What Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) does

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) is a Virginia state government agency that serves as the Commonwealth's designated Developmental Disabilities Council under the federal Developmental Disabilities Act, operating since 1992/1993 with 45 staff and headquarters recently relocated to 5620 Cox Road, Glen Allen, VA. Its mission is to advance community-based living, employment, education, and healthcare access for Virginians with developmental disabilities through four primary functions: policy advocacy (including mandated annual assessments and recommendations), grant-making to community organizations (approximately $631K distributed over 10/1/23–9/30/25), training programs (Partners in Policymaking and Youth Leadership Academy, which educated 2,909 people over the same period), and information-access initiatives such as the Information Access Champions program and the My Life, My Community external resource portal. VBPD serves people with developmental disabilities and their families as primary beneficiaries, while operating through a partner ecosystem that includes state agencies (DARS, DBHDS, DMAS, VDH), Centers for Independent Living (VACIL), universities (VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities), and advocacy nonprofits (The Arc of Virginia, ECNV).

The agency's underlying technology is modest and mission-aligned rather than commercial: a WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliant public website (vbpd.virginia.gov) serving as the central information hub, supplemented by social media channels (Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram), a Constant Contact email newsletter, and externally hosted resource tools such as mylifemycommunityvirginia.org. VBPD has no commercial software product, no API, no developer platform, and no mobile app; its digital presence is purely informational and accessibility-focused.

VBPD's business model is government-funded rather than revenue-generating. It receives 100% of its federal funding — $1,751,030 in financial assistance from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) — plus separate Virginia state appropriations. All services, training, and resources are provided at no cost to beneficiaries. Go-to-market is community-led via policy advocacy, grant programs, training events, and partnerships with disability advocacy organizations across the Commonwealth; there is no commercial sales motion, pricing model, or customer acquisition cost structure typical of a private-sector company.

Name

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD)

Legal name

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities

Website

https://vbpd.virginia.gov

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) is a Virginia state agency and the Commonwealth's Developmental Disabilities Council, providing policy advocacy, grant-making, training, and information resources to people with developmental disabilities and their families across Virginia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Government Social Services / Developmental Disabilities Council

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Education, Disability Support & Inclusive Education Nonprofits (BPAGADAH)

akta.pro secondary industry

Disability Services & Independent Living Support (BPAGACAG)

Keywords

• Developmental disabilities services
• Disability policy advocacy
• Community grants program
• Leadership training programs
• Disability information access

Headquarters

HQ city

Glen Allen

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Others, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Federal Funding (ACL/HHS): VBPD receives federal financial assistance from the Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The total assistance award is $1,751,030.00 with 100% funding by ACL/HHS.
2. State Appropriations: As a state agency, VBPD also receives funding from Virginia state government appropriations to support operations and grant programs.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

VBPD serves as Virginia's Developmental Disabilities Council, providing policy advocacy to state government, administering a community grants program, and offering training and information services to people with developmental disabilities, their families, and partner organizations. Its core offerings include the Partners in Policymaking leadership program, the Youth Leadership Academy, the Board Assessment process, the Information Access Champions initiative, the My Life, My Community waiver education program, and a federally funded grants portfolio. All services are delivered at no cost to Virginians and are supported by a federal award from the U.S. Administration for Community Living (HHS) of approximately $1,751,030.

Product overview

The Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD) operates as the Developmental Disabilities Council for the Commonwealth of Virginia, providing a suite of information, advocacy, and grant-making services rather than a commercial software product. The core offering is the VBPD Information Portal (website), which serves as the central hub connecting people with disabilities to resources, policy information, and training opportunities. VBPD's portfolio includes two primary training programs—Partners in Policymaking and Youth Leadership Academy—that build advocacy capacity among individuals with disabilities and their families. The Grants Program distributes funding to community organizations advancing disability inclusion across Virginia. Policy functions include Board Assessments (annual research reports mandated by state law) and the Bill of the Week initiative that tracks legislation. The Information Access Champions program promotes accessible information practices statewide. External resources like My Life, My Community extend these services beyond VBPD's own platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• VBPD Information Portal (Website) Accessible online information portal providing Virginians with developmental disabilities, their families, and partner organizations with information about VBPD programs, policies, services, and disability resources. The portal is WCAG 2.1 Level AA compliant.
• Partners in Policymaking Leadership and policy training program for adults with developmental disabilities and parents of young children with developmental disabilities, equipping participants with the knowledge and skills to influence disability policy and systems change in Virginia.
• Youth Leadership Academy Training program for youth with developmental disabilities that develops leadership, advocacy, and self-determination skills in preparation for transition to adult life and community leadership roles.
• Community Grants Program Federally funded community grantmaking program that awards funds to Virginia-based disability organizations and community partners for projects that advance self-determination, independence, and inclusion of people with developmental disabilities.
• Board Assessment Process Annual assessment process conducted by VBPD to identify priority issues affecting Virginians with developmental disabilities and to deliver formal recommendations to the Governor, state agencies, and the General Assembly.
• Information Access Champions VBPD initiative that trains self-advocates, family members, and disability professionals to become local champions who expand access to information, assistive technology, and accessible communication for people with developmental disabilities.
• My Life, My Community Education and outreach program that helps individuals with developmental disabilities and their families understand Virginia's Medicaid waiver options and access community-based long-term services and supports.
• Bill of the Week Recurring legislative engagement publication that summarizes and explains Virginia General Assembly bills relevant to people with developmental disabilities, helping self-advocates and families engage with the legislative process.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2909 people educated or trained on key disability topics
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Partnership for People with DisabilitiescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 January 2026VCU receives grants ($200,000) for oral health care expansion for people with developmental disabilities. VBPD works with VCU on assessment reports and training programs.
• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 October 2024DARS received a $339,680 grant to support disability services. DARS is part of the Info Access Steering Committee and No Wrong Door program partnership.
• ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECNV is a key partner receiving grants for disability inclusion programs including Pre-Employment Transition Services ($200,000) and Latino disability information initiatives ($300,000). ECNV collaborates on the Bienvenidos Todos project to provide culturally appropriate disability services information.
• The Arc of VirginiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Arc of Virginia is a key advocacy partner, receiving grants for self-advocacy programs including the ALLY Alliance. Collaborates on legislative guides and policy initiatives.
• Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVACIL represents Centers for Independent Living statewide and is a partner in the Information Access Champions initiative. Endependence Center (VACIL member) receives grants.
• Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDBHDS is a key state agency partner in the disability services system. VBPD provides policy comments on waiver programs and regulations affecting people with developmental disabilities.
• Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDMAS manages Medicaid waiver programs affecting people with disabilities. VBPD provides policy comments on managed care procurement and HCBS waiver programs.
• Centers for Independent Living (CILs)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCILs are local partners that help people with disabilities take charge of their lives. VBPD funds grants through CILs and partners on the Info Access Champions initiative.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• California State Council on Developmental Disabilities: California's state Developmental Disabilities Council, authorized under the same federal DD Act as VBPD. Performs identical statutory functions (policy advocacy, grantmaking, information access) but for California's larger population, making it a structural parallel and federal funding peer.
• Texas Council for Developmental Disabilities: Texas's state DD Council, also federally funded by ACL/HHS. Mirrors VBPD's grantmaking, advocacy, and training mission in a different state and serves as a direct structural counterpart in the national DD Council network.
• New York State Developmental Disabilities Council: New York's state DD Council operating under the same federal framework as VBPD. Comparable scope of policy advocacy, grants, and assessment work, with overlapping partner types (university centers, CILs, advocacy organizations).

Direct peers

• Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS): Virginia state agency that received a $339,680 VBPD grant and sits on the Info Access Steering Committee. Operates complementary disability and vocational rehabilitation programs funded through federal-state streams overlapping with VBPD's mandate.
• Virginia Association of Centers for Independent Living (VACIL): Statewide association representing Virginia's Centers for Independent Living. VBPD's core partner in the Information Access Champions initiative and primary channel for distributing grant-funded services to end users.
• The Arc of Virginia: Virginia's statewide disability advocacy nonprofit and a VBPD grant partner. Operates the same self-advocacy, legislative engagement, and family support programs VBPD funds, making it a channel-partner and direct functional peer in the disability services ecosystem.
• VCU Partnership for People with Disabilities: Virginia Commonwealth University's university center for developmental disabilities, a VBPD grant partner ($200K oral health expansion). Functions as both a grantee and a research/training peer in Virginia's disability services ecosystem.
• ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV): Northern Virginia Center for Independent Living and recipient of multiple VBPD grants ($200K Pre-ETS, $300K Latino disability information). Provides disability services and advocacy directly to end users in the same VCIL network VBPD funds.

Others

• Disability Rights Virginia: Virginia's federally-funded Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system. Operates alongside VBPD in the disability services ecosystem with overlapping constituent base and policy advocacy focus, though its mandate is legal protection rather than DD Council coordination.
• National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD): National membership association for the 56 state and territorial DD Councils. VBPD is a member; this body coordinates federal policy, training, and information sharing across the DD Council network VBPD operates within.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@VABoard
• Facebookfacebook.com/VABOARD
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/virginia-board-for-people-with-disabilities-vbpd
• Instagraminstagram.com/va_board

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Virginia Board for People with Disabilities (VBPD)