Organization Partners and Assistance Provided

Organization Population Served Staffing Assistance Provided Additional Information
Care Connection for Children Children birth to age 22 with physical disabilities and/or special health care needs Mix of social workers, nurses and parents Care coordination, parent support, information, referrals, assistance with access to services, IEP support Network of 6 across Virginia
Centers for Independent Living (CILS) Primarily, CILS serve individuals with disabilities over the age of 16 (although a few serve all ages) Mix of professionals, self-advocates and parents Peer-to-peer self-advocacy support, information and referral, workshops Some focus on physical disability
Disability organizations/groups (Local Arc Chapters, Local Autism Society Chapters, Local Down Syndrome Association Chapters) Varies by organization/group, but primarily serve life span. Children ages two to 22. Mix of parents and professionals Information and referral, workshops, support group meetings, resource libraries, advocacy opportunities Some have one statewide office; others have differing numbers of chapters in state. Some of these organizations also provide services like respite, group homes, etc.
Local school division Parent Resource Centers (PRC) Varies. *Some PRCS serve parents of children receiving general education/Title I; others support only special education* Educator/parent co-team or single staff. *Staff may be part-time with limited hours* Information, referral, workshops 49 PRCs; 134 school divisions. Some PRCs have trained volunteer ombudsmen or parent partners.
Parent Educational Advocacy Training Center Children birth to age 26 eligible for early intervention or special education. *Title I schools* Mix of parents and professionals, including a Hispanic cultural liaison Information, referral, workshops Statewide (offices in Northern Virginia, Hampton and Tazwell)
T/TAC Online Children birth to age 22 eligible for IDEA Mix of educators and parents Consultation, information and referral, lending library of multimedia resources and technology, workshops Network of six TTACS
George Mason University Information Technology All ages T/TAC On-line Information On-line resources for individuals, families and professional Statewide websites (VA Family Special Education Connection)