Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) advocates for better services and supports. We make sure that people with developmental disabilities (DD) and their families have what they need to live their best lives. The VBPD is a DD Council. Our state agency was formed in 1992. Our funding and rules come from the DD Act. We are independent within the state government. This means that we control our federal funds and staff hiring. Every U.S. state and territory has a DD Council. Our Mission To create a Commonwealth that advances opportunities for independence, personal decision-making, and full participation in community life for individuals with developmental and other disabilities. Our Vision Virginians with developmental and other disabilities direct their own lives and choose how they live, learn, work, and play. **What We Do** 1. **Policy Advocacy and Education:** We talk with policymakers. We help shape laws and rules. We push for laws and rules that benefit people with disabilities. 2. **Innovation and Support:** We invest in new ideas. These ideas make changes in systems and encourage living in the community. 3. **Advocacy and Leadership Development:** We help people with disabilities to grow strong voices. We train them to be advocates and leaders. 4. **Community Outreach and Education:** We tell people about disability issues. With this knowledge, we hope for more inclusion in all parts of life. 5. **Evaluation and Reporting:** We assess our state’s disability services. We write reports about what works and what can be better.