M. Virginia NeSmith Walton, M.S.N., RN, FNP, CNLCP Education
May 1986 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Master of Science in Nursing with Family Nurse Practitioner Certificate May 1981 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Bachelor of Science in Nursing Professional Experience
InFocus – Greensboro, North Carolina. (2010 to present)
Cofounder and Executive Director of this advocacy organization that empowers individuals of varying abilities.
The Arc of Greensboro - Greensboro, North Carolina. (2007 to present)
Community Resource Specialist. Facilitator for adult self-advocacy programs and initiatives. Community educator representing The Arc and self-advocates.
Independent Consultant (2006 to present)
Nurse Life Care Planner for individuals impacted by catastrophic illness or injury. Developmental and Psychological Center - Greensboro, North Carolina. (1996 – 2006)
Family Nurse Practitioner with Moses Cone Health System, providing outpatient specialty care for children and young adults with physical, intellectual, and developmental disabilities. Outstanding Kids, LLC, - Greensboro, North Carolina. (1993 – 1995)
Co-founder of this company, which was begun by three nurse practitioners working within the guidelines of the North Carolina Nurse Practice Act and Board of Medical Examiners in providing primary care and educational services. Services included developmental screening of area infants and preschoolers, contracted primary care services for infants through young adults, consultation regarding health policy and delivery, and provision of continuing education for N.C. public health nurses.
University of North Carolina School of Nursing - Chapel Hill, North Carolina. (1992, 1994) Summer faculty. Instructor in adult and pediatric physical assessment for B.S.N. and M.S.N. students.
Guilford County Department of Public Health - Greensboro, North Carolina. (1991 -1992) Nursing Consultant for the Child Health Division. Contracted with Guilford County to establish means for obtaining Medicaid reimbursement for pediatric services rendered in a school-based satellite clinic.
Greensboro Family Practice - Greensboro, North Carolina. (1986 – 1987)
Family Nurse Practitioner. Provided primary care to patients of all ages. Established own caseload in addition to providing acute care to all patients within this midsize private practice group.
Guilford County Department of Public Health – Greensboro, North Carolina. (1982 - 1984) Public Health Nurse in the Child Health Division. Pediatric clinic Charge Nurse, EPSDT (Medicaid) Medical Screener, Coordinator of Crippled Children’s Neurology clinic, Liaison for Crippled Children’s Cardiology and Orthopedic clinics.
Moses Cone Memorial Hospital - Greensboro, North Carolina. (1981 – 1982)
Nurse Intern. Rotated through medical-surgical, ICU, and mother-infant units as a new graduate nurse.
Certification and Licensure
April 2004 to present Nationally Certified as a Nurse Life Care Planner May 1986 Certificate as a Family Nurse Practitioner
1981 to present Licensure as a Registered Nurse in North Carolina Professional Organizations
American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners Core Curriculum Committee (2006-2008) Sigma Theta Tau, International Honor Society for Nurses
American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine, Fellow Awards
May 2010 Victor Hall Leadership Award, presented by The Arc of Greensboro Relevant Volunteer Experience and Community Engagement
Member, Postsecondary Education Alliance (PSEA) of North Carolina, 2013 - present. Member, NC Client Rights Committee, Alberta Professional Services, 2009 – present. Member, NC Self-Advocates Conference planning team, 2013, 2014.
Member, Guilford County Autism Council, 2009 - present.
Volunteer, Guilford Day School - local private school serving children with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, 2000 - 2009.
Board member, Child Care Ministry Division of Children’s Home Society of N.C. - foster care program 1994 – 1996.
Board member, American Cancer Society, Greensboro Unit, 1987 – 1990. Board president, Epilepsy Association of Greater Greensboro, 1982 – 1984. Publications
Brake, L., Miller, K., Schleien, S., & Walton, G. (2014). Exposing Photovoice to reflection: Methodological considerations for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Manuscript submitted for publication in Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.
Schleien, S., Miller, K., Walton, G., & Pruett, S. (2014). Parent perspectives of barriers to child participation in recreational activities. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 48(1), 61-73. Schleien, S., Brake, L., Miller, K., & Walton, G. (2013). Using Photovoice to listen to adults
with intellectual disabilities on being part of the community. Annals of Leisure Research, 16(3), 212-229. DOI: 10.1080/11745398.2013.828364.
Brake, L., Schleien, S., Miller, K., & Walton, G. (2012). Photovoice: A tour through the camera lens of self-advocates. Social Advocacy and Systems Change Journal, 3(1), 44-53.
Walton, G., Schleien, S., Brake, L., Trovato, C., & Oakes, T. (2012). Photovoice: A collaborative methodology giving voice to underserved populations seeking community inclusion.
Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 46(3), 168-178. Presentations
“Self-Advocates: Sharing Our Stories.” University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation – Greensboro, North Carolina, April 2014, October 2013, April 2013.
“Family Advocates: Sharing Our Stories.” University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation – Greensboro, North Carolina, March 2014, October 2013.
“Your advocacy efforts InFocus.” 2013 Disability Rights NC & The Arc of NC Conference – Raleigh, North Carolina, October, 2013.
“Your passion InFocus.” Piedmont Regional Self-Advocates Conference – High Point, North Carolina, May, 2013.
“InFocus and community conversations.” Mayor’s Committee for Persons with Disabilities.” – Greensboro, North Carolina, February, 2013.
“Inspiring community inclusion one photo at a time.” Office of Leadership and Service Learning Community-based Research Conference - Greensboro, North Carolina, April, 2011.
“Changing communities by empowering self-advocates through Photovoice.” 2011 National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress – Atlanta, Georgia, November 2011.
“Intellectual and developmental disabilities and The Arc of Greensboro.” University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation – Greensboro, North Carolina, October 2012, April 2012, October 2011, April 2011, October 2010, April 2010, October 2009, April 2009, October 2008.
“Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Learning Differences.” Caring Family Network, Inc. – High Point, North Carolina, April 2005.
“Human Sexuality and Adolescent Development.” St. Pius School – Greensboro, North Carolina, annually March 1998 through March 2005.
“Managing Children with ADD or ADHD.” Guilford County Day Care – Greensboro, North Carolina, April 1998.
“Normal Development and Developmental Issues.” Carolina Adoption Services, Inc. – Greensboro, North Carolina, March 1998.
Continuing Education
UNC Chapel Hill Maternal and Child Health Interdisciplinary Leadership Training Consortium, 2013- 2014
UNC Chapel Hill Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities, LEND Trainee – Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, 2013-2014
North Carolina Self-Advocates Conference, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014 The Arc of North Carolina Annual Conference, 2013
American Association of Nurse Life Care Planners Annual Conference 2005 - 2008, 2010, 2012 The Arc of the U.S. Annual Convention, 2011, 2012
“ABC’s of Home Modifications for Patients with Physical and Neurological Disabilities”, Cross Country Education, Raleigh, North Carolina, February 2012
National Recreation and Park Association Annual Congress, 2011
“Adult Spasticity: Diagnosis and Management”, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, May 2009
“Cerebral Palsy: Management of Spasticity”, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, March 2007
57th Annual Conference on Exceptional Children, Department of Public Instruction of the State of North Carolina, November 2007
“Management Strategies for Motor Impairments in Children with Neuromuscular Conditions”, Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics and the Kluge Children’s Rehabilitation & Research Institute, University of Virginia, December 2006
Pediatrics at Williamsburg Annual Conference, Children’s Hospital of The King’s Daughters, November2005
Children’s Association for Maximum Potential “CAMP” Multidisciplinary Continuing Education, SanAntonio, Texas, June 2005
World Congress and Exposition on Disabilities, WCDExpo, Inc., October 2004
“Mood Disorders: Special Issues”, FCG Institute for Continuing Education. Durham, NC, January 2004
George T. Wolff, MD Annual Primary Care Symposium, Moses Cone Hospital, Greensboro, NC, October 2003
The Spectrum of Developmental Disabilities XXIV, Johns Hopkins University, April 2002 World Congress and Exposition on Disabilities, WCDExpo, Inc., November 2000
The Spectrum of Developmental Disabilities XXII: ADHD, Johns Hopkins University, April 2000
“From Genes to Behavior”, Johns Hopkins University, November 1998
The Spectrum of Developmental Disabilities XX: Autism, Johns Hopkins University, March 1998
“Psychopharmacology for Children and Adolescents”, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill,February 1998
“Issues in Depression in Children and Adolescents”, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, November 1997
The Spectrum of Developmental Disabilities XIX: Mental Retardation, Johns Hopkins University, March1997
