We Support The Arc of Virginia’s Legislative Priorities
Throughout the year, but intensively during Virginia’s short General Assembly session, we work in lock-step with The Arc of Virginia, our state chapter. We forward messages, promote their advocacy campaigns, and do all we can to support The Arc of Virginia’s lobbying efforts in Richmond to bring about real change in the lives of Virginians with disabilities.
2025 CANDIDATE FORUM
In Their Own Words
The Arc of New River Valley is proud to provide a platform for the disability community to advocate for themselves, and to speak in their own words. In that spirit, our 2025 Candidate Forum was held as a listening session with candidates for the Virginia House of Delegates 41st & 42nd District on Thursday, October 9, 2025, 7-9 PM at the Montgomery County Government Building in Christiansburg, VA.
2025
Defending Medicaid
After a historic year of progress under Governor Youngkin, the Trump administration prepared to defund Medicaid, which would make it very hard for Virginia to keep its promises to fund community-based services for disabled Virginians. So, we took to the streets.
2024
Historic Legislation Passed
2024 was a historic year for developmental disability rights in Virginia. After decades of fighting, Priority One become a reality! Our Self-Advocates, our statewide volunteers and family members, and supporters like Senator David Suetterlein and Governor Glenn Youngkin helped make it an historic year. More than 3,000 DD waiver slots were funded, and more!! Read more.
NEW RIVER VALLEY, VA
Self-Advocacy
The A Life Like Yours (ALLY) Self-Advocacy Alliance is made up of local self-advocacy groups across Virginia. The ALLYs work to ensure that the voices of people with disabilties are the primary force for affecting change on their own issues in Virginia. The motto, “Nothing about us without us,” comes out of the self-advocacy movement that inspired the formation of the ALLY Alliance.
Email arcnrv@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about our New River Valley chapter. Visit The Arc of Virginia to learn more about the Virginia state chapter.
RICHMOND 2023
Honored in the General Assembly
The New River Valley ALLY Self-Advocacy Alliance was introduced to the Virginia House Chamber in January 2023 as part of an annual tradition by Delegate Jason Ballard of Giles of the 12th District. Chris Cadwallader and Nancy Camajani (of The Arc of New River Valley) and self-advocates Matt Hudgins and Anita Ehrhardt waved from the balcony wearing The Arc’s brilliant orange.
RICHMOND, VA
Lobby Day
Every January, while the Virginia General Assembly is in session, The Arc of New River Valley joins advocates from across the state for The Arc of Virginia Lobby Day in Richmond. We visit our state Delegates and Senators to ask for support on issues affecting people with disabilities. In 2003, 150 Self-Advocates from across the state went to Richmond demanding DD System Transformation!
The Arc of Virginia created a Facebook Reel recapping the 2023 DD Advocacy Season.
THE ARC’S POSITION
Racial Justice
The Arc of New River Valley, The Arc of Virginia, and The Arc of the US call on our nation’s leaders to dismantle racism, end discrimination, and to honor, protect, and enforce the civil and human rights of all people!
LOCAL
Visits with General Assembly Members
The Arc of New River Valley stays in touch with our Delegates and Senator even when the General Assembly is not in session through phone calls, emails and visits to their local offices. We want to keep them up to date on our concerns and ideas for statutory and policy changes that would improve the lives of their constituents with disabilities.
YOUR VOICE
Tell Your Story, Share Your Voice
Self-advocacy is a growing trend. Who better to tell the stories, challenges, and needs of people with disabilities than people with disabilities and their families? We’ve created some resources for telling your story, writing your legislators, and visiting them too!
YOUR INBOX
Email Action Alerts
The Arc of New River Valley works actively during the Virginia General Assembly session to respond to daily changes in the Assembly and to mobilize our networks to call and email your representatives as particular bills and resolutions of concern to people with disabilities come up for vote. Often, our action window is very narrow and we don’t know until the end of the day that a bill will be up for vote the next morning! Sign up to add your voice to The Arc of Virginia and Arc of New River Valley’s advocacy efforts.