Advocacy

"A Life Like Yours" Campaign - Walk a Day in Our Shoes, 2006

In 2006, The Arc of Virginia created the "A Life Like Yours" Campaign as a way to engage both legislators and the community in understanding the challenges people with intellectual and developmental disabilities face in achieving equality of opportunity, social inclusion, and independence. This campaign was designed to effectively describe the values and principles that guide the advocacy efforts of The Arc in a way that legislators and the community can relate.

From August 2006 through November 2006, The Arc of Northern Virginia met state and local officials in private and public settings with self-advocates, family members, and support staff educating them on the challenges people with intellectual disabilities face in living "A Life Like Yours". Through these visits legislators had the opportunity to "walk a day in their shoes", hearing testimonials along the way of successes and struggles. In addition, providers were organized to participate in the campaign to ensure that all were speaking with one voice. These visits created partnerships with state legislators, which will hopefully increase commitment to community-based funding and policies for people with intellectual disabilities.

Steven L. Miller, photographer, agreed to join The Arc in these efforts (www.slmblackandwhitephotography.com). Mr. Miller took photographs during each visit, to document and portray the "A Life Like Yours" message in a moving and engaging manner. Mr. Miller's background includes extensive non-profit management experience, documentary photography, communications and marketing. Eight of his photographs are on permanent display at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

The Arc of Northern Virginia maintained a journal throughout the Campaign, documenting the stories behind each visit on the weekly basis. Click on any of the links listed below to learn more about the "A Life Like Yours" Campaign and The Arc of Northern Virginia's grassroots advocacy efforts:

Our journal of the "A Life Like Yours" campaign (pdf)

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