Disability Rights WV

drofwv.org/apply-for-our-… Disability Rights of West Virginia (DRWV) is accepting applications for its Board of Directors with terms beginning October 1, 2026. The deadline to apply is July 31, 2026. Follow the link to learn more and how to apply.

drofwv.org/news/how-emplo… Recognizing and addressing these obstacles clearly helps employers and communities focus on what must change to make work genuinely reachable. Follow the link to read the article by Ed Carter.

@ameliaknisely @stevenadamswv Director’s compensation is roughly equal to the annual cost of detaining (unlawfully) a person with a developmental disability at a state psychiatric hospital 🤷‍♂️

The newly appointed director of a new center at WVU focused on “classical Western history and culture and American constitutional thought” will be paid more than $300K, @stevenadamswv reports. wvnews.com/news/wvnews/ne…?

WV did a study and prepared an analysis of this matter five years ago. No corrective action has been taken. dhhr.wv.gov/bph/about/Docu…

@ameliaknisely Did the Department of Health Facilities’ attorneys fail to do basic Law 101 due diligence?

New: Gov. Morrisey’s sale of state-run hospital in Beckley prompts concerns about inmates who live on a floor there westvirginiawatch.com/2025/10/08/mor…

“ Michael Folio, the legal director of Disability Rights of West Virginia, who advocates for kids and adults in the state system, said new DoHS Secretary Alex Mayer gets an A-plus for transparency.” wchstv.com/news/local/doh…

Lie… misrepresentations… mystifying… charade… deceived… knowingly violated this Court’s order… false statements… pattern… falsehoods… chaos… duplicity Judge Johnston’s words. Shocking! Appalling! @mccuskeyforwv @MorriseyWV

@ameliaknisely This could be easily addressed in the purchase agreement or by the Legislature.

Couldn't fit this in the story but we will lose some oversight of these hospitals once they become private; DHF secretary will no longer come before lawmakers to speak on issues, like a patient death. However, Sen. Tarr told me they'll be under stricter regs as private business.

@MorriseyWV This is certainly an issue to explore! Question … Private sector generally refuses to accept persons who are elderly with disabilities and under a court’s jurisdiction. Where do you propose such persons be placed?

We notched another huge victory in our effort to repurpose government this week. Government should focus uniquely on governmental things and the private sector should focus on things the private sector should handle. Health care is a great example of that— the state needed to get out of the long term care management business. The state was bleeding money on these facilities and not doing a great job in this area. Folks only need to google the words “scalding water” and “West Virginia” to understand that fact. Anyone interested in debating this deal can discuss that with us. I dealt with some of these facilities as Attorney General and know this deal will put West Virginia patients in a better place. Selling off the state facilities has been pending for many years because politicians were afraid to act. And some media are simply complicit in retaining the status quo to make money stirring up non-stories. We got this deal done because we focused on what’s best for patients and taxpayers. We don’t have fear when it comes to doing the right thing. And we will never cower to the status quo that has kept West Virginia mired at the bottom of far too many rankings! Every day, we stand in front of legislators, the public, and the media, and take tough questions. West Virginians appreciate that and won’t let the corrupt way of doing things continue. After ten years of talk and fear of acting, we took bold action, and cut a great deal for so many West Virginia patients. Now we move on to the next big deal and moving West Virginia ever higher!!!

@AmyMSummers @ameliaknisely Private sector generally refuses to accept persons who are elderly with disabilities and under a court’s jurisdiction. Where do you propose such persons be placed?

@ameliaknisely I’ve been a proponent of this for 10 yrs because the private sector does this so state gov shouldn’t. Patient acceptance and state employee compensation should be in the deal. More facilities is fantastic. Savings plus the $60m sale price ➡️ roads, PEIA, education, welfare etc.

I am off today but I’ve been following this for the last year + … very interesting development for WV. These facilities have been a financial drain on the state yet privatizing can present challenges if they won’t accept certain patients.

Proof is in the details of the sale. State LTC patients have limited or no resources, no measurable funding stream, and many are wards of the state and under a court’s jurisdiction. A prior state review concluded that private providers will not accept these patients.

@MooreCapitoWV @POTUS Congratulations!

Very grateful to President Trump @POTUS for the honor of being nominated to serve in his historic administration as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of West Virginia. President Trump’s commitment to law and order is making our state safer and stronger.

Disability Rights West Virginia has received the 2025 Advocacy Award for their investigation into Hopemont Hospital. Their work on this case resulted in criminal indictments and is a powerful testament of the critical work P&As. ndrn.org/resource/disab…

.@NFB_voice, NFB of WV & 2 blind grad students – represented by BGL and @drofwv – have filed a federal lawsuit against West Virginia University for its failure to provide equal educational access. The students are seeking accessibility reforms. More here: browngold.com/news/bgl-is-re…

@stevenadamswv @ameliaknisely Yet she’s adamant that transitional facilities won’t help solve the problem of the unknown number of kids locked in hotels. Good grief

@drofwv @ameliaknisely She wasn’t even able to give a grand total.

New: West Virginia lawmakers don’t want foster kids living in hotels and campgrounds, but DoHS pushed back on their plan. ‘I cannot fathom losing my child to a hotel room,’ said bill sponsor Del. Jonathan Pinson, R-Mason. westvirginiawatch.com/2025/03/21/wv-…

Receiving increasing reports that Putnam County Public Schools giving notice to teachers that positions being eliminating WV teachers being RIF’d in one of state’s most prosperous counties 🤦‍♂️

As judge dismisses federal foster care lawsuit, he says responsibility lies with governor and legislators buff.ly/Yg5WswE