4-24-2026 2:37am

Community Profile: Disability Resource Center

John Williams Editor

Photo by Disability Resource Center

Photo courtesy of Disability Resource Center

Back on 1-27-2026 Dr. Shellie Bowman from Public Agenda and I conducted a podcast with Seth Whitten, Deputy Director of The Disability Resource Center in Fredericksburg, Virginia about disability rights issues. In this podcast, he talked about the work that Disability Resource Center does for the people of the Fredericksburg Spotsylvania region. https://youtu.be/VulO9oc1E50?si=MnbNW_nds9lRFBCy

Speaking several weeks later with Seth, I was able to further examine the history, purpose, and services Disability Resource Center provides.

The Center located is at 409 Progress Street in Fredericksburg. They also have a second location at 1503 Princess Anne Street which houses The Equipment Connection where you can pick up or donate wheelchairs, walkers, canes, etc to be used by the Disabled community.

Seth shared with me that the Disability Resource Center, has been active since 1992. The website goes on to say DRC was incorporated as a Center for Independent Living in 1993. The Centers for Independent Living were created to be run by and for people with disabilities, and offer support, advocacy, and information to empower people in reaching their goals of independence.

Seth pointed out that DRC’s founder and first Executive Director was Faith Smith who, because of her disability, saw a need, along with others, for a Center for Independent Living in the Fredericksburg/Rappahannock region. Smith, who suffered a spinal cord injury in 1991, wanted a central place where people with disabilities could find answers to their questions and where “someone didn’t tell a person with a disability what to do.” (Disability Resource Center’s Website).

Photo courtesy of Disability Resource Center

Key Services Provided By The Disability Resource Center

Independent Living Skills Training: Teaches skills for daily living, including self-esteem, financial management, and housing.
Advocacy: Helps individuals understand their rights and advocate at local, state, and federal levels.
Peer Counseling: Connects individuals with others who have similar experiences for support.
Information & Referral: Connects people with disability-related resources and services.
Youth Transition Services: Prepares young people (ages 14-24) for life after high school through programs like Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS).
Equipment Connection: A reuse program for new and gently used durable medical equipment.
Support Groups: Hosts groups for various needs, such as young adults (SOLE GROUP) and those with hearing loss (Hearing Loss of America).
Nursing Home Transition: Assists individuals in moving from institutions back into the community.

Service Area

Fredericksburg City, Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties.

One of the most exciting projects DRC has going on right now is

Home Accessibility: Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants & Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP)

The disAbility Resource Center offers home accessibility services through multiple programs, including Virginia Housing Accessibility Grants and the Older Adult Home Modification Program (OAHMP).

These programs help individuals with disabilities and older adults live safely and independently in their homes by funding essential accessibility improvements.

Through these programs, eligible participants may receive free or low-cost home safety modifications such as grab bars, handrails, improved lighting, and other accessibility upgrades.

The OAHMP program specifically serves adults age 62 and older with incomes at or below 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Each participant receives a home safety assessment by a licensed Occupational Therapist (OT) to identify fall risks and recommend modifications that make daily activities easier and safer. OAHMP Grants are available to residents of Caroline, Culpeper, King George, Madison, Orange, Rappahannock, Spotsylvania, and Stafford Counties
(www.cildrc.org)