Every day, our Public Guardianship Program helps people in our community make important decisions, protect their rights and navigate the complexities of daily life. Much of that work happens quietly behind the scenes, through meetings, paperwork, phone calls and countless conversations. But every so often, all of our careful advocacy comes together in a way that reminds us what it’s really about: helping someone with an intellectual or developmental disability live a fuller, richer life on their own terms.
One of the people supported through our Public Guardianship Program (PGP), George, had talked for years about visiting his brother in Alaska. It was something he wanted deeply, but as the years passed, it began to feel like one of those dreams that simply wasn’t going to happen. The distance, the logistics and the level of support required made it an extraordinarily complicated trip to plan.
For Shannon Bond-Young, who leads our Public Guardianship Program, that wasn’t a reason to let the idea go. It was an incentive to figure out how to make it possible.
What followed was months of coordination involving nearly every corner of our organization, along with George’s residential provider, family members and other partners. There were travel plans to build, supports to coordinate, questions to answer and travel training in order to help George prepare for the journey. It took patience, creativity and more than a little persistence, but piece by piece, the barriers began to fall away.
A few weeks ago, Shannon accompanied George on his trip to Alaska, making sure he had the support he needed every step of the way. Once there, George was finally able to spend time with his brother, something he had hoped for over many years.
The trip itself was unforgettable. George experienced Alaska’s remarkable wilderness, spotted a bear, spent precious time with family and even reeled in a 40-pound halibut. Those are wonderful memories, but they aren’t really what made the trip special.
What mattered most was that George got to be with his brother. He got to share meals, stories, laughter and real time together. He got to experience the simple, profound joy of reconnecting with someone he loves.
That’s what our work at The Arc of Northern Virginia is about. Sometimes it looks like navigating complicated systems or coordinating dozens of moving parts. Sometimes it means insisting that “too difficult” is not the same thing as “impossible.” And sometimes, after all that work, it looks like two brothers spending time together in Alaska, creating memories they’ll carry with them for the rest of their lives.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Arc of Northern Virginia relies on private support from individuals, corporations, organizations, and foundations to fund our efforts. Your generous donations help make it possible for us to provide programs, services, and advocacy so that people with IDD can live “A Life Like Yours.”
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