As the national movement known as REV UP celebrates a decade of landmark impact, advocates and community leaders are reflecting on the journey that transformed a localized Texas initiative into a powerhouse of civic engagement. Founded in 2016 by grassroots activists in Texas, REV UP—which stands for "Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!"—was built on a singular, urgent premise: to harness and elevate the political influence of the disability vote. Over the past ten years, that founding spark has ignited a nationwide movement, reshaping how disabled Americans participate in the democratic process. In honor of this milestone anniversary, a spotlight is being shone on the visionary leaders from across the country whose unwavering dedication reflects the true strength and influence of the REV UP coalition. Among those central figures is Helena Berger, whose extensive career in disability rights advocacy spans decades and has left an indelible mark on both the national and state landscapes.
Berger is widely recognized for her leadership as the former President and CEO of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD). Yet, rather than stepping away from advocacy after completing her tenure at the helm of AAPD, Berger chose to channel her experience and passion back into the community in a different capacity: serving as the co-chair of REV UP Virginia. Her transition from national executive leadership to hands-on state-level organizing underscores a lifelong commitment to empowering people with disabilities. Over the years, Berger has played a monumental role in taking REV UP from its localized roots and expanding it into a formidable national force. Under her leadership at AAPD, the organization helped elevate REV UP onto the national stage, perfectly aligning with AAPD’s core mission to systematically increase the economic and political power of people with disabilities across the United States.
The expansion of REV UP from a regional effort into a nationally recognized initiative is a story of connection and shared vision. Berger vividly recalls the pivotal moment that sparked this growth. While attending a conference in Austin, Texas, she crossed paths with Bob Kafka, the visionary founder of REV UP Texas. As the two discussed the landscape of disability advocacy, the conversation naturally turned toward the untapped potential of a national movement. Following their discussion, Kafka brought the idea back to the core leaders involved in REV UP Texas to gauge support and strategize. From the beginning, Kafka maintained a steadfast belief that if meaningful, lasting change was to be achieved, the disability community needed to organize itself into a powerful, cohesive voting bloc—one capable of visibly influencing the outcomes of elections and, by extension, driving progressive public policy.
For Bob Kafka, REV UP was designed to be much more than a seasonal campaign; it was envisioned as a permanent national organizing tool capable of harnessing the collective power of the disability vote to drive systemic change and shape a much better, more inclusive future for disabled people everywhere. That foundational philosophy resonated deeply with Berger, whose own devotion to disability advocacy and voting rights is rooted in a rich history of government affairs and civil rights work. Her early career in the sector began with the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association, an organization now known as the United Spinal Association, where she cut her teeth in the complex world of disability rights advocacy and policy formulation. Throughout her professional journey, she was continuously inspired by the pioneering work of fellow advocates within AAPD, including critical efforts led by Jim Dixon to strengthen the nascent disability voting rights movement. Today, Berger has brought that wealth of experience, passion, and strategic insight directly to the state level with REV UP Virginia.
At its core, REV UP operates as an expansive, interconnected network of state-based coalitions made up of diverse disability organizations, dedicated advocates, and grassroots leaders. For Berger, this decentralized, coalition-based model is not merely a strategy; it is an absolute necessity for achieving durable progress. She frequently describes coalition-building as a vital mechanism for building broad consensus, sharing critical resources, and learning from the collective experiences of diverse communities. It serves, in her words, as "a grassroots organizing tool… a way to mobilize" people at the local level where policy often directly impacts daily life. At the same time, Berger emphasizes that this vital work is rarely achieved overnight. Instead, it is almost always "an incremental process" that requires immense patience, resilience, and a deep-rooted commitment to local and state-level change.
The persistence required for successful grassroots coalition-building has fundamentally shaped Berger’s perspective as a leader. Reflecting on the early, formative days of building REV UP Virginia, she is candid about the fact that the path was not always easy. Establishing a unified coalition from the ground up requires navigating diverse interests, limited resources, and systemic barriers. However, looking back over the years, seeing the coalition grow, mature, and tangibly impact the political landscape has been a deeply meaningful and rewarding experience. It has been, as she describes it, a truly gratifying journey to start building something from the ground up that possessed the inherent capacity to grow and flourish.
Since officially launching in April 2021, REV UP Virginia has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its membership to include nearly 30 core partner organizations while significantly broadening its public events, educational programming, and advocacy campaigns. When discussing the coalition’s achievements, Berger points with particular pride to several key milestones. Among them are the successful organization of dynamic events during Disability Voting Rights Week, the hosting of high-profile press conferences and candidate forums that put disability issues front and center, and the expansion of the coalition’s digital infrastructure, highlighted by the official launch of their dedicated website. Helena reflects that with ongoing support from the national AAPD REV UP team, the Virginia coalition has been able to steadily strengthen its internal infrastructure and deepen its societal impact year after year.
Crucially, the tireless advocacy of REV UP Virginia has successfully translated into monumental, real-world policy change. For years, one of the most significant and insidious barriers facing disabled voters in the Commonwealth of Virginia revolved around voting rights for individuals under guardianship. Previously, adults living under guardianship in Virginia were frequently and automatically presumed legally ineligible to cast a ballot, effectively stripping thousands of citizens of their fundamental democratic voice. Through concerted, strategic advocacy efforts spearheaded by REV UP Virginia alongside its dedicated partners, landmark legislation designed to dismantle this discriminatory barrier was officially introduced during the 2025 legislative session and signed into law in 2026.
The passage of this transformative law represents a profound shift in how the state views the civil rights of people under guardianship. As Berger carefully explains, the new statute explicitly establishes that simply being a person with a disability, or being placed under guardianship, does not automatically mean an individual lacks the capacity to vote. In fact, the legal presumption has completely reversed. The law now ensures that when a disabled person is assigned a guardian, their fundamental right to vote is automatically maintained and protected, unless clear, individualized justification is formally presented to a court explaining why that specific right must be restricted. This major legislative victory signifies a monumental step forward in expanding voting access and legally affirming the autonomy and dignity of disabled voters throughout Virginia.
For Berger, legislative triumphs like this are firmly anchored in a broader, unshakeable philosophy regarding civic engagement and its indispensable role in building lasting political power for the disability community. Voting, in her view, is not a peripheral activity; it is a fundamental right inherent to any functioning democratic society, and one that citizens must never take lightly. Furthermore, she stresses the critical importance of ensuring that the disability community is seamlessly and fully integrated into broader civic engagement efforts nationwide. It is vital, she notes, that mainstream voting organizations and traditional civic groups that care deeply about building political power make certain that the disability community is treated as an integral, permanent part of that coalition-building work.
When asked what guidance she offers to the next generation of advocates stepping into the arena, Berger’s advice reflects the very same steady values, patience, and resolve that have sustained her throughout her remarkable career. With patience and persistence, she assures emerging leaders, the community will continue to break through systemic barriers. Just as importantly, she reminds her peers to pause and celebrate their victories, whether big or small, along the way. Through her foundational leadership with REV UP Virginia and her instrumental role in elevating the movement to the national stage, Helena Berger continues to demonstrate how strategic coalition-building, relentless advocacy, and steadfast persistence through incremental successes are successfully paving the road toward a truly inclusive and accessible democracy.
