Pathways to the Community: Online Safety Class
Creating the Framework for Future Planning: A Hands-On, Thought-Provoking Workshop Geared to Get you Started
Planning for a loved one with disabilities can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to navigate it alone. This interactive workshop guides you through the first steps of building a clear, practical plan, with hands-on tools to help you start creating your family’s roadmap with confidence.
Presenter: Cortney Heykoop, ChSNC
Who Should Attend
This seminar is for parents, caregivers, and family members of individuals with disabilities, including siblings and grandparents involved in planning. Professionals like educators, advocates, and service providers may also benefit from learning how to better guide families.
Key Topics Covered
- Understanding the Elements of a Futures Plan – legal, financial, personal, and community-based components.
- Balancing Priorities – how to think about planning for your loved one’s needs alongside your own retirement and family goals.
- Government Benefits and Supports – an overview of Medicaid waivers, SSI/SSDI, and how these fit into a long-term plan.
- Legal Tools – the role of special needs trusts, ABLE accounts, guardianship and alternatives, and letters of intent.
- Vision Planning – capturing what’s most important about your loved one’s quality of life, independence, and values.
- Practical Tools and Templates – concrete resources you can take home and use immediately.
The Arc of Loudoun strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable everyone, including people with disabilities, to engage fully. Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or needs language assistance should contact ally@thearcofloudoun.org. Three business days notice is requested.
We are excited to announce that The Arc of Loudoun is the charity partner of the LoCo Wine Festival this spring!
Join us April 25-26, 2026, noon to 5 pm! Get your tickets: locowinefestival.com/get-tickets
Join your friends in D.C.’s Wine Country for a wine tasting hosted by Loudoun County’s leading vineyards. Enjoy tastes from different local wineries while you meet and greet the knowledgeable people who are known for their high quality, Virginia wines. Enjoy delicious food, live music, shop from local artisans, and the opportunity to purchase your favorite wines by the glass, bottle, or case. There will be wine tastings, food trucks, life music, and a vendor market!
Sign up for our newsletter and watch your email for discounted tickets!
Designed with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in mind; specifically, those who are interested in improving their wellbeing and quality of life. Participants explore areas of wellbeing during six, 60-minute sessions! Attendance of all sessions is strongly encouraged.
The free, research-based My Wellbeing program includes six, 60-minute sessions that cover three areas of wellbeing: social/emotional, financial, and physical. Led by Financial Literacy and Nutrition Educators from Loudoun Extension Services, each session will include information about the topic shared and opportunity to engage in hands-on learning and discussion. Each session closes with participants developing personal plans for their own wellbeing.
Sessions
Offered Fridays from April 3 – May 8, 10:00 am to 11:00 am
Getting to Know You
Building community together
Time for Me
Understanding wellbeing
Social/Emotional Wellbeing
Building strong relationships
Financial Wellbeing
Understanding money
Physical Wellbeing
Enjoying good health and having energy
Pulling It All Together
Practicing how to make positive choices
Instructors
Abbey Burnett, M.S.
Financial Literacy Educator
Emily Jacobs, MS, RD
Nutrition Educator
Questions? Contact us at ally@thearcofloudoun.org.
This training will be offered in a hybrid format – join us in-person at Visit Loudoun or online!
Roughly a quarter of all U.S. adults have a disability—if you own or manage a business, that’s a lot of potential customers.
The Arc of Loudoun’s You Belong Here Disability Awareness and Accessibility Training helps businesses and their staff realize, understand and address the barriers people with all types of disabilities may face when they try to shop, stay or work at those businesses, and help businesses understand how people with disabilities might look for when finding and choosing a place to visit, shop or work.
When you complete the training you will receive a You Belong Here certification valid for a year, and a sensory comfort kit and reference materials to take back to work for a refresher on the training any time.
The training is offered by The Arc of Loudoun. The Arc of Loudoun’s mission is to advocate for, educate, serve and support people with disabilities. The Arc of Loudoun is committed to a just, equitable world for people with disabilities.
For more information about the training, contact us at info@thearcofloudoun.org.
The Arc of Loudoun strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable everyone, including people with disabilities, to engage fully. Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or needs language assistance should contact Eileen Shaffer at ally@thearcofloudoun.org. Three business days’ notice is requested.
The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV), in partnership with The Arc of Loudoun, will be at Rust Library on Tuesday, March 10, from 9:30-3:00PM. DMV Connect teams are equipped to conduct all DMV transactions except vital records and testing. Below is a list of all services they will be able to conduct at the event. Services are available for the whole family!
DMV Connect offers:
- REAL ID*
- Driver’s Licenses
- Identification Cards (Adult and Child)
- Adding Medical Indicator to ID Card
- Disabled Parking Placards
- Vehicle Titles (Titles will be mailed to customers)
- Hunting & Fishing Licenses
- Virginia Vital Records (Birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates – will be mailed to customers)
- Address Changes
- Vehicle Registrations
- Compliance Summaries
- Transcripts
Steps to Register
- Click “Book an Appointment”
- Select the Service Type you need
- Enter the zip code 20176
- Select DMV Connect – Arc of Loudoun @ Rust Library
- Select your time slot
- Enter your contact information to confirm!
Walk-ins are welcome. If you want to register and need assistance, please email eshaffer@thearcofloudoun.org
*REAL ID: Virginia domestic air travelers 18 + who don’t have a REAL ID or other acceptable identification will pay a $45 “ConfirmID” fee as of Feb. 1
Passports: Did you know you can also get a Passport at Rust Library? Save a Trip: https://library.loudoun.gov/passport
The Arc of Loudoun strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable everyone, including people with disabilities, to engage fully. Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or needs language assistance should contact Eileen Shaffer at ally@thearcofloudoun.org. Three business days’ notice is requested.
Join us for FUN games that will test your ABILITY!
Can you play cornhole with your non dominate hand? Can you shoot a basketball from a seated position in a wheelchair?
The Arc of Loudoun is launching a new fundraiser, ABILITY GAMES, that brings together individuals with disabilities, their families, and the broader community to promote empowerment, inclusion, and the joy of play. Participants of all ages and ability levels are encouraged to join in the fun, try new things, and support a powerful vision: a lifetime of opportunities for people with disabilities.
Participants of all ages and ability levels are invited to step into new perspectives, try adaptive activities, and experience firsthand the creativity and determination that define ability in all its forms. Together, we support a powerful vision: creating a lifetime of opportunities for people with disabilities.
Featured Games
Each activity is designed to simulate adaptive techniques and provide insight into different lived experiences, while having fun!
- Hookey / Ring Throw – Try your hand using only your non-dominant side, building coordination and a new appreciation for adapted play.
- Golf Shot – Chip onto the mat using your non-dominant hand, challenging balance and precision in a new way.
- Basketball Challenge – Shoot from a seated position while wearing visual-impairment simulation glasses to experience a different way of navigating the game.
- Obstacle Course – Navigate movement challenges while wearing a brace and added weight to simulate limited mobility.
- Marble Game – Use adaptive equipment like a universal cuff to complete fine motor tasks without finger dexterity.
- Cornhole – Play from a seated position, highlighting adaptive approaches to a classic game.
- One-Handed Challenge – Complete everyday tasks using only your non-dominant hand—simple in theory, eye-opening in practice
Old 690 Brewery
Come visit Hillsboro’s oldest brewery!
Old 690 Brewing Company is a local craft brewery in Hillsboro, Virginia, that is the first licensed farm breweries in Loudoun County. The brewery takes its name from its location along Route 690 and operates on a scenic farm property. With a focus on community and small-batch brewing, Old 690 offers a cozy, rustic setting where visitors can enjoy a variety of beers brewed on-site, including IPAs, stouts, porters, and seasonal offerings.
The taproom features a welcoming, farmhouse-inspired decor, and there’s an outdoor seating area that offers views of the surrounding Virginia countryside. Old 690 frequently hosts events, food trucks, and live music, making it a popular spot for both locals and visitors looking for a relaxed atmosphere to enjoy a quality craft beer.
Support by Sponsoring
Your sponsorship makes a meaningful impact! Your sponsorship supports an inclusive, engaging, and adaptable event, providing brand visibility through promotions, social media, and logo placement. Sponsorship opportunities are available at various levels, including in-kind contributions.
- Support the largest private employer in Leesburg’s Historic District.
- 6,000 + email distribution list (42% open rate)
- 3,300+ followers on Facebook
- 330+ followers on Instagram
- 575+ followers on LinkedIn
- 7K Website views
Sponsorship Deadline: Friday, September 4, 2026
Checks payable to: The Arc of Loudoun, 25 Catoctin Circle, SE, #1276 Leesburg, VA 20177
Questions contact Helen Parker, hparker@thearcofloudoun.org
Funds will support The Arc of Loudoun’s Ability Fitness Center. AFC is a therapeutic fitness and wellness center, serving clients with paralysis, mobility-related disorders and neurological conditions through intense activity-based recovery programs, pediatric play-based therapy, education and training. The Arc of Loudoun is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization whose mission is to advocate for, educate, serve and support people with disabilities and their families.
The Arc of Loudoun is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. EIN # 54-0835314.
Join us for our annual Disability Resource Fair, bringing together dozens of employers and community partners in one place.
Hosted by The Arc of Loudoun, this free event offers families, self-advocates, and caregivers the chance to learn more about the disability resources available throughout our community. Learn more about the Disability Resource Fair.
Interested in supporting this event? Let us know how you would like to be involved.
Do not miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and build meaningful community support.
You are cordially invited to attend The Arc of Loudoun’s Annual Meeting!
Join us for The Arc of Loudoun’s Annual Meeting, a special gathering to celebrate our impact, share important updates, and look ahead to the future. This meeting brings together staff, board members, supporters, and community partners to reflect on our accomplishments, recognize outstanding contributions, and reaffirm our commitment to advocating for, educating, serving, and supporting people with disabilities and their families in our community.
Register today for this free event! Register Here
Hosted by the Board of Directors and The Arc’s Leadership Team, the agenda includes voting on the proposed slate of Board Directors and Officers for the coming year, sharing organizational highlights and important announcements, running through a recap of the year’s highlights, and presentation of awards to three wonderful people who’ve gone above-and-beyond to support our mission over the past year.
When: Tuesday, June 9
5:00pm – 7:00pm
Where: The Arc of Loudoun
18665 Conference Center Drive, Leesburg, VA 20176
Three awards will be presented:
- BETH MILLS SERVICE AWARD
- MARY B. TETT VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR AWARD
- RICK BERRY PROFESSIONAL OF THE YEAR AWARD
This is a free event, and registrations are required. Donations are always appreciated to offset the cost of the event.
The vast majority of people with disabilities never experience the thrill of independently riding a two-wheel bicycle during their lifetime. Recent research shows that over 80% of people with Autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never learn to ride a two-wheel bicycle. iCan Bike defies those odds! The program builds on more than twenty years of research at the University of Illinois. Join us for camp the week of June 22nd!
Rider Information
Price: $400
Schedule
June 22nd to June 26
Parent orientation on June 21st
- Session #1: 8:30am – 9:45am
- Session #2: 10:05am – 11:20am
- Session #3: 11:40am – 12:55pm
- Session #4: 2:00pm – 3:15pm
- Session #5: 3:35pm – 4:50pm
Each rider will attend the same 75-minute session, Monday through Friday.
Important to know:
- Dropping off riders at the program is not permitted. A parent, legal guardian or other adult authorized to take responsibility for the rider must remain on site for duration of each day’s 75-minute program.
- On Friday, a parent, family member or sibling is expected to participate in the session so they will be able to support the rider after camp ends.
- Each rider is expected to have his/her own bike helmet, and by Wednesday of that week, his/her own properly fitted bicycle. Guidelines will be provided.
Rider requirements:
- Have a disability
- Minimum age 8 years old
- Able to sidestep to both sides
- Able to attend camp all 5 days
- Able to walk without assistive device
- Maximum weight 220 lbs.
- Willing and able to wear a properly fitted bike helmet
- Minimum inseam of 20” (measure from floor while rider is wearing sneakers)
- Accompanied by parent/guardian willing and able to intervene or assist staff as requested in addressing any prolonged disruptive or aggressive behavior
Volunteer Information
No prior experience working with people with disabilities necessary! iCan Bike is a week-long camp for people with disabilities; 40 children and young adults learn to ride a bike with the support of 80 volunteers!
Volunteers walk/jog/run alongside a rider as they learn to ride on a specialized, adapted bike for a 75-minute session (with short breaks) for five days, Monday through Friday. You provide encouragement and physical support as needed. The bond between rider and volunteer helps riders stay encouraged and motivated all week and graduate to riding a two-wheel bike independently!
Schedule
June 22nd to June 26
Volunteer orientation on June 21st
- Session #1: 8:30am – 9:45am
- Session #2: 10:05am – 11:20am
- Session #3: 11:40am – 12:55pm
- Session #4: 2:00pm – 3:15pm
- Session #5: 3:35pm – 4:50pm
Volunteer Requirements
- At least 14 years of age
- Can attend all five iCan Bike sessions
- Able to walk/jog approximately three miles during each 75-minute session
- Attend orientation Sunday, June 21, 1 – 2 pm
Many Thanks to Our Sponsors!
Many thanks to our Wheel Sponsor, NOVEC Helps, our Helmet Sponsors, Hilton Home2Suites and Tuscarora High School, our Pedal Sponsors, Clover Leaf Wealth Strategies, Jeff & Kathy Lubitz, We Rock the Spectrum – Loudoun, and Wegman’s, and our Friend Sponsor, NOVA Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for their support of this event!
Questions? Email us at ally@thearcofloudoun.org
Looking for more this summer?
The Down Syndrome Association of Northern Virginia is hosting iCan Swim Camp in Sterling the week of August 3rd and August 10th! Learn more at iCan Shine or for questions about this camp, please e-mail Dana at loudoun@dsanv.org or call 703-328-1869.
Use the Internet with Confidence in a Supportive and Accessible Environment!
Join Sgt. Sean Plummer with the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office for an interactive class on online safety.
Learn how to:
Register Today!
For more information, reach out to ally@thearcofloudoun.org.
The Arc of Loudoun strives to host inclusive, accessible events that enable everyone, including people with disabilities, to engage fully. Anyone who requires a reasonable accommodation for any type of disability or needs language assistance should contact ally@thearcofloudoun.org. Three business days notice is requested.
Details
Venue
Sterling, VA 20166 United States + Google Map