SCHOOLS

All public schools are mandated to provide special education services for eligible students under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Under IDEA, children who are suspected of having a disability and of needing special education have the right to receive an evaluation in their native language that assesses cognitive, behavioral, physical, and developmental functioning and communication abilities. A team of qualified professionals then determines whether the child is a child with a disability.

A group of persons knowledgeable about a child, including the parents, then makes a placement decision. The child’s placement must be in the least restrictive environment, which means a setting that is as close to the regular classroom setting as possible. There must be a continuum of placements available, including extended school year services. This continuum ranges from the regular classroom with supportive special education services, to classes in public schools specifically for children with disabilities, to instruction at home or in a hospital. In addition, children may qualify for related services necessary for educational progress such as physical and occupational therapy, speech pathology, social work, nursing, and counseling. High school students in special education should also receive transition services which assist students with exploring the worlds of work and independent living. Contact the Office of Special Education or the Special Education Parent Resource Center for information about specific programs and services in your district.

Students with disabilities and their parents are protected by procedural safeguards, which are processes that parents and schools must follow to ensure students’ rights to a free, appropriate public education are not violated. For example, the school must notify parents in writing in the parents’ language of any change in identification, evaluation or placement of their child. A description of these procedural safeguards in different languages is available from the special education department in your child’s school.

An opportunity for a free, appropriate, public education in the least restrictive environment is available to each Alexandria resident with a disability, ages 2-22. Placement is made by the school system on the basis of need, which is determined by a multidisciplinary evaluation by Alexandria school personnel, and on the basis of an individualized education program (IEP), which is developed with parents. The Child Find Program attempts to identify and provide early help to children from birth to four years of age who may be physically handicapped, have speech and/or language disorders, emotionally troubled, learning and mentally disabled. Mandated related services such as occupational and physical therapy, speech therapy, psychological services and counseling are available as needed.

A Parent Handbook is available to Alexandria residents at the Office of Special Education. Parents are encouraged to contact the Special Education Parent Resource Center for additional information.

(703) 824-6650 – Student Services

(703) 706-4552 - Special Education Parent Resource Center

(703) 824-6650 - Child Find

Arlington County

Arlington Public Schools provides a continuum of services for students, preschool through high school, found eligible to receive special education services. Students who are suspected of having a disability are referred for evaluation and reviewed by an eligibility committee at the student’s school. That committee reviews assessment data to determine if the student has a disability which requires special education services. When a student is found eligible for special education services, an Individualized Education Program (IEP) is developed with the participation of the school staff, the parents, and the student (when appropriate). An IEP is a statement of the special education services and related services that will be provided to the student.

A Special Education Parent Handbook is available to Arlington residents through the Office of Special Education. Parents are encouraged to contact the Special Education Parent Resource Center for additional information.

(703) 228-6040 - Office of Special Education
(703) 228-7239 - Parent Resource Center
(703) 228-6042 - Child Find

Fairfax County

(703) 246-7780

(703) 204-3941 - Special Education Parent Resource Center
email the PRC at mgoldberg@fc.fcps.k12.va.us

Preschool: Serves young children from 2 -5 who deviate significantly from established milestones or norms, in the areas of sensory, motor, cognitive, language, or social/emotional development. Class-based program meets in designated elementary schools. A home resource program provides services to children in their homes; child care setting or preschool; consultation to parents; and consultation between home, day care, or private preschool teachers when it is appropriate to ensure instructional continuity.

Programs for Children with Mental Retardation: Support services are provided in the child’s neighborhood school and/or self-contained classes in selected schools. The county also has two self-contained schools that provide sequential training in self-care, functional academics, social adjustment, and vocational training.

Programs for Children with Learning Disabilities: Students with learning disabilities attend their neighborhood school. Students receive support in a team-taught or self-contained setting. The IEP team determines the amount of support the student receives.

Programs for Children with Emotional Disabilities: Program serves elementary, intermediate, and high school students in their neighborhood school; in self-contained classes in selected schools through out the county; in centers which are co-located with general education schools, or, at the secondary level, at self-contained centers.

Programs for Children with Autism: Students receive services in their neighborhood school and/or in self-contained classes in selected schools.

Programs for Children with Physical Handicaps: Students receive services in their neighborhood school; in self-contained classes in selected schools throughout the county; or in centers which are co-located with general education schools.

Speech and Language Therapy Programs: Program provides evaluation, consultation and individualized therapy services for students with mild, moderate, or severe oral communication disorders. The students receive services from speech and language clinicians in their neighborhood schools or in special education centers. Speech problems receiving attention in the program include fluency, voice, articulation, and oral language disorders.

Programs for Children with Hearing Impairments: Serves students in their neighborhood school as well as in centers that are co-located with general education schools.

Child Find: Locates and identifies children with disabilities between the ages of 2 to 22 or children suspected of having a disability who are not currently receiving special education services through Fairfax County Public Schools. Preschool aged children should be referred to Child Find, (703) 876-5244. School age children should be referred to the local screening committee at their school.

Preschool Diagnostic Center: Provides diagnostic evaluation services for 2, 3, and 4 year old children of Fairfax County residents. Parents who have questions or concerns about their child’s development should first call the Child Find Program 703-876-5244, for a free screening appointment.

City of Falls Church

All children with disabilities are provided appropriate special education instruction designed to support their individual needs. An emphasis is placed on providing as many services as possible within regular education programs. Students with low incidence, severe disabilities may be placed in other private or public programs.

Child Find: Children 2-5 suspected of having developmental delays in any area of development are screened at Child Find.

(703) 241-7600

Private Day Schools

Accotink Academy serves ages 5 - 21 in non-graded classes for children with emotional/behavioral disabilities, mild learning disabilities, and perceptual problems. The school employs qualified special education teachers, speech pathologists, clinical & school psychologists, occupational, physical & art therapists.

703-451-804l

Accotink Alternative Learning Center serves students in grades 7-12 with specific learning disabilities in a small setting. The school employs qualified special education teachers, two clinical psychologists, a speech/language therapist, and occupational therapist. Our curriculum offers traditional academic courses and electives such as Spanish, Active Physics, Art, Photography, Test Prep, Journalism, Physical Education (emphasizing golf, rock climbing, swimming, basketball, and more), debate, music, theatre, transitional development, and technology.

703-644-9072

Easter Seals Child Development Center of Northern Virginia serves children ages 0 - 5, with various neuromotor dysfunctions, including cerebral palsy, spina bifida, etc. The program includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy. Fees are based on the family’s ability to pay (sliding scale). The Center also provides parent counseling, education and training.

(703) 534-5353

Easter Seal Society of Washington, D.C. offers an inclusive therapeutic day school serving children from birth to 5 years with any disabling condition, as well as day care for children with disabilities from birth to 5. Services also include orthopedic, and brace clinics and equipment loan. For D.C. residents only.

(202) 387-4434

Head Start Programs serve low income preschool children and children with handicaps ages 3 - 5. Head Star provides educational, social, medical, dental, nutrition & mental health services.

Alexandria City 703-549-8685
Arlington County 703-241-2040
Fairfax County 703-324-8290

Alternative Paths Training School serves students ages 6-22 with developmental disabilities to provide behavior stabilization to enhance students' availalbity for learning and working in the community. For more information call:

(703) 455-0051

Leary School, Inc. serves children ages 5-21 with learning disabilities and/or emotional problems.

(703) 94l-8l50

Lt Joseph P. Kennedy Institute offers academic, therapeutic, vocational training, job placement assistance, recreational and residential services for children & adults with developmental disabilities.

(202) 529-7600

Montessori School Of Northern Virginia provides an integrated program serving ages 2-9. Children with slight hearing defects, mild mental retardation and other disabilities are also served.

(703) 256-9577

National Children's Center, Inc. is a private, non-profit agency providing educational, social & clinical services to infants, children, adults with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. These services are provided through a 24/hr intensive treatment program, group homes and independent living program, educational services, adult day treatment programs and early intervention for high-risk infants. Home health is available for children 0-5 years of age with at least two handicaps or who are at high risk of developmental delays.

(202) 722-2300

Oakwood School serves children 5 to l4 with mild to moderate learning disorders.

(703) 94l-5788

Resurrection Children's Center serves children ages 2-5,with disabilities who are integrated into parent cooperative preschool classes with their non-disabled peers. Other services include: resource teaching, speech therapy, occupational therapy & parent training, outpatient occupational therapy service for toddlers and children with developmental disabilities, learning disabled, emotional disturbances & behavioral problems.

(703) 578-l3l4

Phillips School for Contemporary Education serves children ages 6-21 with mental retardation, emotional disturbances, multiple handicaps, learning disabilities & autism.

(703) 94l-8810

Speech and Language Center of Northern Virginia provides diagnostic & therapeutic services to preschool & school-age children with mild to moderate language learning difficulties, speech articulation problems or language delay due to environment, childhood aphasia, specific learning disabilities, hearing loss or other related conditions. Provides a preschool program for children who have difficulty understanding spoken language or difficulty expressing themselves.

(703) 356-2833

St. Coletta School of Greater Washington serves students with mental retardation from preschool through early adulthood. The instructional program includes academics, independent living skills, speech & language therapy, adaptive physical education, occupational & physical therapy, and prevocational training including job placement. Religious instruction is also available.

(703) 683-3686

Villa Maria Centre is a private, non-profit, non-discriminatory day center for adults with developmental disabilities, l8 years and older. The five-day, year-round program offers clients individual planned programs as deemed appropriate; academic enhancements in basic reading, math, spelling, communication/language, interpersonal skills, diet, nutrition, exercise, pre-vocational/vocational training, community service projects and planned socials.

College Opportunities

George Mason Univerity: LIFE (Learning Into Future Environments) Program is a transitional post-secondary education program designed for students with mild mental retardation or moderate to profound learning disabilities who have aged-out of high school typically with an IEP diploma. THe program is located at the George Mason Unversity Fairfax Campus.

(703) 24l-11l0