My Fellowship

My name is Melissa Southall. I work as the Self-Advocate Coordinator for People First of West Virginia at the Arc of the Mid-Ohio valley.  I discovered SARTAC while researching the lack of available public transportation for individuals with disabilities in rural West Virginia. SARTAC stands for Self Advocacy Resource and Technical Assistance Center. They offer fellowships across the country to individuals with disabilities who are looking to make a change in their states. My fellowship focuses on overcoming transportation barriers for people living with physical and developmental disabilities in our state. This focus has led me to create the CIT group which is made up of local nonprofit leaders who have also recognized this gap in our community. Together we are working to expand transportation resources throughout the state using local and state influences .