Community Resources
Below are resources for students who may need assistance beyond the services provided by Accommodations and Accessibility Services at NOVA. Students may self-refer where appropriate to address various needs and concerns.
Descriptions of the services offered have been taken directly from each resource’s website. Feel free to access the websites for the most current information. Please note NOVA is not affiliated with nor assumes responsibility for a student’s contact with any of the listed resources.
CHADD
CHADD believes in improving the lives of people affected by ADHD.
College Steps
College Steps is a NOVA-hosted, fee-based program that provides specialized resources and supports for NOVA students with social, communication, and/or learning disabilities.
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB)
CLB is the only organization in the region that provides a comprehensive range of programs and services for the nearly 180,000 people living in Maryland, DC, and Virginia who are blind or visually impaired, regardless of an individual’s ability to pay.
Community Services Board (CSB) and Behavioral Health
Local CSBs provide a variety of mental and behavioral health services to individuals with a serious mental illness, an intellectual disability (ID) and/or developmental disability (DD), or a substance use disorder.
D.C. Department on Disability Services (DDS)
The Department on Disability Services (DDS) is composed of two Administrations that oversee and coordinate services for residents with disabilities through a network of private and non-profit providers: Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA) and Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA).
Department for the Blind and Vision Impaired (DVBI)
DARS provides services and resources which empower Virginians who are blind, deafblind or vision impaired to achieve their desired levels of employment, education, and personal independence.
ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia (ECNV)
ECNV is a community resource and advocacy center run by and for persons with disabilities, dedicated to empowering people with disabilities to live independently.
Job Accommodation Network (JAN)
The Job Accommodation Network (JAN) is the leading source of free and confidential guidance to help employees and employers navigate accommodation requests in the workplace.
The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center
The Mid-Atlantic ADA Center provides information, guidance, and training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), tailored to meet the needs of businesses, government entities, organizations, and individuals in the Mid-Atlantic Region (DC, DE, MD, PA, VA, and WV).
National Alliance for Mental Illness Virginia (NAMI VA)
NAMI VA promotes recovery and improves the quality of life for Virginians living with serious mental illness through support, education, and advocacy.
National Center for Learning Disabilities (NCLD)
NCLD improves the lives of the 1 in 5 with learning and attention issues by empowering parents and young adults, transforming schools, and advocating for equal rights and opportunities.
Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf & Hard of Hearing Persons (NVRC)
NVRC empowers deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals and their families through education, advocacy, and community development.
Office of Civil Rights (OCR) in the U.S. Department of Education (DOE)
OCR ensures equal access to education and promotes educational excellence through vigorous enforcement of civil rights in schools across the nation.
OCR Video Series
This video series covers a variety of topics on digital access in education, including how people with disabilities use technology, applicable Federal regulations, and identifying and remediating barriers to access.
ServiceSource
ServiceSource provides a wide range of services to people with disabilities and their families or caregivers to build more inclusive communities.
Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services (DARS)
DARS seeks to improve the employment, quality of life, security, and independence of older Virginians, Virginians with disabilities, and their families.
Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (VDDHH)
VDDHH works to reduce the communication barriers between persons who are deaf or hard of hearing and those who are hearing, including family members, service providers, and the general public.
Virginia Department of Education (VDOE)
VDOE is dedicated to maximizing the potential of all learners and to advancing equitable and innovative learning.