As the REV UP movement marks a decade of national advocacy, civil rights organizations and grassroots leaders are looking back at the milestones that turned a local Texas initiative into a formidable nationwide force. Central to this evolution is Helena Berger, whose decades-long career in disability rights advocacy spans the halls of government affairs, leadership at the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), and grassroots mobilization at the state level in Virginia.
Founded in 2016 by grassroots activists in Texas—most notably Bob Kafka—REV UP was created with a clear and urgent mission: to build the power of the disability vote. The acronym stands for "Register, Educate, Vote, Use your Power!" Over the past ten years, the movement has grown into a powerful national network of state-based coalitions. As part of a special series spotlighting leaders from across the country whose work reflects the strength and influence of this movement, Berger’s journey offers a clear window into how systemic political power is built from the ground up.
Berger’s connection to the movement is deeply intertwined with the institutional growth of AAPD. After serving as the organization’s President and CEO, Berger chose to continue her service to the disability community in a different capacity, stepping into the role of co-Chair of REV UP Virginia. Long before taking on that state-level leadership, however, she played a pivotal role in elevating REV UP from a regional effort into a nationwide campaign as part of AAPD’s broader mission to increase the economic and political power of people with disabilities.
The expansion of REV UP onto the national stage traces back to a fortuitous encounter. Berger recalls meeting Bob Kafka, the founder of REV UP Texas, at a conference in Austin. During their discussions, the possibility of taking the successful regional framework and scaling it into a national initiative began to take shape. Following their conversation, Kafka consulted with fellow leaders involved in REV UP Texas to evaluate the feasibility of a broader campaign.
From the outset, Kafka maintained that for the disability community to achieve meaningful, lasting change, it needed to organize into a cohesive and powerful voting bloc capable of influencing election outcomes and, by extension, public policy.
"For Bob, REV UP was a national organizing tool that would harness the power of the disability vote to drive change and shape a better future for disabled people," Berger reflected.
Berger’s profound devotion to disability advocacy and voting rights is rooted in a career spanning multiple decades. Her introduction to government affairs began with the Eastern Paralyzed Veterans Association—an organization now known as the United Spinal Association—where she laid the groundwork for her lifelong career in disability rights. Throughout her professional journey, she was consistently inspired by the work of pioneering advocates within AAPD, including vital efforts led by Jim Dixon to strengthen the disability voting rights movement. Today, Berger has brought that rich well of experience directly to the state level through her leadership with REV UP Virginia.
At the heart of REV UP’s operational model is a vast network of state-based coalitions comprising local disability organizations, dedicated advocates, and grassroots leaders. For Berger, this collaborative framework is not merely strategic; it is essential to the very nature of democratic organizing. She describes coalition-building as a vital mechanism for building consensus, sharing institutional knowledge, learning from peers, and creating a reliable grassroots organizing tool designed to mobilize voters effectively.
At the same time, Berger emphasizes that this type of profound systemic work is rarely accomplished overnight. Instead, it is typically an incremental process deeply rooted in the realities of state and local change.
The persistence necessary to sustain grassroots coalition building has fundamentally shaped Berger’s experience as a leader. Reflecting on the early days of establishing REV UP Virginia, she acknowledges that the path was not always easy or straightforward. However, looking back over the years, seeing the coalition expand its membership, deepen its reach, and witness its tangible impact has been an intensely gratifying experience.
"It’s been a gratifying experience to start building something that really had the ability to grow," she said.
Since officially launching in April 2021, REV UP Virginia has experienced remarkable growth, expanding its membership to nearly 30 organizational partners while significantly broadening its portfolio of public events and advocacy initiatives. Berger points to several major accomplishments that fill her with pride, including the coordination of high-profile events during Disability Voting Rights Week, the hosting of press conferences and candidate forums, and the expansion of the coalition’s digital footprint through the launch of its dedicated website. Helena noted that with ongoing support from AAPD’s REV UP National team, the Virginia coalition has successfully strengthened its internal infrastructure and deepened its community impact year after year.
Beyond civic mobilization, REV UP Virginia’s tireless advocacy has translated directly into historic policy reform. In Virginia, one of the most persistent and restrictive barriers facing disabled voters has centered on voting rights for individuals placed under guardianship. Historically, citizens under guardianship in the commonwealth were frequently presumed to be legally ineligible to cast a ballot. Through concerted legislative advocacy led by REV UP VA alongside its coalition partners, a bill designed to dismantle this discriminatory barrier was officially introduced in 2025 and signed into law in 2026.
"That law is now saying that just because [you are] a person with a disability, or anybody who is under guardianship, it does not automatically mean that you can’t vote," Berger explained, highlighting the magnitude of the legislative victory. "Now it’s just the opposite."
Under the terms of the new statute, when a disabled person is assigned a legal guardian, their fundamental right to vote is automatically maintained unless a specific, substantiated explanation is presented to the court demonstrating why voting rights must be removed. This landmark shift represents a monumental step forward in expanding access, protecting civil liberties, and affirming the constitutional rights of disabled voters across the state.
For Berger, this legislative and community-based work is ultimately grounded in a broader, foundational philosophy regarding civic engagement and its indispensable role in constructing long-term disability power.
"[Voting] is a fundamental right that democratic societies have, and we should not take that lightly," she noted.
Furthermore, she underscored the critical importance of ensuring that the disability community is fully integrated into mainstream civic and political spaces rather than operating in isolation.
"It’s really important that we have more mainstream voting organizations and other organizations that care about building political power, and making sure that the disability community is an integral part of that," she stated.
When asked what guidance she would offer to the next generation of emerging leaders, Berger’s advice reflects the steadfast patience, optimism, and pragmatism that have sustained her motivation throughout decades of advocacy.
"With patience and persistence, we’re going to get through this," she advised, adding a vital reminder for anyone engaged in difficult social justice work: "It’s also important to celebrate the wins, big and small."
Through her enduring leadership with REV UP Virginia and her foundational contributions to bringing the movement to the national stage, Helena Berger exemplifies how strategic coalition building, relentless advocacy, and an appreciation for incremental successes are steadily paving the way toward a more inclusive, accessible, and representative democracy.
