A Brief Timeline of the Virginians with Disabilities Act

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Did you know Virginia had its own disability rights law five years before the Americans with Disabilities Act was passed? The Virginians with Disabilities Act (VDA) was signed into law in 1985 and has been protecting the rights of millions of people with disabilities across the Commonwealth ever since. Learn more about how this important law has evolved over the years in the timeline below.

1950s – Virginia passes its first white cane laws, requiring drivers to yield to pedestrians with vision loss and making it illegal for anyone without a disability to carry a white cane. These laws lay early groundwork for disability protections in the state.

1973 – The federal Rehabilitation Act prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in federally funded programs, influencing state-level efforts across the country.

1984 – The Virginians with Disabilities Act (VDA) is introduced to the General Assembly. The bill aims to expand protections to people with both physical and mental disabilities. 

1985 – The Virginians with Disabilities Act is signed into law. The new protections are a milestone, though the final version includes compromises such as limiting required workplace accommodations if they create an “undue burden” for employers. The VDA also establishes the Department for Rights of the Disabled.

1988 – The law is amended to expand workplace protections. Instead of requiring people with disabilities to prove they could perform job duties without any accommodation, the amendment recognizes the right to reasonable accommodations, bringing Virginia’s law closer to federal standards.

2002 – The Department for Rights of the Disabled is replaced by the Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy (VOPA), which operates with stronger authority to advocate for people with disabilities.
2012 – VOPA transitions into the disAbility Law Center of Virginia (dLCV), an independent nonprofit that continues to serve as the state’s protection and advocacy agency.

2024 – The VDA is updated to require places of public accommodation to remove barriers to accessibility when doing so is “readily achievable.”

2025 – A new amendment expands protections to include the right of people with disabilities to access public playgrounds, reflecting an increased focus on community inclusion.


Why It Matters Today

Nearly 40 years after its passage, the Virginians with Disabilities Act continues to protect the rights of an estimated 1.9 million Virginians with disabilities. While state law still differs in some ways from federal law, the VDA remains a cornerstone of disability rights in the Commonwealth. Step by step, the VDA continues to move Virginia closer to a future where accessibility and equity are a given for everyone.


Location: Richmond, VA, USA

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