CHILD CARE

Child care can happen in the home of a day care provider, in a nursery school, or in your own home with a nanny. The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 states child care programs cannot refuse to serve families who have children with disabilities simply because the child has a disability. Programs may, however, need parents’ ideas and experience to help their children participate in the program.

Child care is hard for all parents to find. Sometimes it helps to call a local college that has a career office for students or to call local churches and ask if they offer child care. You will need to interview these providers to determine whether they have the training and experience to safely care for your child. Some important questions for potential child care providers include:

• What is your experience working with children who have my child’s disability?
• What activities will you do with my child? How will you change these activities so my child can do them?
• How will you deal with my child’s difficult behaviors?

For a list of other questions to ask child care providers, contact the Fairfax County Office for Children (703-449-9555) and request a copy of the Day Care Checklist.

The agencies below can give you information about different child care providers who serve infants, toddlers and preschoolers in your area.

Alexandria Office of Early Childhood
(703) 838-0750

Arlington Department of Child and Family Services-Child Care Information
(703) 228-1685

Fairfax County Office for Children
(703) 449-9555

Fairfax County Child Care Assistance Program (for parents needing assistance paying for child care)
(703) 449-8484

Falls Church Housing and Human Services Division
(703) 248-5005

There are a few programs that offer after-school child care to working families. Families must usually have a limited income to participate.

Alexandria School Aged Child Care
(703) 838-0750

Arlington Public Schools Extended Day Program
(703) 228-6069

Fairfax County Government Office for Children - School Aged Child Care Program (for children ages 5-12 who are in school)
(703) 449-1414

Child Care Resource System (For children not in school in Fairfax County)
(703) 449-9555

Head Start preschool program for children ages 3 – 5 and their families. Income and family size determine eligibility for the program. In order to meet federal requirements that a certain percentage of the children being served have special needs, the income eligibility is sometimes waived for children with disabilities.

Alexandria: (703) 549-8685
Arlington: (703) 241-2040
Fairfax: (703) 324-8290

Some child care programs welcome children with disabilities and have staff who have professional backgrounds working with children who have disabilities. You will need to interview these educators to determine whether they have the training and experience to meet your child’s educational needs. Some important questions for educators may include:

• What is your experience working with children who have my child’s disability?
• What activities will you do with my child? How will you change these activities so my child can do them?
• How will you deal with my child’s difficult behaviors?

  
  

Frog Pond Early Learning Center, Alexandria (for infants, toddlers and preschoolers)
(703) 765-7663

Falls Church - McLean Children's Center, Falls Church serves pre-schoolers aged 3-5
(703) 534-4907