To make our communities more informed, inclusive and connected.
We help individuals with disabilities and their families discover the people, resources and opportunities around them.
About the foundation
Connection is where community begins.
We exist so that every person with a disability, and everyone who loves them, can find their people, their supports and their place in Southwest Virginia.
Why we are here
The help exists. Finding it should not be the hard part.
Ask any family how they found their therapist, their support group or their favorite inclusive playground. The answer is almost always the same: another parent told them.
That word-of-mouth network is powerful, and it leaves too many people out. The Common Connection turns it into something everyone can reach: a magazine on the counter at the pediatrician's office, a directory on your phone, an event where you are expected and welcome.
We are neighbors, parents, providers and self-advocates working toward a region where being included is ordinary.
A Southwest Virginia where everyone belongs, and knows it.
Where the first question is never “will we be welcome?” but “what time does it start?”
What guides us
Six promises we keep.
Start with families
People with disabilities and their families shape what we publish, list and host.
Local first
We cover what is here, in the Roanoke Valley and the counties around it, in detail.
Access is the baseline
Plain language, large type, screen-reader support and step-free venues come standard.
Tell the whole story
Real lives, told with dignity and joy. Never pity, never inspiration for its own sake.
Share the credit
We amplify the organizations already doing the work. Their success is the point.
Stay free for families
Sponsors and donors cover the cost so no family ever pays to be informed.
How it works
From one conversation to a whole community.
Every issue, listing and event follows the same simple loop.
Listen
Families and self-advocates tell us what they need and what they cannot find.
Gather
We track down the programs, people and places, then confirm the details.
Share
It goes into the magazine, the directory and Special Connections Roanoke.
Bring together
Events and partnerships turn information into relationships.
Accountability
Where each dollar goes.
Our planned first-year budget puts programs first. Sample figures
- Magazine, directory and publications78%
- Inclusive community events12%
- Operations7%
- Fundraising3%
Good questions
Asked and answered.
Who does The Common Connection serve?
Individuals with disabilities of every age, their families and caregivers, and the organizations and businesses that support them across Southwest Virginia.
Does anything cost money for families?
No. The magazine, the directory and our community events are free to families. Sponsors and donors make that possible.
How does Special Connections Roanoke fit in?
Special Connections Roanoke is our signature initiative: a community platform that highlights local services, inclusive events and opportunities throughout the Roanoke Valley. The foundation supports it alongside the magazine and directory.
Are donations tax-deductible?
Every gift is acknowledged with a receipt you can keep for your tax records, and monthly donors receive a year-end statement. The foundation's tax-exempt details will be published here.
How can my organization be listed or featured?
Use the “Suggest a resource” button in the directory or send us a note. Listings are always free.