Blog | The Arc of Hanover

They Would Still Be Worthy

By Erika Ronder Rogers, Guest Writer

Erika is the founder of Abide Village -- a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive and sustainable housing community (the foundation of which is at least 30 cottage-style homes to be built in Louisa County) designed to meet the needs of low-income individuals and those with disabilities.

*The author sharing a moment of fun with one of her sons.*

I’ve spent the last few days watching the internet react to a video where a couple chose to abort their baby because he had Down syndrome.

[You can read one of the many published stories about this account here.]

What struck me most wasn't just the decision itself -- it was the reasoning behind it. The comments about people with Down syndrome being a "glitch," a burden, or destined for a "bad life" reveal something much deeper about how our society still measures human worth.

Years ago, I traveled to the other side of the world multiple times specifically to adopt children with Down syndrome. Today, four of those children are my sons and daughters.

They go to school. They attend sporting events. They go to dances. They travel. They go to the beach, the zoo, and church. They have friends, favorite foods, hobbies, opinions, and dreams. They laugh until they can't breathe. They bring joy, frustration, chaos, and love to our family — just like every other child.

But even if they never did any of those things, they would still be worthy.

Because a person's value is not determined by their IQ, productivity, independence, diagnosis, or what they can contribute to society. Human beings have worth simply because they are human.

What is most heartbreaking to me is that in 2026, we still look at people through the lens of what they cannot do and use that to determine whether their lives are valuable.

My children are not mistakes. They are not glitches.

They are image bearers of God.

They are worthy of dignity, belonging, love, and life.

And so is every human.

To learn more about Abide Village, visit their website or follow their Facebook page.

If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.

If you are a disability self-advocate, parent, caregiver or concerned citizen interested in writing a blog post for The Arc of Hanover -- on family relationships or any subject -- please contact Sue Jeantheau, Communications Committee, at sue.jeantheau@thearcofhanover.org.

A Small Tax Change That Could Make Giving a Little Easier

By Otis Fulton, Guest Writer

You may have heard something recently about changes to charitable giving and taxes, but like most tax topics, it can be hard to tell what actually applies to you.

Here’s the simple version:

You may now be able to deduct charitable donations, even if you don’t itemize your taxes.

That’s new (again). And for many people, it makes giving just a little more rewarding.

What Changed?

Under a recent update to federal tax law, people who take the standard deduction can now claim an additional deduction for charitable gifts made in cash to qualified nonprofits.

That means:

Up to $1,000 for individuals
Up to $2,000 for married couples filing jointly

In the past, you could only deduct donations if you itemized your taxes. For most people, that meant their giving didn’t affect their taxable income at all.

Now, it can.

What Does That Actually Mean?

Let’s make this practical.

If you’re someone who:

Gives to causes you care about (like The Arc of Hanover)
Takes the standard deduction (like most Americans do)

You can now reduce your taxable income by the amount you give, up to the limits above.

That doesn’t mean your taxes go down dollar-for-dollar, but it does mean your generosity can have a small financial benefit at tax time.

A Simple Example

Let’s say you:

Donate $500 during the year
Take the standard deduction

Under the previous rules, that $500 didn’t affect your taxes.

Under the new rule: You can subtract that $500 from your taxable income.

It’s not a huge change, but it’s meaningful. And for many people, it’s a welcome recognition of something they were already doing: giving.

Why This Matters for Our Community

For organizations like The Arc of Hanover, support from individuals makes everything possible.

It’s what helps:

Provide job training opportunities
Build independence for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities
Create real pathways into the workforce and community life

Most people don’t give because of a tax benefit. They give because they care. But when policies like this change, they can make it a little easier to say yes.

A Good Time to Pay Attention

If you already give to causes you care about, this is simply something to be aware of when you think about your year-end giving or tax planning.

If you’ve ever wondered whether your donation “counts” at tax time -- now, for many people, it does.

Tax situations can vary, so it’s always a good idea to check with a tax professional or review guidance from the IRS if you have questions about your specific situation.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need a tax incentive to be generous. But it’s good to know that now, your generosity may come with an added benefit. And for the people and families served by organizations like The Arc of Hanover, that generosity continues to make a real difference -- every single day.

By the Way

If you're wondering about whether the updated law also includes in-kind donations or volunteer hour donations, you need to know it does not cover those. The change only impacts cash contributions.

If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.

What to Do When It's Hard to Have a Sibling

Updated: Apr 17

By Iso, age 9, an attendee in Hanover Sibshops

In February of 2026, The Arc of Hanover launched a new initiative for children ages 7 to 12 who have a sibling or siblings with special health, developmental or mental needs. One of our Hanover Community Collaborative partners, Infinite Abilities Counseling, now sponsors in partnership with us a sibling support group called Hanover Sibshops.

Aryn Jentz, LCSW, MBA, a therapist and practice owner of Infinite Abilities Counseling, LLC, hosts the monthly groups on the 2nd Tuesday of the month from 5:30 to 7 PM. Dinner and materials are included in the $10 per session fee.

"When kids have language for their feelings and safe peer connection, they’re more resilient long-term," says Jentz. "We aim to normalize that it’s possible to love your sibling and still feel frustrated, sad, or left out sometimes."

Sharing about her time in sessions is Iso, a 9-year-old girl with a brother who's medically complex.

The Arc of Hanover: Who are you?

Respondent: Iso, age 9

The Arc of Hanover: How did you hear about Hanover Sibshops?

Iso: [The Arc of Hanover] Newsletter.

The Arc of Hanover: Why were you invited to Hanover Sibshops?

Iso: My brother is medically complex and has lots of doctors to see.

*Iso is excited to share her game board of different feelings, represented by colored shapes on a pathway. She's looking forward to actually playing her game in a future session.*

The Arc of Hanover: Why did you decide to actually attend a session?

Iso: It’s good. I wanted to make friends with kids who understood what I had to go through too.

The Arc of Hanover: How many sessions have you attended?

Iso: 3? 4?

The Arc of Hanover: What has been your favorite part about going?

Iso: That we have good rules. You are not alone. Making crafts is always fun too!

The Arc of Hanover: What is something that isn't your favorite part?

Iso: That we talk about feelings. Sometimes it’s hard to share the struggles that I go through with others. I love having a safe place to go, but it can still be hard.

The Arc of Hanover: What has been the most helpful part? Something that you are using or thinking about away from a session?

Iso: The fidgets that we get.

The Arc of Hanover: What would you tell someone is a good reason to check out a session?

Iso (seated) enjoys her monthly Sibshops sessions with therapist Aryn Jentz, LCSW, MBA (standing), practice owner of Infinite Abilities Counseling, LLC. — Iso (*seated*) enjoys her monthly Sibshops sessions with therapist Aryn Jentz, LCSW, MBA (*standing*), practice owner of Infinite Abilities Counseling, LLC.

Iso: There’s lots of fun crafts and fidgets and you are safe there.

The Arc of Hanover: Will you keep attending sessions? Why or why not?

Iso: Yes! It is very helpful!

The Arc of Hanover: What advice would you share with other siblings that you have learned from Sibshops so far?

Iso: When you are angry don’t take it out on your sibling. You can’t always help your sibling, but sometimes you can. You are not the parent and most importantly you are not alone.

The Arc of Hanover: What were you not asked about in this interview that you would like to share with others?

Iso: I hope that more siblings come!! We have a great time and I would love to meet more kids to share our stories with!!

For more information about our next offering of Hanover Sibshops, visit our Events page.

There have been other recent programs on siblings.

"Supporting the Whole Family: Disability Through the Adult Sibling Lens" (March 2026) -- a meaningful conversation featuring adult siblings of individuals with disabilities, created by PEATC - Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center. Watch the full conversation here: https://youtu.be/sobTiBxJNbQ.
The Individual and Family Support Program's "My Life, My Community": mylifemycommunityvirginia.org/ifsp-archives (See right column, Developmental Disabilities (DD) and the Sibling Journey, March 2026)

If you want to help people in Hanover County with intellectual or developmental disabilities via The Arc of Hanover, donate here.