Using Your Virginia Medicaid Waiver to Pay for Caregivers

Lucy Beadnell is the Director of Advocacy at The Arc of Northern Virginia where she oversees our region’s grassroots advocacy campaigns for people with developmental disabilities and creates informational resources for people with disabilities and their families. Lucy began volunteering with Arcs in college while studying vulnerable populations. She found her home in the mission of ensuring all human and civil rights for people with disabilities are respected. She has worked in residential settings for people with complex medical needs, as a case manager for individuals with public supports, and as a public guardian focused on empowering individuals to grow their self-advocacy skills. She has worked closely with families whose loved ones are leaving institutions, state and local legislators, and our community at large to share the mission of disability inclusion. Lucy is focusing a lot of efforts on Supported Decision Making, ensuring people with disabilities have independent and integrated housing, and reforming our justice system to better recognize and meet the needs of the disability community. She loves talking to people with disabilities and helping them share their stories to affect change. As a result of her efforts, she was selected as a 2018 40 Under 40 Awardee by the Leadership Center for Excellence and a 2020 40 Under 40 Awardee by the Washington Business Journal. Lucy is a mom of three adorable kids and lives with her family in South Arlington.