We work to make sure things are fair for everyone with developmental disabilities and their families. We do this by speaking up on issues that matter. We want to make sure everyone can access the support they need, get the services that make sense for them and that their rights are protected.

Policy Values

People with disabilities should be included in all areas of life. We want to ensure their dignity and power. We use our policy values to stand up for the following:

Color image of a young woman with cerebral palsy in college class.

Community Supports: People with disabilities have the right to helpful services and supports. Based on their needs and desires, they should be able to live their lives among people without disabilities. They should be able to live, work, learn and engage in all parts of community life.

Education: All people should have fair, person-centered education. Person-centered education means that the student leads their plan for learning. Their plan looks at their desires and meets their needs. We support practices that are based on research and produce good results. Education staff should use these practices from early childcare through college. Students with and without disabilities should learn together. People with disabilities can be their best self with such high-quality education.

Employment: Everyone can work in a job that suits their skills. People with disabilities can work with people without disabilities, with the right supports. They deserve the same pay and benefits as their coworkers.

Color photograph of a teenager with a physical disability spending time at home with his mom. He is happy.

Healthcare: Healthcare includes wellness of the mind, body, emotions, spirit and social life. Every person with a disability should have access to care at a reasonable cost. Healthcare should be based on research and meet the person’s needs.

Housing: All Virginians have the right to choose their home. Their home should be accessible and be at a reasonable cost. We support systems and policies that fund and grow such housing, especially for people with disabilities.

Self-determination: People with disabilities have a voice. They are experts in their own needs and desires. They, and their chosen support network, must be a part of the decisions for their lives. They must have the freedom and supports to do that. Everyone has the right to have the “dignity of risk.” The dignity of risk is being able to make choices, whether the result is good or bad.

Policy Positions

Community Integration

Coronavirus

Education

Healthcare / Medicaid

Assessments

Each year, we review two important service areas. We propose how to make services better for people with disabilities.

The assessments focus on topics like housing, education, jobs, Medicaid, health and more.

View Assessments

Information Access

Virginians with disabilities and their families have trouble finding useful service info. They say that info is hard to understand or wrong. Our goal is to solve that problem.

Family with child looking at laptop screen