§18-10M-2 Legislative findings and declarations. - West Virginia Statutes

§18-10M-2. Legislative findings and declarations.
The Legislature hereby finds and declares the following:

(1) The state recognizes the value of independent living services in enabling people with disabilities to live more independently in their own homes and communities.

(2) Persons with disabilities have the best capacity to design, develop, manage and implement the programs and services which are intended to assist them.

(3) The federal rehabilitation act requires this state to develop a state plan for independent living to describe and direct independent living services in West Virginia.

(4) The federal rehabilitation act further calls for the establishment and operation of a statewide independent living council to monitor, review and evaluate the implementation of the state's plan for independent living services.

(5) There are approximately one quarter of a million residents in this state with disabilities who could benefit directly or indirectly from the provision of independent living services by the division of rehabilitation services and the state's centers for independent living.

(6) Twenty-five percent of West Virginia's total population is over fifty-five years of age and thirteen and one-half percent of that population requires assistance with activities of daily living in order to live independently in their own homes.

(7) A need exists for a coordinated network of consumer-controlled centers for independent living that effectively reaches persons with disabilities in all fifty-five counties of the state.