Fairfax County proclamation for the 36th anniversary of the Americans for Disability Act

July 22, 2026

On Sunday, we will celebrate the 36^th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

This landmark federal civil rights law prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities, and it ensures they have the same rights to participate fully in their communities, pursue employment, access public services, patronize businesses, travel, communicate, and live independently.

At our meeting last week, the Board of Supervisors recognized this monumental legislation with a proclamation recognizing the ADA’s anniversary (see photo above).

Fairfax County is committed to providing accessible programs and services, so residents have equal access and opportunities. You may not be aware, but a significant number of county residents report living with a disability: 8% or approximately 92,000 individuals.

Next Monday, I’ll be participating in a summit on advancing inclusion for adults with disabilities and significant support needs.

Sponsored by the nonprofit SPARC, I’ll be joining U.S. Senator Tim Kaine, Congressman James Walkinshaw and several state and local officials.

I’m joining a panel discussion about reforms and innovations to ensure an inclusive future for adults with disabilities and complex needs. Along with my fellow panelists, I’ll address what I believe are the obstacles to full inclusion and how I think we should begin to remove these barriers.

Fairfax County is also holding its own accessibility-focused event next week on Thursday, July 30. AccessAbility Fairfax is a chance to connect with county agencies, services and organizations that can help people with disabilities and their families, including:

MetroAccess and reduced-cost transportation programs
Benefits and financial assistance support
Information about housing programs and home repair assistance
Mental health services and referral assistance
Emergency alert system registration

At the event, you may also enjoy a limited number of free boxed lunches (distributed on a first-come, first-served basis), and qualified attendees may also receive a free $50 transportation gift card (limited number available).

Don’t miss the wellness and sensory zone that’s designed for relaxation and engagement.

(SPARC has created their own mobile sensory lab that I checked out earlier this year—see the video below. It travels to sites where the nonprofit operates, including the Cathy Hudgins Community Center. Watch the video below.)

If you can’t attend AccessAbility Fairfax, you may always contact Fairfax County’s Disability Rights and Resources line for referrals for services and programs. Call 703-324-7948, TTY 711 for personalized assistance.

Regards,

Walter

In This Edition

Free Movie Screening About Homelessness
Reston East Planning Study Open House July 27
Reston Association: Make Your Home Eco-Friendly Seminar
What's News in Vienna
Events and Activities

Shelter House Movie Screening July 25.

No Address Highlights Homelessness

What’s happening: Join me on Saturday, July 25 for a free screening of the award-winning film No Address a drama that highlights the realities of homelessness. It will be shown at TriVision Studios in Chantilly. Admission is free but registration is required.

Tell me more: Staring GRAMMY® award-winning singer/songwriter and actress Ashanti, the movie is inspired by true events, and it follows the journey of Lauren, a young woman pushed onto the streets and forced to survive against all odds. (Watch the trailer below.)

If you can’t attend Saturday’s free screening, watch the movie as a premium video on a variety of streaming platforms, including Prime Video, AppleTV and Fandango at Home. And consider financially supporting Shelter House. The nonprofit operates the county’s Katherine Hanley Family Shelter and Artemis House the county’s only 24/7 emergency shelter for victims of domestic violence.

Map of the Reston East Planning Study area

Reston East Planning Study Open House July 27. Learn About This Comprehensive Plan Study

What’s happening: Attend an open house to learn more about the Reston East Planning Study that I initiated earlier this year. This process studies potential changes and needs throughout this industrial-zoned corridor of suburban office properties after several landowners nominated their properties since 2022 to be redeveloped with new housing.

📅Monday, July 27

🕗7-9 p.m.

📍 Langston Hughes Middle School (11401 Ridge Heights Road, Reston)

This open house is a chance to chat with me and Fairfax County planning staff to:

Learn more about this Comprehensive Plan study, as well as the five associated plan amendments
Ask questions
Share feedback
Hear about the next steps on the process.

Tell me more: The study area encompasses approximately 119 acres in the area north of Sunrise Valley Drive between Upper Lake Drive and Hunter Mill Road. It also includes five Site Specific Plan Amendments that the Board of Supervisors approved for consideration in its 2025 Comprehensive Plan Work Program adopted this past June. Four of these amendments were authorized as part of the 2025 SSPA process while Preston White Drive was originally authorized for consideration during the 2022-2023 cycle.

Preston White Drive: The 9.1-acre site is located on Preston White Drive in the Branches Office Park. It’s currently developed with three low-rise office buildings from the 1980’s (1893, 1895, and 1897 Preston White Drive). The authorized plan amendment proposes a mix of townhome and multifamily uses up to 30 dwelling units/acre or a 1.2 FAR. (Read the 2022 staff summary.)
1851 Alexander Bell Drive: This almost 7.5-acre site is currently developed with two, four-story office buildings that are largely vacant (1835 and 1851 Alexander Bell Drive). The authorized plan amendment calls for an option for residential use of up to 18 dwelling units per acre, consisting of 86 townhouses and 46 stacked townhouses. (Read the staff summary.)
10690 Parkridge Boulevard: This authorized plan amendment is for the 7.6-acre site that's part of the Parkridge Center, and the site contains a nearly vacant office building, surface parking and a portion of a stormwater management pond. The plan amendment proposes adding an option for residential uses on the site, including options such as repurposing the existing office building into an apartment or senior housing, developing a new apartment building, developing townhomes, or a combination of these uses. (Read the staff summary.)
10800 Parkridge Boulevard: It is developed with a two-story office building that's occupied by the Social Security Administration, plus a surface parking lot. The authorized plan amendment calls for the addition of a residential neighborhood featuring townhomes and/or stacked townhomes. (Read the staff summary.)
10701 Parkridge Boulevard: This site that’s part of the Parkridge Center is currently developed with a three-story office building. The authorized plan amendment proposes adding an option for a residential community consisting of multi-family residential units and/or townhouses at a density of up to 1.35 FAR. (Read the staff summary.)

Reston Association Eco-Friendly Home Seminar on August 17, 2026

Make Your Home More Eco-Friendly. Learn How at Reston Association’s Seminar Aug. 17

What’s happening: Learn tips and tricks to make your home or cluster or condo association more eco-friendly. Join Reston Association Covenant Department’s virtual seminar:

📅 Monday, Aug. 17

🕕 6 p.m.

🔗 Join on Zoom (Meeting ID: 885 0203 8207 Passcode: 381470)

No advanced registration is required. This session will present practical strategies for creating more sustainable, eco-friendly, and cost-effective communities by prioritizing energy efficiency, using sustainable materials, and adopting smart technologies that reduce waste and utility costs

For more information, contact Catherine Castrence with Reston Association by email.

What's News in Vienna

Summer on the Green Concert Friday

Listen to band Fat Chance during the Summer on the Green concert this Friday, July 24, at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is encouraged to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket, but please leave your pets and alcohol at home. In the event of inclement weather, concerts may be canceled, and weather decisions are generally made between 4 and 5 p.m. on the day of the event. Check for cancelation updates on the town's weather line: 703-255-7842.

Southside Park Habitat Restoration July 27

Help remove invasive plants at Southside Park on Monday, July 27 from 10 a.m. to noon. The park is located at 1317 Ross Drive, SW, and meet up at the Ware-Walker entrance. Advance sign-up is appreciated but not required. To sign up or for more information, email Jeremy Edwards or call 571-722-7005.

Events and Activities 🎉

🪘Alfredo Mojica & Friends play salsa music tonight at Lake Anne Plaza.

💪🏼Take a free RTR Pilates class on July 23 at Reston Town Center.

🪕Bluegrass band The Seldom Scene performs on July 23 at Frying Pan Farm Park as part of Hunter Mill Melodies.

👦🏻👧🏻Grammy-nominated bilingual children’s performer Flor Bromley sings on July 23 at the Children’s Theatre-in-the-Woods at Wolf Trap.

🏄‍♀️Wouldn’t it be nice to hear The Beach Boys on July 23 at Wolf Trap.

🪇Latin pop band Ocho de Bastos plays July 23 at Halley Rise.

👻Take a ghost tour of historic Fairfax City on July 24.

🎹Josh Christina & The Revivals perform rock piano hits on July 24 at Reston Station.

🎭Reston Community Players present the musical “Dear Evan Hansen” on July 24 at South Lakes High School.

🎭STARS Performing Arts presents “The Music Man Sr.!” July 24-25 at the Great Falls Grange.

🎸Bob Dylan performs on July 24-25 at Wolf Trap.

🚣🏻‍♀️Rent a stand-up paddle board on July 25 & 26 at Lake Audubon.

🎸AC/DC tribute band HELL’S BELLES rock out on July 25 at Reston Town Center Pavillion.

🎈Balloon comic Paul Belanger showcases magic, juggling and balloon artistry on July 25 at Reston Town Square Park.

🏋🏻‍♀️Join lululemon’s free workout class on July 26 at Reston Town Center.

🔔Experience a healing sound bath on July 26 at Unity of Fairfax in Oakton.

🖥️Get one-on-one technology help on July 28 at the Reston Regional Library.

🪞Shenandoah Conservatory students present The Disney Classics on July 28 at Reston Town Square Park.

👩🏻‍🍳Experience the Battle of the Chefs on July 29 at Capital One Center.

📏Bad Influence plays blues and roots music on July 29 at Lake Anne Plaza.

🎤 Billboard-charting jazz singer Sharon Rae North performs on July 30 at Frying Pan Farm Park as part of Hunter Mill Melodies.

🎪Fairfax County Summer Carnival and Fair opens July 30 running through Aug. 2 at Frying Pan Farm Park.

🎤Desiree Jordan sings R&B and soul classics on July 30 at Halley Rise.

🎸 Rolling Stones tribute band Mother’s Little Helpers play July 31 at Reston Station.

🎸Ace Monroe plays high‑energy hard rock and blues‑rock on Aug. 1 at Reston Town Center.

🎞️ Watch the movie “Minions” on Aug. 1 at Reston Station.

😂 Laugh with Lohr Family Antics on Aug. 1 at Reston Town Square Park.

🎸 Acoustic rockers Speidel, Goodrich, Goggin and Lille return to the stage on Aug. 6 at Frying Pan Farm Park, and enjoy food from Leo’s Tacos.

🎷Jazz and Klezmer musician Seth Kibel performs on Aug. 6 at Halley Rise.

🎸 R&B tribute band The Tribe perform on Aug. 7 at Reston Station.

🎵Hard Day’s Night plays the Beatles classic hits on Aug. 8 at Reston Town Center.

🐍Learn about the Snakes of Reston on Aug. 8 at Walker Nature Center.

Find all events for these local organizations: Reston Community Center, Town of Vienna Parks and Recreation Programs, Tephra ICA and Arts Fairfax. Find other community events in the Reston Letter.

Stay Informed and In Touch

Hunter Mill District Supervisor Walter Alcorn

Huntermill@Fairfaxcounty.gov

703-478-0283, TTY 711

fairfaxcounty.gov/huntermill