Leaders Across Virginia Honored for Advancing Disability Rights and Inclusion

The 2026 disABILITY Impact Awards brought together advocates, community leaders, organizations, public servants, and supporters from across Virginia to recognize the people creating meaningful change for individuals with disabilities.

Hosted virtually by the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV), this year’s ceremony celebrated leadership in advocacy, accessibility, inclusion, community engagement, and systems change.

These awards reflect the power of collective action and the importance of continuing to advance disability rights across the Commonwealth.

In 2025 alone, dLCV:

• Served 2,846 individuals
• Improved an estimated 271,490 lives through systemic advocacy
• Reached 187,220 people through training and education

The individuals and organizations honored through the disABILITY Impact Awards represent that broader movement for access, equity, independence, and justice.

On This Page

• 2026 Honorees
• Watch the 2026 Impact Awards Recap
• 2027 Nominations

2026 disABILITY Impact Award Honorees

From advocacy and public service to community leadership and systems change, this year’s honorees reflect the many ways individuals and organizations are advancing disability rights and inclusion across the Commonwealth.

Darrel Tillar Mason Excellence in Advocacy Award

Dr. Andrea Banks, I Am Me Services

Dr. Andrea Banks was honored for her outstanding leadership and commitment to person-centered support for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Virginia.

Through I Am Me Services and her broader advocacy efforts, Dr. Banks empowers individuals and families by promoting dignity, independence, autonomy, and meaningful community inclusion. Her work reflects a deep commitment to ethical, individualized support that helps people build confidence, life skills, and greater independence.

Organizational Honorees

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME

Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia (HOME) was recognized for advancing fair and equitable housing opportunities through advocacy, enforcement, education, and statewide systems change.

Through legal advocacy, technical assistance, and community education, HOME continues to address housing discrimination and strengthen accessibility and inclusion for individuals with disabilities across Virginia.

Sportable

Sportable was honored for expanding access to adaptive sports, recreation, and wellness opportunities for individuals with disabilities across Virginia.

Through more than a dozen programs serving hundreds of athletes annually, Sportable helps individuals build confidence, community, and lifelong connections through inclusive athletics.

Individual Honorees

Dustin Wrigh

Dustin Wright was recognized for his commitment to expanding access to mental health care, behavioral health education, and crisis intervention services across Virginia.

Through his clinical work, training efforts, and mental wellness resources, Dustin continues to advance compassionate, accessible, and community-centered care for individuals and families.

Irra Kal

Irra Kala was honored for her innovation and leadership in assistive technology through the creation of “Brainee,” a brain-controlled wheelchair concept designed to increase independence and mobility for individuals with disabilities.

Her work reflects the power of youth-driven innovation and the importance of designing accessible solutions that expand opportunity and inclusion.

Jeniece Perkin

Jeniece Perkins was recognized for her leadership and dedication to helping individuals with disabilities achieve greater independence and self-determination.

Through her work with youth and adults at the Disability Resource Center in Fredericksburg, Jeniece supports independent living skills, financial literacy, self-advocacy, and workplace readiness while mentoring the next generation of self-advocates.

Eileen Shaffer

Eileen Shaffer was honored for her advocacy, leadership, and commitment to supporting individuals with disabilities and their families throughout Northern Virginia.

Through her work with the Ally Advocacy Center at The Arc of Loudoun and the creation of the Disability Resource Fair, Eileen has helped connect hundreds of families to critical resources, services, and community support.

Legislative Heroes

Delegate Holly Seibold

Delegate Holly Seibold was recognized for her advocacy and leadership in advancing protections for individuals with developmental disabilities during the 2026 legislative session.

Following dLCV’s December 2025 report examining preventable deaths among individuals with developmental disabilities in community settings, Delegate Seibold championed legislation aimed at strengthening accountability for providers with repeated health and safety violations.

Delegate Leslie Mehta

Delegate Leslie Mehta was honored for her leadership in advancing legislation to strengthen emergency preparedness and safety protections for individuals with developmental disabilities across Virginia.

Her legislation requiring medical emergency simulations and CPR preparedness for providers licensed by DBHDS was signed into law by the Governor and is expected to help save lives in community-based settings throughout the Commonwealth.

Distinguished Service Award

Stephanie Ellsworth-Cofield

Stephanie (Stephy) Ellsworth-Cofield was recognized for her dedicated volunteer service and advocacy supporting individuals with disabilities and other vulnerable community members across Virginia.

As a dLCV volunteer, Stephy has contributed to legislative advocacy efforts, polling place accessibility surveys, and institutional monitoring initiatives that help identify and prevent abuse, neglect, and barriers to access throughout the Commonwealth.

Watch the 2026 disABILITY Impact Awards Recap

Missed the event or want to revisit the celebration? Watch highlights from the 2026 disABILITY Impact Awards and hear from the advocates, leaders, and organizations helping shape a more inclusive Virginia.

Looking Ahead to 2027

Nominations Are Now Open

The disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV) is proud to continue the disABILITY Impact Awards in 2027 and celebrate the individuals, organizations, advocates, and leaders advancing disability rights and inclusion across the Commonwealth.

Nominations for the 2027 disABILITY Impact Awards are now open.

Whether through advocacy, education, accessibility, public service, innovation, or community leadership, dLCV encourages the public to help recognize those creating meaningful change for people with disabilities in Virginia.

Presenting Sponsor

The 2026 disABILITY Impact Awards were made possible through the support of Virginia Housing, whose partnership helps advance disability rights, accessibility, and inclusion across Virginia.

About the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV):

The dLCV is the Commonwealth’s Protection and Advocacy Program, tasked with providing a wide range of services to Virginians with disabilities. dLCV’s is to advance independence, choice and self-determination; protect legal, human and civil rights; and eliminate abuse, neglect and discrimination of people with disabilities through zealous and uncompromising legal advocacy and representation.