VDDHH & Virginia Relay Outreach Specialist Receives Commendation From Virginia Senate Arva Priola Honored for Advocacy in Deaf and Hard of Hearing Community
The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) and Virginia Relay announced today that Outreach Specialist Arva Priola has been awarded a commendation from the Senate of the Commonwealth of Virginia for her advocacy work in the deaf and hard of hearing community.

RICHMOND, VA, December 11, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- The Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH) and Virginia Relay, the free public service that enables people who are deaf, hard-of-hearing, deaf-blind and speech-impaired to place and receive calls via a standard telephone line, announced today that Outreach Specialist Arva Priola has been awarded a commendation from the Senate of the Commonwealth of Virginia for her advocacy work in the deaf and hard of hearing community. Virginia Senator Edd Houck presented the award to Arva on November 15.

Priola has worked as an outreach specialist with the disaAbility Resource Center in Fredericksburg and Virginia Relay for 13 years, ensuring that communication access is available to people who deaf or hard of hearing. She was chosen for this special recognition for her constant initiative to go above and beyond the requirements of her position.

She has been especially successful in encouraging Virginia businesses to participate in the Virginia Relay Partner program - a program designed to educate business leaders and employees on how to use Virginia Relay's assistive devices and services. Since the program's inception in 2005, Priola has enlisted more than 60 businesses in the program - far more than any other Virginia Relay outreach specialist.

"Arva works tirelessly for deaf and hard of hearing citizens, whether it's teaching sign language classes, conducting workshops and seminars to address issues involving the deaf and hard of hearing community, obtaining grants for smoke detectors for the hearing impaired or working with the Senate to lobby for equal accessibility at public meetings and buildings," said Gary Talley, outreach and community services programs manager, Virginia Relay. "She is one of Virginia's best advocates for the deaf and hard of hearing community."

This is the second Commendation the Virginia Senate has awarded to Priola. She received the first in 2001 in recognition of being the first person to receive the Advocacy Award from the Hearing Loss Association of America.

"Throughout my many years of working with Arva in my role as a special education administrator, a hospital administrator or as a legislator, she is always advocating for equal communication access for everyone," said Senator Edd Houck. "Whether it was testifying before an unfriendly Senate committee or pushing me to do what was right, Arva's pursuit of fairness and justice for all has been constant. She deserves great credit for her tireless work. Virginia is a better place to live due to Arva Priola."

"Knowing is empowerment, education creates change in a positive way and it takes individuals working together with our community for communication access - these are the philosophies I have based my life work on," said Priola. "To receive this award lets me know that God's plan for my life is alive and well."

Press Release Contact Information:

Lindsay Hebert
Virginia Relay
Public Relations Associate
1602 Rolling Hills Drive, Suite 203
Richmond, VA
USA 23229
Voice: 410-296-0800
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