Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Disability Inclusion topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fairfax County chair proclaims March 2026 Developmental Disabilities Inclusion Month; advocate urges supports
Summary
Chair Jeff McKay read a proclamation declaring March 2026 Developmental Disabilities Inclusion Month in Fairfax County. Advocate Corey Wiseman, speaking for local disability organizations, called for prioritizing education, competitive integrated employment and affordable housing for people with developmental disabilities.
Jeff McKay, chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, read a proclamation at a board meeting declaring March 2026 as Developmental Disabilities Inclusion Month and encouraged residents, businesses and community organizations to support accessibility and inclusion for people with developmental disabilities.
The proclamation, presented by McKay, said developmental disabilities affect “millions in the United States” and praised programs that remove barriers so individuals can “lead fulfilling lives” and participate fully in community life. The text urged collaboration, education, employment and community services to foster an environment where people with developmental disabilities can thrive.
Corey Wiseman, who identified himself as an artistic self‑advocate and a professional library page and said he was speaking on behalf of the Arc of Northern Virginia and the Fairfax‑Falls Church Community Services Board, told the board that “Inclusion is not just a word to me. It is my daily life.” He described working at the library, using a college degree on the job, and said meaningful employment is about purpose and contributing as well as pay. “Having meaningful employment isn't just about a paycheck. It's about purpose. It's about contributing,” he said.
Wiseman asked the board to continue prioritizing education, competitive integrated employment and affordable housing for people with disabilities, calling those areas “pathways to independence, dignity, and full participation in our community.” He described living independently in his own apartment and urged sustained investment in inclusion, leadership and opportunities for neighbors with disabilities.
The transcript records the proclamation reading and the public comment by Wiseman; it does not record a formal vote or adoption of a resolution during the excerpt provided. The proclamation language encourages community recognition and support for inclusion initiatives in Fairfax County.
