We are a small nonprofit organization, led by a volunteer board of directors and an executive director. Of our seven board members, five have children with developmental disabilities and two are service providers in the developmental disability field. Additionally, our executive director is a parent of a child with severe Autism. We have all experienced the many highs and lows of working with an incredibly complex system to receive proper and adequate supports for our children and those we serve. We share experiences with the families and this allows us to empathize with families and share our combined knowledge to support those we serve .

The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley was established in the Winchester area in 1967.

Our chapter was founded by a group of emboldened parents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, with the common goal of creating inclusive communities, schools and opportunities.

With a collective voice, local parents joined with parents across the nation to advocate for:

Home & community-based services;

Inclusive education, including spearheading the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act;

The creation of Supplemental Security Income for individuals with severe disabilities;

The passage of Rosa’s Law in 2010, which replaced the term “mental retardation” with intellectual disabilities in federal health, education and labor policy

And so much more.

The Arc of Northern Shenandoah Valley, today, continues this bold tradition of empowerment through advocacy, community-based education, collaboration.