Leadership

Beginning with people like Mary Switzer and Corbett Reedy, the Virginia Chapter has provided strong leadership on state, regional and national levels. This has included Board memberships, Commission and Committee members and chairs, as well as Presidents of the Divisions. A Virginia Chapter member, Bill Brownfield served as national President in 1989 and 1990.

Access Us

This program is a forerunner of ADA. It is a national project promoting access in the United States for persons with disabilities through the surveying, identification and publication of facilities for meetings and lodging accommodations that met NRA's minimum accessibility guidelines. A guide for surveying facilities was published and each chapter had two surveyors trained by the national programmers to become state chapter "train the trainers." VRA offered site surveyors and information as a public service.

ADA

(signed into law July 26, 1990) VRA Membership was actively involved in all stages of this legislation. They supported, advocated and participated in the march on Washington. Several VRA members were present for the signing of the law. A VRA member who was serving as NRA President attended and was later invited to the White House by President Bush to receive recognition of VRA and NRA involvement in the creation, and advocacy for its passage.

National Legislative Representation

VRA is represented at the national level by a full time employee at the National Office. A VRA member worked on the Federal committee to write the Rehabilitation Amendment Act of 1992.

Mary Switzer Memorial Bust Fund

The Virginia Chapter served as a conduit for funds raised across the nation to have a bronze bust of mary Switzer created and mounted at the Mary Switzer Building in Washington.