2026 SESSION

INTRODUCED

26103827D

HOUSE RESOLUTION NO. 71

Offered February 4, 2026

Commending Didlake, Inc.

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Patron—Maldonado

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WHEREAS, Didlake, Inc., a nonprofit organization headquartered in Manassas that has been at the forefront of creating pathways to employment and community inclusion for people with disabilities, celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2025; and

WHEREAS, Didlake began in 1965 as a school founded by visionary families in Prince William County and evolved in response to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to focus on employment as a vehicle for empowerment and independence; and

WHEREAS, Didlake has expanded its reach, providing diverse employment opportunities to more than 1,000 people with disabilities across more than 40 federal, state, and commercial sites; and

WHEREAS, Didlake's employment services and day support programs support more than 1,500 additional Virginians, matching people with jobs and community engagement opportunities; and

WHEREAS, Didlake's commercial businesses, including a document and photo scanning operation and two The UPS Store franchises in Manassas and Fairfax, demonstrate a deep commitment to building communities where people with disabilities are valued, respected, and empowered; and

WHEREAS, Didlake's accomplishments underscore that workplaces inclusive of people with disabilities strengthen our economies, enrich our communities, and reflect the core values of dignity, equity, and opportunity for all; and

WHEREAS, Didlake's 60 years of leadership and service serve as a model for how businesses in the Commonwealth can lead the way in fostering equitable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, That Didlake, Inc., hereby be commended on the occasion of its 60th anniversary for its extraordinary contributions to disability inclusion and employment; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Didlake, Inc., as an expression of its appreciation of the organization's vital contributions to the Commonwealth.