The Virginia Disability Commission was formed in 1990 under House Joint Resolution 45 to identify legislative priorities that need to be examined by the Assembly in order to provide ongoing support in developing and reviewing services and funding related to Virginians with physical and sensory disabilities. The Commission was made up of legislative members and nonlegislative citizen members, and was chaired by the Lieutenant Governor.

Two years after its inception, the Commission's 1992 report established a ten-year plan of action, which formed a system of programs and services within an infrastructure designed to be consumer-focused and community-based. The General Assembly in 1994 passed House Joint Resolution 274, which authorized the Commission to continue its work in developing and reviewing recommendations for service program changes and funding until the 2000 Session.

In 2000, the General Assembly continued the Commission, through House Joint Resolution 34, for a four-year period in order to continue providing evaluation and legislative recommendations to enhance the provision of services to those Virginians who have physical and sensory disabilities.

In 2004, through passage of House Bill 817 and Senate Bill 381, the General Assembly reconstituted the Commission in Title 30 of the Code of Virginia as a codified legislative commission, with the purpose of identifying and recommending legislative priorities and policies that should be adopted or examined by the General Assembly in order to provide ongoing support in developing and reviewing services and funding related to Virginians with physical and sensory disabilities.

The Commission is comprised of 12 members, including six legislative members, five nonlegislative citizen members, and the Lieutenant Governor. Of the five nonlegislative members, two are consumers with disabilities, two are members of the medical, insurance, or rehabilitation professions, and one is a citizen at large. The Lieutenant Governor continued to serve as chairman until January 14, 2006. In 2006, the chairmanship of the Commission is to be assumed by a legislative member. The legislation has a sunset date of July 1, 2007. Legal, research, and policy analysis staffing for the Commission is provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Administrative staffing is provided by the clerk's office of the house in which the Commission chairman serves.