Bridging the Opportunity Gap
About Us
Who We Are
The Arc of Northern Virginia
Founded in 1962, The Arc of Northern Virginia represents and serves more than 39,000 individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) with direct service programs, education, and advocacy. For more than six decades, The Arc of Northern Virginia has recognized the continuity of needs across the life span of people with IDD, and the changing supports needed by the families who support them.
The Arc of Northern Virginia believes that people with IDD – such as autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and a number of rare chromosomal disorders – are a vital part of the community and have fundamental moral, civil and constitutional rights to be fully included and actively participate in all aspects of society.
![hero-image hero-image](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/hero-image-1110x1280.png)
Our Mission:
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.
![img aon 244 video img aon 244 video](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/img-aon-244-video.jpg)
Where We Are
The Arc of Northern Virginia is a local chapter of the largest national non-profit organization serving people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) and their families.
Our service area includes the Cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, and Falls Church; and Arlington and Fairfax Counties in Virginia. We are a small, grassroots, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization governed by a local volunteer board of directors. We receive some funding for the direct services we provide, but we are largely supported by membership dues and donations.
Our internal team is made up of a diverse group of professionals with a wide range of expertise in nonprofit management, advocacy, fund development, program development and evaluation, financial management, technology solutions, communications strategies, event management, and more. Together, we aim to provide responsive programs and services of the highest quality to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities of all ages and their families.
Our Staff
Administration
![Melissa Heifetz Melissa Heifetz](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/melissa_heifetz.webp)
![Grace Rhodes Grace Rhodes](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Grace-Rhodes-1.webp)
Advocacy
![Lucy Beadnell Lucy Beadnell](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Lucy-Beadnell.webp)
Communications & Community Relations
![Chia Lee chia lee](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/chia-lee-website.png)
703.208.1119 ext. 114
chia.lee@thearcofnova.org![Rob Hudson rob hudson](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/rob.hudson2.png)
703.208.1119 ext. 120
rhudson@thearcofnova.orgDevelopment
![Howard Stregack Howard Stregack](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Howard-Stregack.webp)
![Laura Allen Laura Allen](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Laura-Allen.webp)
![Alyssa Zawicki Alyssa Zawicki](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Alyssa-Zawicki.webp)
DD Wavier Support Coordination
![Cheryl Johnson Cheryl Johnson](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Cheryl-Johnson.webp)
![Lisa Fong Lisa Fong](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Lisa-Fong.webp)
![Melissa House Melissa House](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Melissa-House2.webp)
![Hillary Rodak Hillary Rodak](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Hillary-Rodak.webp)
![Erli Ross Erli Ross](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Erli-Ross-1.webp)
![Ebony Bowers ebony bowers](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/ebony-bowers.png)
![Nicole Zupan Nicole Zupan](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Nicole-Zupan.webp)
Programs
![Diane Monnig Diane Monnig](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Diane-Monnig.webp)
Public Guardianship
![Shannon Bond-Young Shannon Bond-Young](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/shannon-Bond-Young-1.webp)
703-208-1119 ext. 122
sbond-young@thearcofnova.org![Wendy Asmen Wendy Asmen](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Wendy-Asmen.webp)
Special Needs Trust
![Ana Hughes Ana Hughes](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Ana-Hughes2-1.webp)
![Reanna Weatherford reanna weatherford](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/reannaw-e1712673788134.jpeg)
![Kevin Collins Kevin Collins](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Kevin-Collins.webp)
![Allie Shelby Allie Shelby](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Allie-Shelby.webp)
![Fiona Wright Fiona Wright](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Fiona-Wright.webp)
Tech for Independent Living
![Ashley Africa-Osborne Ashley Africa-Osborne](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Ashley-Africa.webp)
703.208.1119 ext. 140
aafrica@thearcofnova.org![Ashley Schalick Ashley Schalick](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ashley-Schalick.webp)
703.208.1119 ext. 117
aschalick@thearcofnova.org![Keziah Wohlers Keziah Wohlers](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Keziah-Wohlers.webp)
703-208-1119 ext. 143
kwohlers@thearcofnova.org![Sarah Cornett Sarah Cornett](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/sarah-cornett2-1.webp)
![Daniel Soya Daniel Soya](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/daniel-soya.png)
![Claire McTiernan Claire McTiernan](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Claire-McTiernan-1.webp)
Testimonials
Expressions of gratitude from those who have been helped by our work
![img newsletter 2 img newsletter 2](https://thearcofnova.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/img-newsletter-2-1118x1280.png)
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