Mountain Vista Recovery

RIDE is a voucher program that allows disabled and elderly residents to purchase transportation services at a significant discount. Once enrolled as a RIDE participant, you are eligible to purchase vouchers that can be used with local providers at 25% of the regular rate.

To qualify for the RIDE program, individuals must live in Buncombe County and be elderly or disabled.

How the RIDE Program works:

• Customers purchase vouchers for providers. Vouchers are $2.50 each and are sold in books of 10 ($25).
• When transportation is needed, the customer contacts one of the RIDE providers for service.
• Each voucher is good for $10 off the cost of a one-way trip provided by the service.
• A maximum of three (3) vouchers can be used for a one-way trip.

RIDE also offers:

• Demand Response Service
• Subscription Service
• Community Transportation Service

Call ((828) 250-6750 or visit the website for more information.

The DisAbility Partners Asheville Center provides the core services of Information and Referral, Independent Living Skills Training, Peer Counseling, Transitions, and Advocacy. Core services offered by DisAbility Partners include:

• Information & Referral: Provide information about disability related issues and referrals to community resources. Information is provided to individuals, businesses, schools, state and local government.
• Independent Living Skills: Disability Partners’ staff will assist you in developing new skills needed to live independently
• Peer Support: Staff members with disabilities are role models, assisting people with disabilities in achieving their independent living goals.
• Advocacy: People with disabilities are taught to be self-advocates who understand their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
• Transitions to Community-Based Living: Transition those with disabilities into or out of nursing homes and other institutions to home and community-based living, provide assistance to individuals with disabilities who are at risk of entering institutions, and transition youth with disabilities into higher education, the workforce and the community.
• Social Activities: Activities to develop and support peer relationships between people with disabilities.
• Person First Services: Offers Innovation Waivers services including supported Employment and Alternative Family Living.
• Home Care Partners: Provides individualized assistance with daily living activities .

Address: 108 New Leicester Highway 
Asheville, NC 28806

Call (828) 298-1977 or visit the website for more information.

DSS takes referrals for adults with disabilities who might be in a living situation without all they need to survive and thrive.

Anyone having reason to believe that a disabled person is in need of protective service shall report such information to the director of the Social Work Services.

To accept the referral for Protective Services the information provided must state:

• The adult is physically or mentally incapacitated.
• The adult is being abused, neglected or exploited. If abused, the abuse must be by a caretaker.
• The adult is in need of protection.

Once a referral is taken for Protective Services, a Social Worker will be assigned the case. They have anywhere from immediately to 72 hours to respond to the case, depending on the seriousness of the situation.

A Social Worker is responsible for assessment of the situation and determining the need for protection. The assessment includes evaluating six areas:

• Physical health
• Mental Health
• Social Support
• Activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living.
• Financial Support
• Physical environment

Address: 40 Coxe Avenue
Asheville, NC 28801

You can privately and easily book your appointment online for select services 24/7 at (828) 250-5800, or visit the website for more information.

Families or individuals may request financial assistance from The Arc of Buncombe County to help with rent or mortgage payments, utilities, groceries, medications, medically necessary equipment or procedures, heating oil, and clothing. These requests can be made directly, or they may be referred to us.

When someone with a confirmed intellectual or developmental disability requests emergency financial assistance, our Community Resource Specialist determines its cause, validity, and immediacy. The Resource Specialist then collaborates with other financial aid agencies to meet the need, usually within 24 hours. Monies are distributed directly to the vendors owed (i.e. landlord or utility company), rather than to the individuals themselves.

Follow up services are provided to individuals and families and their case managers to ensure that new financial crises are prevented wherever possible.

If the Community Resource Specialist determines that the crisis was due to an individual’s lack of adequate financial planning or income, an in-house financial counseling session is scheduled, and referrals are made to community programs such as On Track, Vocational Rehabilitation, or the Western Highlands Network.

The Arc of Buncombe County also offers financial assistance through our alternative respite funding, developmental summer camp scholarships, and Operation Santa.

Address: 50 S. French Broad Avenue, Suite 246, Asheville, NC 28802

Call (828) 253-1255 or visit the website for more information.

Each school in the Buncombe County Public Schools provides special education and related services. These services are provided for students in the least restrictive environment as determined by the IEP team. School-based special education teachers and therapists provide the required services for the majority of our students. Students who require more extensive service are served through Intensive Intervention programs or through the Progressive Education Program. Special education services for preschool students with disabilities are provided in their natural environment – daycare centers, Headstart classes, or at home.

Buncombe County schools provide special education and related services for more than 3,500 students annually. Students are identified in a variety of disability categories and served through a variety of methods as required by IDEA. Emphasis has been placed on serving students with a disability within the regular classroom; however, the school system maintains a continuum of services to meet the individual needs of students.

Students with a disability participate in all aspects of public education in Buncombe County. Most of our students follow the Standard Course of Study and graduate from high school with a diploma. A student’s health insurance does not impact access to these on-campus services.

Address: 175 Bingham Road, Asheville, NC 28806

Call (828) 255-5921 or visit the website for more information.

The NC Innovations Waiver is a federally approved 1915 C Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services Waiver designed to meet the needs of individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) who prefer to get long-term care services and support in their home or community, rather than in an institutional setting. As a Vaya Health and Partners Health Management provider, FIRSTwnc can provide our services through this waiver or private pay.

As a provider for Partners Behavioral Health and Vaya Health, FIRSTwnc can provide our services through the Innovations Waiver or private pay. FIRSTwnc is an unique boutique provider credentialed to provide the full array of Innovation but only focus on specific services including:

• Abilities FIRST – Microenterprise Coaching Program using Innovations and 1915i Supported Employment
• Self Direct Services Training and Support – Employer of Record
• Specialized Consultative Services
• Supported Living – My FIRST Key

Address: 77 Central Avenue, Suite E
Asheville, NC 28801

Call 828-277-1315 for more information.

The Disability Assistance Project works to ensure that low-income, disabled individuals in our region have access to medical care and a subsistence income, through Medicaid and other forms of government assistance.

Pisgah Legal Services promotes strategies that enable people with disabilities to live as independently as possible.  In some cases, securing access to disability benefits allows a client to move from homelessness into stable housing.  Over the years, PLS has been instrumental in developing supportive housing in local communities for people with disabilities.

Address: PO Box 2276, Asheville, NC 28802

Call (828) 253-0406 or toll-free at (800) 489-6144 for more information.