West Virginia Code

(1) According to the two thousand United States Census over four hundred thousand West Virginians have disabilities, which is nearly twenty-four percent of the state's general population;

(2) In order to ensure the full inclusion of people with disabilities into society, it is necessary to expand the public's knowledge, awareness and understanding of the history of disabilities and the disability rights movement;

(3) The disability rights movement is a civil rights movement that is an important part of the history of this state and this country;

(4) October is recognized nationally as Disability Awareness Month; and

(5) By designating the third week of October as Disability History Week, students and the public will have the opportunity to learn about the history and contributions of people with disabilities.

WVC 18 - 10 O- 3 §18-10O-3. Purpose.
The purpose of this article is to increase the awareness and understanding of the history and contributions of people with disabilities in the state, nation and world by designating the annual observance of the third week of October as Disability History Week.

WVC 18 - 10 O- 4 §18-10O-4. Definitions.
As used in this article the following words and phrases have the following meanings:

(a) "Disability history" means the people, events and timelines of the development and evolution of services to, and the civil rights of, people with disabilities. Disability history includes the contributions of specific people with disabilities; and

(b) "Existing school curriculum" means all the courses and curricula currently in place at a public school.

WVC 18 - 10 O- 5 §18-10O-5. Disability History Week designated.
(a) The third week of October annually is designated as Disability History Week for the State of West Virginia.

(b) In recognition of and to further the purposes of Disability History Week, each public school shall provide instruction on disability history, people with disabilities and the disability rights movement. The instruction shall be integrated into the existing school curriculum in a manner such as, but not limited to, supplementing existing lesson plans, holding school assemblies or providing other school activities. The instruction may be delivered by school personnel or by guest speakers.

(c) State institutions of higher education are encouraged to conduct and promote activities that provide education, awareness and understanding of disability history, people with disabilities and the disability rights movement.

(d) The Legislature is encouraged to annually recognize Disability History Week by introducing a concurrent resolution to:

(1) Recognize youth leaders in the disability rights movement;

(2) Reaffirm a commitment to the full inclusion of people with disabilities in society; and

(3) Recognize the disability rights movement as an important part of the history of this state and nation.

(e) Recognized resources for information, materials and speakers regarding disability history, people with disabilities and the disability rights movement include, but are not limited to:

(1) Centers for Independent Living;

(2) The Statewide Independent Living Council;

(3) The Developmental Disabilities Council; and

(4) The State Americans with Disabilities Act Coordinator.

(f) The provisions of this article are not intended to create a burden, financial or otherwise, for public schools, teachers or state institutions of higher education.

Note: WV Code updated with legislation passed through the 2012 1st Special Session

Recent legislation affecting the Code

Citation	Year/Session	Short Title
§18 - 5 - 32 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 80 PASSED - Regular Session SB80 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Including substitute teaching in job duties of certain professional educators employed by county boards
§18 - 2 - 25 A - (New Code)	SENATE BILL - 336 PASSED - Regular Session SB336 SUB2 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to interscholastic athletics concussions and head injuries
§18 - 1 - 4 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 - 23 A - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 24 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 - 32 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 39 - (New Code) §18 - 2 E- 5 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 E- 5 C - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 I- 1 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 I- 2 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 I- 3 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 I- 4 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 I- 5 - (Amended Code) §18 - 2 I- 6 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 I- 7 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 3 - 1 - (Amended Code) §18 - 3 - 9 B - (New Code) §18 - 3 - 12 - (Amended Code) §18 - 5 - 18 - (Amended Code) §18 - 5 - 44 - (Amended Code) §18 - 5 - 45 - (Amended Code) §18 - 5 A- 5 - (Amended Code)	SENATE BILL - 359 PASSED - Regular Session SB359 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating generally to reforming public education
§18 - 7 B- 2 - (Amended Code) §18 - 7 B- 21 - (New Code)	SENATE BILL - 430 PASSED - Regular Session SB430 SUB1 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Defining "employment term" in Teachers' Defined Contribution Retirement System
§18 - 5 - 37 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 5 D- 1 - (New Code) §18 - 5 D- 2 - (New Code) §18 - 5 D- 3 - (New Code) §18 - 5 D- 4 - (New Code)	SENATE BILL - 663 PASSED - Regular Session SB663 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Creating WV Feed to Achieve Act
§18 - 20 - 2 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2470 PASSED - Regular Session HB2470 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to sign support specialist or an educational sign language interpreter in the education of exceptional children
§18 - 9 A- 7 - (Amended Code) §18 - 9 A- 8 A - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2727 PASSED - Regular Session HB2727 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to the school aid formula
§18 - 5 - 22 C - (New Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2729 PASSED - Regular Session hb2729 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Allowing schools to voluntarily maintain and use epinephrine auto-injectors
§18 - 8 - 4 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2764 PASSED - Regular Session HB2764 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to compulsory school attendance
§18 - 7 A- 3 - (Amended Code) §18 - 7 A- 14 - (Amended Code) §18 - 7 A- 14 C - (New Code) §18 - 7 A- 17 - (Amended Code) §18 - 7 A- 23 - (Amended Code) §18 - 7 A- 25 - (Amended Code) §18 - 7 A- 26 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2800 PASSED - Regular Session hb2800 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to the Teachers' Retirement System
§18 - 2 - 6 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2861 PASSED - Regular Session hb2861 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to continued enrollment of at-risk student in public school
§18 - 2 - 26 A - (New Code)	HOUSE BILL - 2940 PASSED - Regular Session HB2940 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Relating to regional meetings among certain officials of county boards of education
§18 - 2 - 5 G - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 15 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 15 A - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 18 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 23 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 30 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 31 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 36 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 37 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 - 38 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 E- 3 C - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 E- 3 D - (Repealed Code) §18 - 2 E- 5 E - (New Code) §18 - 5 - 40 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 5 - 45 - (Amended Code) §18 - 8 - 6 A - (New Code) §18 - 9 - 2 B - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 - 5 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 - 7 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 - 8 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 3 A - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 3 B - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 10 - (Amended Code) §18 - 9 A- 13 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 13 A - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 13 B - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 25 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 A- 26 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 B- 11 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 9 B- 16 - (Repealed Code) §18 - 17 - 8 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 3157 PASSED - Regular Session HB3157 SUB ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Restoring the authority, flexibility, and capacity of schools and school systems to improve student learning
§18 - 5 B- 10 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 3159 PASSED - Regular Session HB3159 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Granting exceptions from certain compulsory attendance statutes to the Monroe and Nicholas County school systems
§18 - 5 - 11 - (Amended Code) §18 - 5 - 11 A - (New Code) §18 - 5 A- 2 A - (New Code)	HOUSE BILL - 3160 PASSED - Regular Session HB3160 ENR (Uploaded - 05/07/2013) HB3160 ENR 2ND (Uploaded - 05/07/2013)	Providing for a pilot initiative on governance of schools jointly established by adjoining counties
§18 - 1 - 1 - (Amended Code)	HOUSE BILL - 4119 PASSED - Regular Session hb4119 ENR (Uploaded - 03/27/2012)	Providing a definition for an athletic director who is employed by a county board of education

West Virginia Code *

Recent legislation affecting the Code