Endependence Center of Northern Virginia and inform the public about the center’s services. Also, the board and Disability Services Planning and Development should continue to work with disAbility Navigator to develop a database of trained, reliable service providers

Medical/ Therapeutic Services

Survey findings

Medical and therapeutic services are accessible and affordable medical services, dental services, physical and occupational therapy, and medical insurance. Of the 62 percent of respondents who use medical and therapeutic services, 45 percent have an unmet need.

Among the unmet needs include:

40 percent indicate their insurance does not cover their medical/therapeutic services
15 percent need more information
15 percent experience difficulty affording their medical/therapeutic expenses
12 percent need accommodations (i.e. sign language interpreters, accessible medical facilities, accessible parking)
5 percent are ineligible for medical/therapeutic services
5 percent need transportation to appointments
4 percent need more information
2 percent are waitlisted
2 percent indicate there is a lack of funding for medical/therapeutic services

Implications

The board may decide to advocate for the state to pass legislation providing affordable health care coverage. The board should also educate health care providers on their responsibility to provide accommodations to their patients.

Personal Assistance

Personal assistance services help with activities of daily living, including bathing, communicating, cooking, dressing, eating, housekeeping, planning a monthly budget, paying monthly expenses, shopping, traveling to appointments, toileting, transferring out of bed, and assisting with reading and writing. Of the 42.5 percent of respondents who use personal assistance services, 39 percent have an unmet need.

Among the unmet needs are:

19 percent need transportation for errands and appointments
19 percent need help with daily living tasks
12 percent are ineligible for services
12 percent need more information
12 percent have service providers who are unreliable
8 percent believe services are too expensive
8 percent experience high staff turnover
8 percent say these programs are underfunded
4 percent explain that their insurance does not cover services

Training

Survey findings

Training consists of programs that prepare individuals, including people with disabilities, to be service providers, including educators, skilled medical practitioners, interpreters, in-home caregivers, or rehabilitation engineers, as well as jobs that require skills training. Of the 35.5 percent of respondents who use training services, 34 percent indicate an unmet need.

Among the unmet needs include:

42 percent indicate there needs to be improvement to the content of training courses offered
26 percent need more information or a referral about the services
11 percent need accommodations
11 percent are ineligible for training services
10 percent indicate there is not enough funding to adequately sustain the programs

Implications

The board could reach out to training providers to encourage them to develop training curriculums that are appealing and comprehensive for people with disabilities. Disability Services Planning and Development can develop list of training programs available and post it on the board Web site. Also, the board can educate training providers on their obligations to provide reasonable accommodations to people with disabilities.

Transportation

Survey findings

Transportation services consist of affordable and accessible public or private transportation options in the Fairfax area. Of the 56.5 percent of respondents who use transportation, 39 percent indicated an unmet need in the service.

Specific reasons for the unmet need include:

17 percent indicate transportation (Fastran, MetroAccess, taxis) is unaffordable
13 percent are ineligible for paratransit
11 percent cannot access transportation in their neighborhood
11 percent want more information about transportation options
11 percent want more transportation options
11 percent believe that the service hours are too limited
9 percent mention that accessibility is an issue on public transit
7 percent need a personal care attendant to travel with them
4 percent believe service is unreliable
4 percent have problems with MetroAccess
2 percent have been denied service because of their service animal

Implications

Because fixed-route transportation options may be more affordable than paratransit, the board and county agencies should educate and encourage customers with disabilities to use fixed-route transit whenever possible. Also, the board recommends that customers with disabilities participate in travel training if they need to gain familiarity about using public transit. The board and Disability Services Planning and Development will continue to work with the Fairfax County Department of Transportation, the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments to ensure that transportation options for people with disabilities in the Washington, D.C. area are accessible and affordable.

F. Implications for Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Action

Partner with local elected officials, disability advocacy groups, and county and city agencies to improve services and access for Fairfax area residents with disabilities.
Advocate for policies and legislation that enhance and expand opportunities for people with disabilities.
Work with local elected officials, other advocacy groups, and county and city agencies to improve disability awareness and sensitivity.
Monitor the county's compliance and adherence to the spirit of the Americans with Disabilities Act and bring any violations to the attention of county elected officials.
Sustain services and programs for all people with disabilities at all income levels.

G. Fairfax Area Disability Services Board Web site Visits

The board Web site (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dsb) is extensive and contains all print publications available. In 2008, there were 74,941 visits to the board Web site. The average visitor spent 3 minutes and 19 seconds on the Web site. In comparison, in 2005, there were 30,045 visits. In 2005, the average visitor spent 3 minutes and 44 seconds.

People are using the Web more to access information. During a three-year period, the amount of Web site visits more than doubled. Also, the time that visitors spend on the board Web site has decreased, which indicated that people can access and obtain the information they need quicker and more efficiently.

It is recommended that the board continue to post relevant information on the Web site. Residents are using the Web regularly and it is beneficial to have information that can be accessed 24/7, as opposed to relying on contacting county staff during office hours.Appendix C lists the most frequently visited pages on the Web site during the 2008 calendar year.

Appendix A

Fairfax Area Disability Services Board
2009 Needs Assessment

The Fairfax Area Disability Services Board (FA-DSB) conducts a needs assessment survey every three years regarding Fairfax Area residents with physical or sensory disabilities. The FA-DSB will use this survey to help determine which service areas are in need of funding, resources, and improvements for programmatic issues so that the independence and quality of life of people with disabilities in Fairfax County and the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church are maximized.

If you have a physical or sensory disability, have a family member with a physical or sensory disability, or serve persons with physical or sensory disabilities, please fill out the following survey.

Regardless of whether or not the survey is filled out by the person with a disability or by a family member or provider, the information provided should only reflect the personal needs of the individual in question, not the perspective of the family member or provider.

Surveys can be submitted until February 2, 2009.

Alternate formats will be provided upon request. For more information, to request an alternate format, or for assistance completing the survey, contact the Department of Family Services’ Disability Services Planning and Development unit at 703-324-5874 TTY 703-449-1186, or email disabilityservices@fairfaxcounty.gov. Please allow one week to process your request.

Please mail completed surveys to:

Jill Clark
Disability Services Planning and Development
Fairfax County--Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Parkway, Suite 708
Fairfax, VA 22035-1104

I. Section I Instructions

The first section is designed to assess the needs of Fairfax County residents with disabilities in the following areas:

Assistive Technology
Case Management Services
Communication Access Services
Counseling Services
Education
Emergency Preparedness
Employment Services
Family Support Services
Housing Services
Independent Living Services
Medical/Therapeutic Services
Personal Assistance Services
Training Services
Transportation Services

Section I: Tell us about your personal need for the service areas listed.

1. Assistive Technology.

(Services, devices, home or workplace modifications such as wheelchairs, hearing aids, audible devices, accessible software, switches, signalers, TTYs, Braille materials, scooters, walkers, ramps, computers, etc.)