Advocate
The Arc of New River Valley works locally and statewide to support The Arc of Virginia’s legislative priorities. The short Virginia General Assembly season is an especially active time, with Lobby Day in Richmond, meetings with state representatives and calls to you, our supporters, to make your voices heard. Click the buttons below to see The Arc of Virginia’s legislative priorities and the new Action Center which makes it easier to add your voice!
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. This year, 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.
NRV ALLY’s at the General Assembly
The New River Valley Self-Advocates Alliance was introduced to the Virginia House Chamber in January 2023 as part of an annual tradition by Delegate Jason Ballard of Giles and 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.
A Life Like Yours
The A Life Like Yours (ALLY) Self-Advocacy Alliance works to increase the availability of inclusive supports for people with Developmental Disabilities, through changes to policy, expectations and support systems. Our goal is for people with disabilities to live a life like yours in a home that they choose, working in a job that they choose, and participating in their communities. Watch the Declaration of A Life Like Yours video.
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.
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!
Add 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!
Email Blasts
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.
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