Activists for Va. disabled urge shift in funding

Members of the disabled community today urged Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to redirect $43 million earmarked for renovation of buildings at Central Virginia Training Center in Lynchburg to smaller, community-based group homes.

Virginia is one of the few states that clings to outmoded institutional settings for the intellectually disabled, Heidi Lawyer, executive director of the Virginia Board for People with Disabilities, said. She said Virginia is 46th in its funding for community-based services.

About 250 disabled people and their advocates rallied at the Bell Tower to urge the change in funding.

Gordon Hickey, spokesman for Kaine, said the budget is in the developmental stage and Kaine will look at their proposal.

Del. M. Kirkland Cox, R-Colonial Heights, who addressed the rally, said revenues are so tight that the General Assembly will be able to do little for the disabled community in the 2009 session. But he said the reuse of the capital outlay money might be doable.

-- Tyler Whitley