I now can truly appreciate how John Denver described those “country roads” as “almost heaven”- now that I have driven the beautiful, breath taking route from Roanoke to Big Stone Gap. I arrived at The Arc of Lenowisco with a deep appreciation of this chapter’s surrounding countryside-and left with an even deeper admiration of this chapter’s spirited commitment to affect change.

Like The Arc of Roanoke, this local chapter is fairly new to The Arc family. President Clarissa Young and member Wendy Miller filled me on what this chapter has been up to since its beginning in 2001.

One of the first efforts of The Arc of Lenowisco was when they held a “Government Night”. They invited federal, state, and local legislators to come meet with families at the local Community Services Board (known as Region I-Frontier Health). Families shared with policymakers such as Senator William Wampler and Delegate Terry Kilgore the impact waiting lists and lack of transportation have on their ability to access community-based services. Many families expressed concern about what happens when a loved one graduates-“life after 22” –when individuals are left with no support and no services. Case managers worked with The Arc to get the word out and they enjoyed a great turnout for this grassroots advocacy event.

Towards the end of our visit, Clarissa’s Uncle Jake met up with us. Jake shared with me his interpretation of the meaning of “A Life Like Yours”. For Jake, living in his own home and having a job where he can earn a paycheck matter the most to him. Jake attends a vocational program through the local community services board and lives in his own home with consumer-directed supports. Jake told me about the history of his home-how it was his grandmother’s and had been passed down through the family and how proud it made him feel that it was now that the house had been passed on to him.

Clarrissa, Jake, Wendy and I talked about how we can help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities have “A Life Like Yours” just like Jake does through bringing families together in Big Stone Gap and the surrounding areas who either have the Medicaid Waiver or are waiting for it. All four of us agreed that now is the time for chapters of The Arc of Virginia to pull together and affect change.