Advocating for a Bold Agenda in 2022

Bold change is needed to transform the dysfunctional system of services for people with developmental disabilities (DD) in Virginia. 

Overwhelmingly, we hear from people with disabilities, their families, and providers that the system is not working for them. Listening to our members and the greater DD Community, we know that people want access to services and support that enables them to live the life that they want - A Life Like Yours. 

We hope you join us in advocating for our Legislative Agenda for Real Change.

Be Part of The Movement

YOU Make the Difference

To Build Momentum and Consistency, we will focus on 3 major Mobilizing Plans over 3 Weeks:

>> TAKE ACTION | DD Advocacy Days

Session will once again be in person this year; however, there may be limits on the capacity of the General Assembly for meetings and gatherings. So we have come up with a creative alternative: HYBRID DD Days! 

A Hybrid DD Day is a meeting you join via Zoom, while a team member from The Arc of Virginia meets in person with your legislator at their office to answer any technical questions the legislator may have and to provide them with materials.     

We will be holding official Hybrid DD Days on the following Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout Session:

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Step 1: Sign up and Choose your Day (Link Below)

Step 2: The Arc of Virginia team will be in touch with you to coordinate scheduling a meeting with your legislator(s).

Step 3: When the meeting with your legislator(s) is confirmed, you will receive a Zoom link from The Arc of Virginia. 

Step 4: On the day of your meeting, simply sign in to participate via Zoom.   

Please click below to sign up for your DD Day and get more instructions on the next steps in scheduling your appointments.  

>> TAKE ACTION | Letter & (Email Campaign)

Join the A Life Like Yours Self-Advocacy Alliance and Our Voices Self-Advocacy Group in an old fashioned letter writing campaign! If you can't get to writing and mailing a letter, please send an email! 

WHAT TO SAY: 

2022 Legislative Agenda

This year, the General Assembly Session began January 12, 2022. The Arc's Legislative Agenda seeks to build on the work of the Waiver Workgroup that met over the last year, to seek solutions to the growing waitlist crisis and the decreasing community capacity to serve those waiting. That report laid out four key recommendations for systemic change.

The Arc of Virginia, in collaboration with vaACCSES, have worked in partnership to develop a DD System Rescue Plan for the General Assembly. This funding package expands on the Waiver Workgroup recommendations - with a more ambitious timetable for implementation and a focus on equity and sustainability for our system. 

Senator Hanger is the patron for this package, Item 304 31s. This package includes funding of the rates at the 75th percentile wage assumptions for the services already included in the Governor's Budget, and adds other necessary services also at the 75th percentile.  

While this package is for the upcoming biennium (July 2022 - June 2024), it is part of a larger strategy to transform our system from being reactive in nature (only serving people in urgent need) to a proactive system that more holistically meets the needs of Virginians with developmental disabilities.  

>> TAKE ACTION | DD Advocacy Days

Session will once again be in person this year; however, there may be limits on the capacity of the General Assembly for meetings and gatherings. So we have come up with a creative alternative: HYBRID DD Days! 

A Hybrid DD Day is a meeting you join via Zoom, while a team member from The Arc of Virginia meets in person with your legislator at their office to answer any technical questions the legislator may have and to provide them with materials.     

We will be holding official Hybrid DD Days on the following Tuesdays and Thursdays throughout Session:

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Step 1: Sign up and Choose your Day (Link Below)

Step 2: The Arc of Virginia team will be in touch with you to coordinate scheduling a meeting with your legislator(s).

Step 3: When the meeting with your legislator(s) is confirmed, you will receive a Zoom link from The Arc of Virginia. 

Step 4: On the day of your meeting, simply sign in to participate via Zoom.   

Please click below to sign up for your DD Day and get more instructions on the next steps in scheduling your appointments.  

>> TAKE ACTION | Legislative Action Alerts

Action Alerts are an important part of all successful advocacy. There are multiple legislative steps that take place, for a Bill or a Budget Item to pass - YOUR VOICE matters most and makes a difference when the time comes for legislators to vote. Our Action Alerts are usually timed around these votes, and focus on the key messaging and talking points that we think will have the greatest impact.

We need a groundswell of support for this year's bold agenda. The funding investment we are advocating legislators to make is HUGE...however, the cost of NOT funding the DD System Rescue Plan is much higher and more detrimental for Virginians with developmental disabilities and their families.

So please watch your inbox for Important Action Alerts and Take Action!