Better2gether RVA

Supporting and equipping families of children with complex medical illnesses

Since 2017, Better2gether RVA has provided mentorship, counsel, and recreational programming for families of children diagnosed with complex medical illnesses, plus valuable resources for managing treatment and its associated costs. As the organization grows, new programs are being added and more families are gaining access to previously non-existent support every day. Better2gethercurrently provides support for 60 diagnosed children, and 51 families. They consist of 100 siblings and roughly 100 parents.

While help has been widely available for families in Richmond, VA, fighting well-known illnesses like cancer and juvenile diabetes, no family support services previously existed for children with complex medical illnesses. Better2gether supports and equips families of children with medical complexity with tools to care for their child, and creates community among like families.

Caring for a child with a rare or complex medical illness is incredibly complicated and causes daily challenges and issues for the parent and family unit. COVID-19 has compounded their issues and created an entirely new spectrum of concerns and anxiety regarding their diagnosed child as well as their siblings. At the onset of COVID-19, 24% of Better2gether’sfamilies became food insecure and 53% of families required COVID-19 related assistance- securing food, cleaning supplies, access to at home nursing care, and more.

Each quarter, Better2gether provides $50 grocery gift cards to 51 families. The #1 way families say Better2gether can help them today is with a grocery gift card. 2nd is creating opportunities for them to connect with other families with kids battling a medically complex illness. Because the organization hasn’t been able to reach families in the traditional way,Better2gether has needed to creatively find solutions to support families. Through community partnerships with local organizations, they are meeting the growing needs of families. While they can deliver their music therapy program andMoments Caregiver Support Group , families are seeking additional virtual opportunities to connect.

Better2gether is currently looking for companies and organizations that want to partner with them and commit to changing the landscape for families that have children with chronic illness, whether it’s a fundraising event, volunteer activity, or incorporating them in their charitable giving program. The key to successfully equipping families to care for a child with medical complexity is for the community to build this type of outreach into the fabric of their organization.

Better2gether is so grateful for its supporters and donors who enable them to fill this gap in services in RVA and look forward to serving more families with their help.

To donate to Better2gether RVA, click here !!

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ADA Website Accessibility: What Businesses Need to Know in 2026

August 14, 2026

Website accessibility has been a conversation for years, but recent changes to federal accessibility requirements are putting an even bigger spotlight on how websites work for people with disabilities. And if your website hasn’t been reviewed for accessibility recently, now is a good time to take another look. At River City Advertising, we have the tools to add accessibility-focused features that are easier for everyone to use. What Changed With ADA Website Accessibility? In 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice issued a new rule under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act establishing a specific technical accessibility standard for websites and mobile apps provided by state and local governments. That standard is WCAG 2.1 Level AA —a widely recognized set of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines designed to make digital content more accessible to people with visual, auditory, physical, cognitive and other disabilities. In 2026, the DOJ extended the deadlines for these public entities: April 26, 2027: State and local government entities with populations of 50,000 or more April 26, 2028: Smaller public entities and special district governments While these particular deadlines apply to state and local governments, the changes reinforce something that affects organizations of all kinds: website accessibility is becoming increasingly important. Businesses should also remember that accessibility obligations can vary depending on the type of organization, services provided and applicable federal, state and local laws. What Does an Accessible Website Actually Mean? Accessibility isn't simply adding a button to your website. An accessible website is designed so people with disabilities can navigate, understand and interact with its content—including visitors who use screen readers, keyboard navigation or other assistive technologies. Some of the elements that can affect accessibility include: Alternative text for meaningful images Appropriate color contrast between text and backgrounds Clear heading structures Keyboard-friendly navigation Properly labeled buttons, links and form fields Readable text and logical page layouts Accessible forms Captions or alternatives for multimedia content Correct website language settings Content that works effectively with screen readers Many of these features also happen to make a website easier to use for everyone , not only visitors with disabilities. How Our Platform Helps Us Build More Accessible Websites At River City Advertising accessibility isn't treated as an afterthought. Our platform includes built-in functionality that can help developers create more accessible websites, including support for alternative text, keyboard navigation and automatic website language definition. Our platform also integrates with accessibility solutions such as UserWay and AudioEye for businesses and organizations that want additional accessibility tools, monitoring and remediation capabilities. However, there is an important distinction: No website platform, plugin or accessibility widget can automatically guarantee that a website is 100% ADA compliant. Accessibility depends on the platform and how the website is designed, written, maintained and updated. For example, adding an accessibility tool doesn't fix a poorly structured page, unclear link text, an inaccessible third-party application or every issue created when new content is added. That is why accessibility should be viewed as an ongoing website-management practice rather than a one-time checkbox. Why Businesses Should Pay Attention Now Even if the newest Title II deadlines don't apply directly to your business, there are several reasons to make website accessibility a priority. Reach more people. An accessible website makes it easier for more potential customers to interact with your business online. Create a better user experience. Clear navigation, readable content, properly labeled forms and thoughtful page structure benefit everyone. Support your SEO efforts. Several accessibility best practices—such as descriptive image text, organized headings and well-structured content—can also help search engines better understand your website. Reduce unnecessary risk. Digital accessibility continues to be an important legal and regulatory issue. Proactively improving accessibility is much better than waiting until someone identifies a problem. Prepare your website for the future. Accessibility standards and expectations continue to evolve. Building accessibility into your website now makes it easier to adapt as requirements change. Accessibility Isn't "Set It and Forget It" This may be the most important takeaway. Your website can become less accessible over time as new pages, images, videos, forms, integrations and other content are added. That's why website accessibility should be part of ongoing website management. At River City Advertising, we can help businesses evaluate their current websites, identify accessibility concerns and determine what tools or updates may make sense. Is It Time for an Accessibility Check? If you're unsure how your current website measures up, we can help you take a closer look. Contact River City Advertising to talk about your website, accessibility options and how we can help make your online presence easier for more people to use. This article is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. ADA and digital accessibility requirements can vary depending on your organization and jurisdiction. Businesses with questions about their specific legal obligations should consult qualified legal counsel.