Support Groups Meeting in Virginia

Please contact PEATC with information about support groups in your area so that they may be included in this list.

GENERAL

Arc of Prince William
Mothers, Fathers & sibling support groups meet on the 3rd Monday of the month from 7:00 - 9 p.m. If holiday, meeting is on 4th Monday.  Childcare is available during the meetings for younger children and the child with a disability. For more information & workshops, contact Jan Russell 703-730-3124 or russellj@erols.com. 6/00

Arlington Area Group (surrounding communities welcome)
Parent Information and Support Groups for Parents of Children with Special Needs. Both are drop in at 7:30 pm. GROUP 1--Meets the first Tuesday of Every Month at Common Grounds Cafe at 3211 Wilson Blvd. (across from the Silver Diner. Targeted for families in Arlington with children birth-3 with any type of special needs (surrounding communities welcome). Join us in a comfortable living room setting for topic discussions that range from dealing with the emotions of having a child that has special needs to educating yourself about therapies, IEPs, and the social and emotional development of your child. GROUP 2 -Meets the third Thursday of each month at the Clarendon Fresh Fields in the mezzanine level conference room. Targeted for families living in Arlington with children 12 and under (surrounding communities welcome). Meetings feature either speakers (ranging from therapists, psychologists, educators and advocates) to open discussions on the materials presented by the speakers. Contact your Arlington parent-to-parent coordinator, Julie Katz 703-549-0259, julesk@erols.com.  2/02

Parents Like Us in the Tri-Cities Area
Meets 1st Thursday 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.  For parents of children with special needs.    For more information please contact Stacia Lee (804) 863-0446 or STACIATIM@prodigy.net. 6/00

Parent to Parent
Meets 2nd & 4th Sundays 9:25 a.m. For parents of children and young adults with special needs. McLean Bible Church, Room 202A, McLean. For information call Jack or Ann Garhart 703-242-1944. 5/99

Special Needs Parent Support Group
Meets on the third Tuesday of each month, 7:30 at the PRC.Caring for a child with special needs stirs up powerful feelings in parents…. Wouldn’t it be great to take a break from your busy schedule to be with people who understand what you’re going though?  Join psychotherapist Alexandra Roth, LCSW, ACSW, and other parents of children with special needs and for this FREE, drop in support group every month.  No commitment or need to register…. We’re here for you.  For information about the group, call Alexandra Roth at 703-883-0330. 12/01

Special Needs G.I.F.T.S. (Getting Involved with Families, Teachers, and Schools)
A support network for parents, teachers, and other professionals who are involved with children or young adults who have special needs or learning difficulties.  Meets on the first Monday of each month (except in January 2001when the meeting will be held on the second Monday, January 8).  Meetings held in Richmond.  Child care available.  For more information call Lisa Mansini at (804) 560-7172 or Beverly Smeltzer at (804) 330-2507.

Youth Group for people ages 14 - 22 with disabilities, sponsored by the Endependence Center of Northern Virginia, 3100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington. 22201. For more information contact 703-525-3268 or 703-525-3553 TTY. 6/99

ADD/ADHD

CH.A.D.D. Small Parent Support Groups

Annandale
Denise Gallagher, CPCC 703-548-9083 or denisecoach@worldnet.att.net 1/02

Fauquier
Patty McSweeney (540) 364-2417
Third Monday at 6:30 pm Marshall Annex, Marshall 1/02

Herndon/Reston
Jodi Sleeper-Triplett 703-437-1256 or jstcoach@aol.com  
2nd Monday (call first)at 7:30 p.m. Reston Regional Library, 19925 Bowman Towne Drive, Reston. 1/02

McLean/Falls Church
Dr. Ari Tuckman 703-749-8494 or AriTuckman@mindspring.com 
First Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Dolley Madison Library, 1244 Oak Ridge Avenue, McLean. 1/02

CHADD of Northern Virginia
703-641-5451  
3rd Thursday at 7:30 p.m., January - May, September - November.  Fairfax High School, 3500 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax.

HAAD - Hyperactive Attention Deficit Roanoke Valley CH.ADD.
Meetings for those concerned with children - 2nd Thursday 7 p.m. in the Education Center behind Lewis Gale Pavilion.  Adult meeting 3rd Wednesday 7 p.m. Conference Room B, Lewis Gale Pavilion.
For information contact 366-3024. 4/99

AUTISM/PDD

Asperger's/High-Functioning Autism Parent Support Groups

Kingstowne & Fairfax area (open to all parents) 3rd Wednesdays during school months, 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. Call Barry Loss 703-866-2121.bloss@erols.com 6/00

National Capital area 2nd Tuesdays. Call Pam Escobar 703-430-3519  aspergers_nca@hotmail.com 6/00

Prince William County Support Group for Parents of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Meetings held on the third Tuesday of the month from 7:00 - 9:00.  Childcare available if you contact Tanya DeCasseres at 703-580-5564 or ddeceres@msn.com one week before the meeting.  For information contact the Parent Resource Center of Prince William County Schools, 703-791-8846 (voice), 703-791-8847 (TDD). 5/03

Autism Society of America,
Central Virginia Chapter
Meetings held every 3rd Friday of the month, 6:30 - 9:00 p.m
River Road United Methodist Church, 8800 River Road, Richmond. For information call (804) 257-0192 or bradhul@aol.com. 8/99

Fredericksburg Area
Meetings held the 1st Friday of each month, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m.
Christ Lutheran Church, Augustine Avenue, Fredericksburg. Child care provided with 2 days advanced notice. For information call Kim Lett, (540) 720-0068, asafredericksburg@yahoo.com. 4/02

Commonwealth Autism Service
(formerly The Autism Program of Virginia (TAP-VA))
2201 West Broad Street, Suite 107
Richmond, VA 23220
Phone: 800-649-8481 or 804-355-030
Fax: 804-355-0932
www.autismva.org
email: information@autismva.org