SPECIALIZED NEEDS DIRECTORY
Families with
Neurodiverse Children
AUTISM SOCIETY OF
NORTHERN VIRGINIA
asnv.org 571-328-5792
10467 White Granite Drive, #324
Oakton, VA 22124
For more than 50 years, the Autism Society
of Northern Virginia has lead the way,
advocating at the local, state and national
levels to improve the quality of life for those
in the disability community.

youth with disabilities. The organization’s
caring team works closely with families to
coordinate care and find the best community
and health care resources in Northern
Virginia. Care Connection for Children helps
children reach their optimal health and
quality of life in a caring, innovative and
culturally sensitive manner.

AUTISM SPEAKS
autismspeaks.org help@autismspeaks.org
888-AUTISM2 The Autism Speaks Response Team
(ART) is an information line for the autism
community. Team members are specially
trained to provide personalized information
and resources to people with autism and
their families.

CENTER FOR
ACCESSIBILITY AT DC
PUBLIC LIBRARY
dclibrary.org/services/accessibility The Center for Accessibility is committed to
providing individuals with disabilities equal
access to library resources and services at
all DC Public Library branches. The Center
for Accessibility staff offer disability-related
cultural programming, book clubs and
accessible game nights throughout the year
and classes in American Sign Language and
Assistive Technology. All services are free.

CARE CONNECTION FOR
CHILDREN inova.org/about-inova/inova-your-
community/community-access-care/ care-connection-children
703-698-2450 2700 Prosperity Ave., #295
Fairfax, VA 22031
Care Connection for Children is part of the
Virginia Department of Health statewide
network of excellence serving children and
DREAMS FOR KIDS DC
dreamsforkidsdc.org Dreams for Kids DC, a nonprofit children’s
charity, provides life-changing activities
that empower children with physical and
developmental disabilities to unite with their
peers and realize their potential. Dreams for
Kids DC provides life-changing experiences
to more than 800 children with these
disabilities for free while serving residents of
Washington, Maryland and Virginia.

28 Washington FAMILY JULY 2022
ENCORE STAGE & STUDIO
encorestage.org info@encorestage.org
703-548-1154 4000 Lorcom Lane
Arlington, VA 22207
Ages: 4-18
Encore Stage & Studio provides accessibility
services year-round. Encore is delighted
to provide an accessibility matinee
performance for selected productions.

These matinee performances provide
accommodations for children and families
with special needs. Accommodations
include ASL interpretation and assisted
listening devices as well as Braille and large
print programs to allow the performance
to be accessible to all audiences. An
exclusive backstage tour will be provided for
children to make meaningful connections
with the story and to experience theater
in a new way. Interested patrons needing
these accommodations must e-mail info@
encorestage.org in advance. Dates for our
accessibility matinee performances will be
available online on our website.

FORMED FAMILIES
FORWARD formedfamiliesforward.org
703-539-2904 4031 University Drive, Suite 100
Fairfax, VA 22030
Formed Families Forward is a nonprofit
organization dedicated to supporting foster,
kinship and adoptive families of children
and youth with disabilities and other special
needs. The organization serves families,
educators and child welfare professionals
in the Northern Virginia region. The
organization improves the developmental,
educational, social, emotional and post-
secondary outcomes for children and youth
with disabilities and other special needs.

KEEN GREATER DC-
BALTIMORE keengreaterdc.org
301-770-3200 P.O. Box 341590
Bethesda, MD 20827-1590
KEEN (Kids Enjoy Exercise Now) empowers
youth with disabilities and impacts volunteer
coaches through participation in free,
noncompetitive one-on-one programs
of physical activity and fun, supporting
the overall health and well-being of all
individuals. In-person and virtual programs
take place on Sundays throughout the DMV
and on Saturdays in Washington, D.C. More
information about activities taking place in
Baltimore, Montgomery County, Washington,
Arlington and Fairfax are available online.

KENNEDY SCHOOL
catholiccharitiesdc.org/kennedyschool 202-281-2700
801 Buchanan St. NE
Washington, DC 20017
The Kennedy School is a nonpublic day
school for children ages 6 to 22 with
disabilities. The Kennedy School specializes
in serving students with autism, intellectual
disabilities, emotional disabilities, learning
disabilities and traumatic brain injuries.

Using a small-classroom, team-based
approach, staff support students holistically
through behavioral and social counseling,
academic intervention focusing on
mathematics, internships that emphasize
core employment skills and physical
education. LITTLE BUDS PROGRAM
littleleaves.org info@littleleaves.org
202-420-8359 9727 Georgia Ave.

Silver Spring, MD
11480 Sunset Hills Road
Reston, VA 20190
Ages: 1-6
A center-based ABA program for young
children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder
run in a preschool-like setting. It is designed
for children up to age 6 who have been
recommended for intensive ABA services.

LITTLE LEAVES
BEHAVIORAL SERVICES
littleleaves.org 202-420-8359
9727 Georgia Ave.

Silver Spring, MD 20910
Little Leaves is dedicated to helping
people with social, communication and
behavioral challenges grow and succeed
so that they can participate as fully as
possible in their families and communities.

Using evidence-based practices based
on the principles of Applied Behavior
Analysis (ABA), professionals partner with
each family to develop and implement an
individualized therapy plan. We also help
families coordinate the logistics of therapy.

Little Leaves has 11 locations across the
Baltimore, Washington, Virginia and South
Florida regions.

ZINKEVYCH/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGES PLUS
2022 Resources for
ELEVATED LEARNING
SOLUTIONS www.elevatedlearningsolutionsllc.com
elevatedlearningsolutionsllc@gmail.com 301-466-5123
We are a group of professional educators
who implement a team approach in order
to support the WHOLE child. Our goal is to
not only fill academic gaps, but to create
confident, independent individuals who
understand themselves as learners.




MARYLAND FAMILY
NETWORK marylandfamilynetwork.org
410-659-7701 1001 Eastern Ave., Second Floor
Baltimore, MD 21202
Formed in 2009 from the merger of two
leading nonprofit organizations—the
Maryland Committee for Children and
Friends of the Family, the Maryland Family
Network operates a statewide network of
Family Support Centers that help hundreds
of families with infants and toddlers to
become stronger and self-sufficient.

The organization’s Child Care Resource
Centers offer state-of-the-art training,
mentoring, coaching and other supports to
Maryland’s dedicated child care workforce.

Maryland Family Network’s LOCATE Child
Care Special Needs Service is a free service
available to any family who has a child with
an IEP or an IFSP from birth through age 21.

NEWFOUND FAMILIES
VIRGINIA newfoundva.org
P.O. Box 85
Ashland, VA 23005
NewFound Families is the Virginia adoptive,
foster and kinship family association.

This organization provides educational,
advocacy and support services to families
caring for children who are unable to live
with their birth parents. As a membership
association, Newfound Families Virginia
supports the recruitment and retention of
quality foster, adoptive and kinship families;
advocates for consistent and standardized
training and support for foster, adoptive and
kinship families; and provides resources
and information to families, empowering
them to be educated, equipped and
effective as valued partners in protecting
the health and safety of children.

PEDIATRIC THERAPY
STUDIO info@pediatrictherapystudio.com
703-663-4808 8221 Old Courthouse Road, Suite 105
Vienna, VA 22182
Pediatric Therapy Studio is accredited by
the Behavioral Health Center of Excellence.

We provide ABA behavioral therapy, speech
and language therapy, and occupational
therapy to children with exceptional needs.

We provide center-based and in-home
services and accept VA Medicaid and
commercial insurances.

SHEFTER LAW, P.A.

shefterlaw.com 301-605-7303
110 N. Washington St., Suite 350
Rockville, MD 20850
Frances Shefter is an education attorney
and advocate committed to helping clients
have a Stress-Free IEP experience. Shefter
Law, P.A. serves families of children with
special needs. Employing her education
background to IEP matters, Shefter offers
strategy sessions, mediation services and
due process responses.

SPIRIT CLUB
spiritclub.com 301-933-3722
10417-B Metropolitan Ave.

Kensington, MD 20985
SPIRIT Club provides supportive fitness
programs for people with and without
disabilities. In-person and virtual options,
group classes and personal training are
available, plus HSCSN/DDS/DDA options.

Visit spiritclub.com or email join@spirit-
club.com. Mention #WASHFAM to get your
first session and class free.

THE ARC MONTGOMERY
COUNTY thearcmontgomerycounty.org
301-984-5777 7362 Calhoun Place
Rockville, MD 20855
The Arc Montgomery County offers
inclusive programs for children and youth
ages 6 weeks to 21 years with and without
disabilities and special health care needs,
including full-time child care, preschool,
before- and after-care programs, and
summer activities.

THE AUBURN SCHOOL
theauburnschool.org info@theauburnschool.org
9115 Georgia Ave.

Silver Spring, MD 20910
301-588-8048 3800 Concorde Parkway, #500
Chantilly, VA 20151
703-793-9353 The Auburn School grows the social and
academic potential of students with social
and communication challenges.

THE SIENA SCHOOL
thesienaschool.org info@thesienaschool.org
301-244-3600 1300 Forest Glen Road
Silver Spring, MD 20901
703-745-5900 2705 Hunter Mill Road
Oakton, VA 22124
Ages: 9-18
Proudly celebrating our 14th year, The Siena
School serves students in grades fourth
through 12th with language-based learning
differences. Schedule a tour to learn why
Siena was named by Washington FAMILY
readers as the best special needs school for
the third year in a row.

THE STEEDMAN
LAW GROUP
steedmanlaw.net admin@steedmanlaw.net
410-645-0625 260 Gateway Drive, Suite 11-12B
Bel Air, MD 21014
Experienced, compassionate, and effective
legal representation and advocacy for
children and adults with special needs. n
PATHWAYS EDUCATIONAL
CONSULTING pathwayseducationalconsulting.com/
educational-consultant-montgomery- county-md-educational-advocate-
montgomery-county-md 301-926-1081
Pathways Educational Consulting is an
academic advisory service that helps
parents navigate the public school system
of Montgomery County, Maryland.

The organization works with parents of
students with learning disabilities and
mental health challenges to connect them
to the services their children need to put
them on the path to educational success.

Founder Janet Lee works with parents
to prepare them for Montgomery County
Public Schools meetings and assists at
these meetings to secure accommodations
and, when necessary, appropriate
school placements.

WashingtonFAMILY.com 29