Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities

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The Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities is an advisory and advocacy group that helps formulate solutions to meet the needs of Virginia Beach’s disabled community. The group also provides advice on issues involving compliance with state and national legislation. ​

The committee works to improve the awareness of every person's abilities rather than their disabilities and wants to make Virginia Beach the most accessible city in the U.S. 

For additional information, call the Office of the Mayor at (757) 385-4581.​​​​​​​

​Goals​​

  • Community education - Increasing awareness of disability issues and resources.
  • Legislation - Develop laws and ordinances affecting citizens with disabilities and their rights.
  • Accessibility - Assuring that all facilities and programs are accessible to citizens with disabilities.
  • Employment - Promoting more employment opportunities for citizens with disabilities.
  • Transportation - Acquiring an accessible public transportation system.
  • Economics - Promoting opportunities for economic independence for citizens with disabilities.

Membership

Members are appointed by the mayor. Application forms are available through the Mayor's Office or under "Related Information" on this page. The committee seeks Virginia Beach residents:

  • who have a disability;
  • who have experience working with a person, or persons, with a disability;
  • who are affiliated with organizations that provide services to Virginia Beach residents with a disability; and
  • city employees, in an ex-officio status.

Meetings

The committee meets from 3:45 to 5 p.m. on the third Thursday of each month at Bayside Special Services Library, 936 Independence Blvd. Meetings are open to the public. 

Awards

The Mayor's Committee for Persons with Disabilities presents annual awards to individuals, businesses, and service organizations that have demonstrated a commitment to improving the lives of Virginia Beach residents with disabilities. The nomination form is available through the Mayor's Office and "Related Information" on this page. 

Helpful Agencies

Accessibility in Virginia Beach​​

​​​​​​The city has designated parking spaces throughout the resort area for visitors and residents with disabilities.

Bayside Special Services Library, 936 Independence Blvd., loans materials to people with disabilities, including books in large print or Braille, and audio cassettes as well as the playback equipment on which to play them. Call (757) 385-2684.

Project Civic Access "Cities and Counties: First Steps Toward Solving Common ADA Problems" created by the U.S. Department of Justice, provides key information to businesses and state and local governments about how to create accessible buildings. 

ADA Design Guide for Accessible Parking, also from the U.S. Department of Justice, explains how to create accessible car and van spaces when striping parking lots. For more information, see U.S. Department of Justice - Civil Rights Division. 

City Council has appointed the Commissioner of the Revenue administrator of several tax relief programs for elderly and disabled citizens. Qualified senior citizens and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

For information and numbers of other Human Services in Southeastern Virginia, call (757) 625-4543.

Page Last Updated: November 28, 2022
Contact Information
City Clerk's Office
(757) 385-4303
abarnes@vbgov.com
City Clerk's Website
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