Arlington Recognizes 32nd Anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act
Arlington County officials and staff as well as partners in the disability community gathered at Quincy Park to celebrate 32 years of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its influence in expanding opportunities for millions of Americans living with one or more disabilities.
On July 26, 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law, establishing a clear and comprehensive national mandate to eliminate discrimination against individuals with disabilities. As such, this landmark law has expanded opportunities for millions of Americans with disabilities by reducing barriers and increasing full participation in community life.
During this year’s commemoration, Arlington County Board Chair Katie Cristol issued a proclamation for the 32nd anniversary of the ADA highlighting Arlington’s commitment to being accessible and inclusive to all our residents and visitors and to promoting independence as a core principle of the ADA. Others including the Arlington County Disability Advisory Commission, the Arlington County Community Services Board, LEAD-Arlington’s Employee Resource Group, the ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia and the Arc of Northern Virginia joined Cristol in recognizing the legacy of the ADA.
Advancing Accessibility for Arlingtonians with Disabilities
LIVE
Focus on Community Mobility
Specialized Transit for Arlington Residents (STAR): STAR is a shared ride service provided by Arlington Transit (ART) for passengers who have difficulty using fixed bus routes due to age or a disability. STAR riders share trips if they are generally traveling in the same direction at the same time. Arlington County residents currently eligible for MetroAccess are automatically certified for STAR. Apply for MetroAccess and STAR.
Bus Stop Accessibility Improvements: Improvements are being made to Arlington bus stop locations to be ADA compliant. More than 200 bus stop shelter and amenity installations and improvements were made in fiscal year 2022 to ensure stops have enough space for wheelchair users to maneuver, curbs are high enough to be level with buses for safe boarding and curb ramps allow people to travel to and from bus stops safely.
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Complete Streets Improvements: The Complete Streets projects aim to improve safety and access on non-arterial streets, including widening sidewalks, removing obstructions on walkways, expanding curb ramps, and crosswalk and signal enhancements. These upgrades benefit all users on neighborhood streets and make sidewalks safe for a variety of accessibility needs.
Sidewalk Improvements: The County recently completed a sidewalk condition assessment of 527 miles of sidewalks to determine their condition. The recently approved Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Years 2023-2032 will provide funding in fiscal year 2024 to begin sidewalk repairs.
Accessible Pedestrian Signals: Arlington continues to update accessible pedestrian signals through new projects and signal maintenance upgrades to meet the most recent federal recommendations, with more than a third of the intersections in the County having the functionality. Learn more about accessible pedestrian signals.
Building Housing Supports
The Housing Grant Program provides rental assistance to low-income Arlington residents, including renters who have a permanent disability. The County also continues to invest in programs that prioritize housing placements for individuals with disabilities—including those who are homeless or exiting public institutions or health care facilities—by contributing to permanent supportive housing (PSH) households in coordination with its Continuum of Care (CoC) partners. For more information about these programs and services, visit the County’s PSH Program page and CoC Homeless Services page.
WORK
Advancing Employment Opportunities
Arlington County’s Ticket to Work program offers participants the opportunity to achieve greater financial independence by providing education about benefits, individualized employment services, and offering support for maintaining meaningful work for individuals between the ages of 18 and 64 who are currently receiving Social Security disability benefits. In addition, Job Avenue Program provides employment opportunities and support to people with mental health conditions to place them on a path to independence.
Arlington County is committed to maximizing outcomes for persons with developmental disabilities through service coordination and implementation in the most integrated community settings. This includes Developmental Disability Services such as support coordination, residential services and employment, habilitation and transportation.
PLAY
Exploring Fun and Recreation in Arlington
Anyone can enjoy Arlington County’s programs, services, activities, and amenities managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation. Arlington parks and facilities have many accessible features and amenities. For example, the Quincy Park playground was designed with elements of inclusive play to ensure children with diverse abilities can interact side by side, make friends and enjoy their playtime. Find a park for you.
Additional Resources for Arlingtonians with Disabilities
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Arlington County Community Services Board (CSB): Appointed by the County Board, the CSB oversees services provided by the Department of Human Services to persons with mental health conditions, developmental disabilities, and substance use. Learn about the full range of CSB services and specialized services for people with disabilities
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Arlington County Disability Advisory Commission (DAC): Appointed by the County Board, the DAC advises the County on ways to meet the needs of individuals with sensory and physical disabilities and assists in seeking compliance with federal and state legislative mandates.
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Arlington Public Schools (APS) Office of Special Education: Provides ongoing support for students with disabilities, parents/guardians, principals, and school staff in the areas of evaluation, identification, placement, instruction, and transition services.
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Mid-Atlantic ADA Center: The Center provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of businesses, government entities, organizations, and individuals in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
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National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Northern Virginia: Offers support to individuals affected by mental health conditions through support, education, and advocacy.
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Regional, Education, Assessment, Crisis Services, Habilitation (REACH) services: Crisis stabilization and related services, collectively known as REACH, are available 24/7 for individuals of all ages with documented evidence of an intellectual and/or developmental disability and individuals over 18 years of age with mental health and/or at-risk behavioral conditions.
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The Arc of Northern Virginia: Promotes and protects the human rights of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and actively supports their full inclusion and participation in the community throughout their lifetimes.
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The ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV): Provides resources and advocacy that empower people with disabilities to live independently.
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The Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Persons: Empowers deaf and hard of hearing individuals and their families through education, advocacy, and community involvement.
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Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services: Provides programs and services that empower individuals with disabilities to maximize their employment, independence, and full inclusion into society.
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