About the Board

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• Mission Statement
• Who We Are
• Structure and Member Roster
• Appointment Information
• VBPD By-Laws
• Policies & Procedures
• Definition of Developmental Disability
• Staff Information
• Public Comment Policy
• Board Meetings and Minutes

Mission Statement

To enrich the lives of Virginians with disabilities by providing a VOICE for their concerns.

Vision of communities that welcome people with disabilities
Outreach to individuals, families and advocates
Innovation through grant projects and sponsored programs
Collaboration with providers of disability services
Education of policymakers on disability issues

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Who We Are and What We Do

The Board serves as the Developmental Disabilities Planning Council, addressing the needs of people with developmental disabilities as established under the federal "Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act" and the state "Virginians with Disabilities Act". Since 1992, the Board has been an executive branch state agency located within the Secretariat of Health and Human Resources. The Board has autonomy over the use of its federal funding and the hiring of its staff.

The Board advises the Governor, the Secretary of Health and Human Resources, federal and state legislators, and other constituent groups on issues related to people with disabilities in Virginia. The Board's purpose is to engage in advocacy, capacity building, and systems change activities that contribute to a coordinated consumer and family centered, consumer and family directed, comprehensive system of services, individualized supports, and other forms of assistance that enable individuals with DD to exercise self-determination, be independent, be productive, and be integrated and included in all facets of community life.

This is accomplished through outreach, training, technical assistance, supporting and educating communities, barrier elimination, system design/redesign, coalition development and citizen participation, informing policymakers, and demonstration of new approaches, services, and supports to community-based service delivery.

The Governor appoints 31 of the Board's 40 members. The remaining nine members are state agency designees. Sixty percent of the Board's 40 members are people with disabilities or family members of people with disabilities. The Board meets at least quarterly in Richmond, Virginia. The Board encourages public comment on its planning activities and at Board meetings, and encourages individuals to contact the Board with needs, information or concerns about disability-related issues.

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Structure and Member Roster

The Board is organized into an Executive Committee and four standing committees: Community Integration, Community Living and Transportation, Employment, and Education and Early Intervention.

Board Member Roster

Executive Committee
Chair, Lisbet Ward (Virginia Beach)
Vice Chair, L. Mac McArthur-Fox (Blacksburg)
Secretary, Christy Crowther (Richmond)
At Large, Jim Congable (Richmond)
At Large, Mark Russell (Lynchburg)

Community Integration Committee
John Burgess (Vienna)
Sandy Hermann, Chair (Virginia Beach)
Shirley Hicks (Rice)
Suzanne Ripley (Falls Church)
Mark Russell (Lynchburg)
Martha Toomey (Orlean)

* Agency Designees:
Sherry Confer, VOPA (Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy)
Lee Price, DMHMRSAS (Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Substance Abuse Services)
Terry Smith, DMAS (Department of Medical Assistance Services)

Community Living and Transportation
Dorothy Clark (Virginia Beach)
Jim Congable (Richmond)
Kelly Allen Hickok, Chair (Richmond)
Thomas J. Leach (Richmond)
Kenley Mays, Sr. (Lynchburg)
Jason Neal (Abingdon)
Sarah Ratner (Richmond)
Jennifer Thornburg (Virginia Beach)

* Agency Designee:
Mary-Margaret Cash, DRS (Department of Rehabilitative Services)
Bill Peterson, (VDA) Department for the Aging

Education Committee
Michael J. Carrasco (Alexandria)
Brian Clukey (Falls Church)
Christy Crowther, Chair (Richmond)
Norma Draper (Hopewell)
Joyce B. Knight, Chair (Mechanicsville)
John A. Toscano (Richmond)

* Agency Designees:
H. Douglas Cox, DOE (Department of Education)
Ronald Lanier, DDHH (Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing)
Fred P. Orelove (Partnership for People with Disabilities)

Employment Committee
Calvin "Chip" Coleman, Chair (Culpeper)
William Daniel (Richmond)
Darrell V. Hill (Hampton)
S. David Holsinger, III (Staunton)
L. Mac McArthur-Fox (Blacksburg)
Doug Owens (Palmyra)
Renita Ray (Honaker)
Cecily Rodriguez (Richmond)

* Agency Designees:
Joe Bowman, DBVI (Department of the Blind and Vision Impaired)

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Appointment Information

Individuals achieve membership to the Board through appointments by the Governor. The Governor directly appoints Virginia citizens to fill 31 positions of the total 40 member Board as specified in the "Virginians with Disabilities Act." The remaining nine positions are filled by agency heads designated by the Act who serve on the Board by virtue of their position in state government. The Act permits seven of the nine agency heads to designate a person to represent them on the Board. Individuals directly appointed to the other 31 positions may not designate a substitute. Acceptance of a direct appointment to the Board is an express commitment to individually meet the responsibilities of membership.

Individuals are appointed to the Board to fill unexpired terms or for full four year terms. Individuals appointed to unexpired terms are eligible for additional appointments for two full terms. The Act limits service on the Board to two successive terms.

To seek a nomination for a Board appointment, please complete the Application for Gubernatorial Appointment and make sure to check all of the positions for which you are eligible. Please also submit a brief biography or resume with your application form. To assist in your preparation, the definition of developmental disability as defined in the "Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act", is a severe, chronic, often lifelong disability that causes substantial limitations in several major life activities such as: self care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, the capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. It is attributable to a mental, emotional, sensory, and/or physical impairment that is apparent before the age of twenty-two. People with developmental disabilities often need a combination of special services, support, and other assistance that is likely to continue indefinitely.

Secretary of the Commonwealth Application for all Boards and Commissions

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VBPD By-Laws

• VBPD By-Laws in PDF Format
• VBPD By-Laws in Word Format

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VBPD Policies and Procedures

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Definition of Developmental Disability

What is a Developmental Disability

"Developmental disability," as defined in federal law, is a severe, chronic, often lifelong disability that causes substantial limitations in several major life activities such as: self care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, the capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency. It is attributable to a mental, emotional, sensory, and/or physical impairment that is apparent before the age of twenty-two. People with developmental disabilities often need a combination of special services, support, and other assistance that is likely to continue indefinitely.

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Staff Information

Public Comment Policy

• Download the VBPD Public Comment Policy in Adobe PDF Format.
• Download the VBPD Public Comment Policy in MS Word Format.

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