Why Attend

The Disability Rights & Resources Summit is Virginia’s statewide event for people with disabilities, families, advocates, and service providers. It’s more than a conference—it’s a chance to connect, learn, and take action together.

Attending the Summit means you will:

• Gain insights on current disability rights issues in Virginia
• Connect with advocates, allies, and professionals from across the state
• Access tools and resources to support your community
• Be part of shaping a more inclusive and empowered Virginia

Keynote Speaker

Senator Tom Harkin (1985 - 2015)

Senator Harkin served in the U.S. Senate beginning in 1985 and made history by becoming the first Iowa Democrat to win reelection to a second consecutive term in the U.S. Senate. To this day, he remains the longest-serving elected Democrat in Congress in Iowa's history. He retired from the U.S. Senate in January 2015.

Senator Harkin played a major role in drafting the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), which protects the civil rights of millions of Americans with physical and mental disabilities. When the Senate passed the ADA, Senator Harkin delivered the first-ever speech in American Sign Language (ASL) on the Senate floor to honor his brother, Frank, who was deaf.

The ADA is often described as the “Emancipation Proclamation for people with disabilities.” This landmark legislation helped make the country more accessible and established protections requiring workplace accommodations for people with disabilities. Later, Senator Harkin and Senator Orrin Hatch (R-UT) introduced the ADA Amendments Act to strengthen protections against discrimination for Americans with disabilities. The legislation was signed into law in September 2008. In recognition of his longstanding dedication to advancing disability rights around the world, Senator Harkin was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize twice.

Through Senator Harkin’s passionate advocacy and legislative leadership in disability rights, the United States has made significant progress in protecting the civil rights of people with disabilities and expanding access, inclusion, and opportunity for those historically excluded. His lasting legacy is reflected in the transformation of America’s laws, communities, and culture toward greater accessibility, equality, and inclusion.

Speakers

Event Schedule

Colleen Miller

Executive Director

disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)

Keynote Speaker Session

Introduction by Executive Director, Colleen Miller, follow by our Keynote speaker, Senator Harkin.

Break

Elizabeth Horn

CEO & Founder

Disability Benefits Guidance

Social Security Self-Advocacy: Effective Ways to Navigate Disability Benefits Especially in Today's Ever Shifting Policies 

The Social Security Administration is a huge bureaucracy with complex eligibility rules and tricky procedures. Denials are common, appeals are necessary and the process can take some applicants several years to be approved. Many are never successful. The root cause of this is usually not understanding what you have to prove to be approved and how to document it.

This session will focus on key ways to submit a solid claim from the beginning and to understand the process so you don't mistakenly lose out due to being uninformed.

You will also learn about:

• Various benefits and the financial eligibility for each
• How to apply or appeal, the period reviews
• Key self-advocacy tips at every step including some guidance on current barriers to be avoided.   

Lucy Beadnell

Chief Advocacy and Policy Officer

ARC of Northern Virginia

Housing Options With and Without a Medicaid Waiver

Planning for housing is one of the most important and often most complex decisions facing individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. This webinar will provide an overview of the most common housing options available in Virginia, helping participants better understand the range of choices that support different needs, goals, and levels of independence.

Attendees will learn about housing models that combine housing and support services, as well as options that provide housing only. The session will explore independent living, shared living arrangements, supported residential services, group homes, affordable housing opportunities, and other community-based options. Presenters will also discuss how housing can be funded through public benefits, private resources, or a combination of both.  Whether you are planning for the near future or looking ahead to long-term housing needs, this webinar will offer practical information, key considerations, and resources to help individuals and families make informed decisions about housing and support options.

Virginia Pharis

Freedom, Abuse Neglect, and Safety Unit Manager

disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)

Beyond Isolation: Ending Seclusion and Restraints for Children with Disabilities

Too often, children with disabilities are overlooked in discussions of Disability Justice. Every day in Virginia, vulnerable kids are subjected to seclusion and restraint in the name of discipline and order. Learn more about how seclusion and restraint are used in different care settings—including schools—and how dLCV is advocating to protect disabled youth and break cycles of trauma.

Sarah Fech-Baughman

Managing Attorney for Education Employment, and Accessibility

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

Kevin Truitt

Senior Staff Attorney

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

Updates on Disability Rights at the Federal Level: Olmstead v. L.C., Texas v. Kennedy, Medicaid, Fair Housing Act, and Education (Part 1)

This session will focus on:

• the Department of Justice’s enforcement and interpretation of Olmstead v. L.C. and the integration mandate;
• the resolution of Texas v. Kennedy, a lawsuit in which several states challenged the 2024 updated regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
• H.R. 1’s changes to Medicaid, including new work requirements for specific Medicaid beneficiaries and overall funding reductions;
• the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s enforcement and interpretation of the right to an emotional support animal in one’s housing under the federal Fair Housing Act; and
• changes to the organization of the Department of Education and impact on its oversight role in administering the IDEA and enforcing Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in schools.

Break

Kevin Truitt

Senior Staff Attorney

National Disability Rights Network (NDRN)

Updates on Disability Rights at the Federal Level: Olmstead v. L.C., Texas v. Kennedy, Medicaid, Fair Housing Act, and Education (Part 2)

This session will focus on:

• the Department of Justice’s enforcement and interpretation of Olmstead v. L.C. and the integration mandate;
• the resolution of Texas v. Kennedy, a lawsuit in which several states challenged the 2024 updated regulations implementing Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973;
• H.R. 1’s changes to Medicaid, including new work requirements for specific Medicaid beneficiaries and overall funding reductions;
• the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s enforcement and interpretation of the right to an emotional support animal in one’s housing under the federal Fair Housing Act; and
• changes to the organization of the Department of Education and impact on its oversight role in administering the IDEA and enforcing Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act in schools.

Love Kingsbury

Coordinator of Staff Development and Special Education Dispute Resolution

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center (PEATC)

Keys to a Strong IEP

Discover how present levels, family and student input, goals, services, accommodations, and placement work together to create an effective IEP that supports student progress.

Nicole Durose

Senior Disability Right Advocate

disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) 

Beyond Acquittal: The Journey from NGRI to Conditional Release

What happens after someone is found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity (NGRI)? This presentation explains the NGRI process, including what happens during hospitalization, how treatment and progress are evaluated, and the steps an individual must go through before returning to the community under a conditional release plan. 

Brittany Bullock

Financial Operations Analyst

ABLEnow

An Introduction to ABLEnow

Join us for this information session to discover the advantages of ABLE accounts and the national ABLEnow program. During this session, Brittany Bullock, Senior Marketing Specialist with ABLEnow, will cover the answers to these questions and more:

• What are ABLE accounts?
• Who is eligible?
• How can I use the money in an ABLE account?
• What are the features and benefits of ABLEnow?

How can I learn more and open an account?

More independence, greater financial security, and a better quality of life – that’s the future ABLEnow is building.

Break

Michael Klinger

Workforce Programs Division-WISA Coordinator

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

Jonathan May

Ticket to Work Coordinator/Financial Empowerment Manager

Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)

Beyond the $2,000 Limit: Medicaid Works, WISA Services and ABLE Strategies for Employment Success

Session description coming soon

Brenda Castañeda

Deputy Director of Advocacy

HOME of Virginia

The Fair Housing Act: Reasonable Accommodations and Modifications

A discussion of state and federal protections for people with disabilities under Fair Housing laws including recent developments and guidance.  Information about how and when to ask for reasonable modifications or accommodations.  Rules regarding how housing providers must respond to such requests.  A discussion of common problems or obstacles in requesting accommodations.  A comparison of Fair Housing protections with the ADA. A brief discussion of design and construction rules regarding accessibility.

Kelly Henderson

Executive Director

Formed Families Forward

Stacia Stribling

Deputy Director

Formed Families Forward

Critical Crossroads: Resources for Recognizing and Addressing Trauma in Children and Youth with Disabilities 

Children with disabilities and other specialized needs are much more likely to be exposed to traumatizing events and circumstances than their nondisabled peers. However, resources specific to trauma and its impact on children with disabilities are limited. In this

session, new videos and print resources that feature voices of families impacted by trauma and disability will be previewed. Furthermore, user-friendly checklists designed to help families advocate for trauma-informed education evaluations and IEPs will be shared in an interactive format.

Rachel Loria

Senior Disability Rights Advocate

disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)

Accessing Postsecondary Services Through Vocational Rehabilitation (VR)

Join Senior Disability Rights Advocate, Rachel Loria, as she discusses how Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) agencies such as the Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS) and the Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DBVI) can assist with Post-Secondary education. The presentation will include an analysis of each agency’s policy and how they can support individuals who are using their services. Ms. Loria will further discuss what VR services are and how to access them.

Charlotte Woodward

Self-Advocate, Member of the dLCV Board

Colleen Miller

Executive Director

disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV)

Closing Remarks

Charlotte Woodward will deliver the closing remarks for our 2026 Summit, and will share some sentiments about her own experiences as a self-advocate in various capacities. Charlotte serves as a member of the dLCV board, volunteers on the dLCV Resource Development Committee, and was a keynote speaker at the 2024 World Down Syndrome Congress!

In Honor of the Dedicated Staff of dLCV

Can't Make It?

We’d still love your help spreading the word! Please feel free to share this invitation with friends, family, or colleagues who may be interested in connecting with dLCV and learning more about our work.