Disability History Essay Contest Accepts Submissions

The WV Disability History Essay Contest committee is proud to announce the return of the Disability History Essay Contest in West Virginia. The Disability History Essay Contest coincides with WV Disability History Week, the third week in October, and is open to all WV high school seniors attending public or private schools. This annual contest is designed to reinforce Disability History Week in WV and provide WV high school seniors with an opportunity to share their knowledge of the Disability Rights Movement and what they have learned about disability issues in their community, showcase their writing skills, and perhaps to earn some money! The deadline for the submission is December 20, 2024.

All WV High Schools will be sent entry forms for the essay contest next week. The entry forms can also be found on our website at www.wvsilc.org. Please share with your Seniors and encourage them to enter. There are six districts with a possible first and second place in each district, plus a State winner. In addition to an award certificate, the authors of the winning essays will receive an engraved personalized key chain and a check for the amount of their award as follows: State Winner - $3,250, District 1st Place Winners - $1,750, and District 2nd Place Winners - $1000.

The Disability History Essay Contest is a collaborative effort between the West Virginia Division of Rehabilitation Services (WVDRS), West Virginia Statewide Independent Living Council (WVSILC), and State Rehabilitation Council (SRC), with cooperation from the West Virginia Department of Education.

For more information on Disability History Week in WV passed by the WV Legislature in 2006, please visit https://wvsilc.org/legislation.

The winners and their essays will be featured in the Special Edition issue of the IL Edge, WVSILC’s quarterly newsletter. Please visit https://wvsilc.org/essay-contest for more information on the WV Disability History Essay Contest.