• Local Chapters
• Advocacy
• Public Policy
• Autism Waiver
• Education
• Community Resources
• Events
• Autism Source

Local Chapters

Autism Society chapters are your best source of information and support. Most chapters are volunteer-led by parents, care providers and other professionals. The Autism Society has chapters in nearly every state reaching out to individuals with autism and their families with information, support, and encouragement.

Contact a Virginia Autism Society chapter.

Visit Autism Source to find local doctors, service providers and other useful resources in your area.

Advocacy

Legal Services of Northern Virginia

Legal Services of Northern Virginia (LSNV) is a non-profit public interest law firm that provides free legal assistance to low-income residents of Northern Virginia. Our mission is to provide high-quality legal assistance to families and individuals who face the loss or deprivation of a critical human need, such as food, shelter, income, medical care, education, family stability or personal safety.

Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center

PEATC works collaboratively with families, schools and communities in order to improve opportunities for excellence in education and success in school and community life. Our special focus is children with disabilities.

Virginia Office for Protection and Advocacy

VOPA protects and advances the legal, human and civil rights of persons with disabilities; combats and prevents abuse, neglect and discrimination; and promotes independence, choice and self-determination by persons with disabilities.

Virginia Board for People with Developmental Disabilities

As Virginia's Developmental Disabilities (DD) Planning Council, VBPD works for the benefit of individuals with developmental disabilities and their families to identify needs and help develop policies, programs and services that will meet these needs in a manner that respects dignity and independence.

*Please note that in the context of Special Education Law, an "advocate" differs from an attorney in several ways. By definition, an "advocate" is one that supports or promotes the interests of another while an "attorney" is a practitioner in a court of law who is legally qualified to prosecute and defend actions in such court on behalf of his or her clients. Although both may be able to help with your legal situation, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) only attorney's fees are recoverable to families prevailing in lawsuits. This delineation was the outcome of the Supreme Court's decision in Arlington Central School District Board of Education v. Murphy, 548 U.S. 291 (2006). There is currently legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that would reverse this outcome (the IDEA Fairness Restoration Act, HR 434).

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2008 State Autism Profiles - Virginia

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Autism Waiver

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

Education

Center for Special Education Advocacy

The mission of the Center for Special Education Advocacy is to achieve a public school system in Virginia that consistently provides all students with disabilities a free, appropriate public education designed to meet their unique needs, to prepare them for employment and independent living, and to ensure that the rights of students with disabilities and their parents are protected.

Virginia Department of Education

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Community Resources

Commonwealth Autism Service

The mission of Commonwealth Autism Service is to provide leadership in the implementation of a statewide system of services to maximize the potential and quality of life of each Virginian with autism across the lifespan. Services include information and referral; a website; embedded staff model partnerships with school divisions; a Developmental Disorders Assessment Clinic; observation, assessment, consultation and recommendation services; training; Medicaid waiver services; comprehensive service auditing; management consultation; a conference and workshops; and Autism Action Groups.

Organization for Autism Research

Created by parents and grandparents of children and adults on the autism spectrum, the Organization for Autism Research set out to use applied science to answer questions that parents, families, individuals with autism, teachers and caregivers confront daily.

Parent to Parent of Virginia

Through its network of volunteers, Parent to Parent of Virginia offers emotional support and understanding; coping skills and a model of positive family integration of children with disabilities; information about services, support programs and advocacy organizations; and introduction and access to people and groups who share their concerns and interests and who can help meet their needs, as well as those of their children.

Partnership for People with Developmental Disabilities

Our mission is to partner with communities to support, respect and include individuals with disabilities and their families. Based on current knowledge and research, we work with others to increase choices for individuals, change systems, improve services and affect public policy. We provide technical assistance, conduct research, disseminate information, and engage in advocacy and prevention activities.


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Events Sensory Friendly Film Events 1Power4Autism Find more autism events:

Autism Source

To find more information in your state, please visit www.autismsource.org.

The Autism Society welcomes your comments: If you would like to make a suggestion or share beneficial resources not included in this page, please click here to fill out our contact form.

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Last updated: 22 January 2009