Education and Early Intervention

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA Center)
Supports the implementation of the early childhood provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 

Gallaudet University’s Laurent Clerc National Deaf Education Center
Shares the concerns of parents and professionals about the achievement of deaf and hard of hearing students in different learning environments across the country. The Clerc Center has been mandated by Congress to develop, evaluate, and disseminate innovative curricula, instructional techniques and strategies, and materials to improve the quality of education for deaf and hard of hearing children and youth from birth through age 21.

Advocacy 

Advocates for Justice and Education, Inc.
Support in the District of Columbia for children and youth with special needs or disabilities and their families around education. 

University Legal Services
University Legal Services is a private, non-profit organization that serves as the District of Columbia’s federally mandated protection and advocacy system for the human, legal and service rights of people with disabilities.

Office of the Student Advocate
Office established by the DC Council to support students and families in navigating the public school system in DC. 

Local Education and Early Intervention Organizations

DC Public Schools
Public school system for the District of Columbia. The website features a page on the Office of Special Education and Early Stages center for referring young children over the age of three who may have developmental delays or disabilities.

• DCPS Office of Special Education
  Provides evaluations, Individual Education Programs (IEP) and services for school aged children with special needs.
• DCPS Early Stages 
  DCPS’s child find initiative and part of the Office of Special Education. Children three to five years old are screened and if necessary, evaluated for delays or disabilities that would require special education services.

DC Partners in Transitio n
This group of stakeholders in DC started a non-profit organization to support young people with disabilities in DC to transition into education, employment, and independence. It is a group of community partners that provides information on services and supports to meet each individuals goals for education, employment and independence.

DC Child Care Connections
Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) ‘s child care search page which includes child care services for children with developmental delays and disabilities.

Office of the State Superintendent of Education” (OSSE) 
The State Department of Education for DC. This includes the early childhood education, child care, early intervention and special education among others. They also house the State Board of Education.

• Early Learning
  This DC agency supports child care and early intervention in DC for children 5 and under and manages the subsidized child care program.
  • Strong Start, DC Early Intervention Program
    The early intervention program in the District of Columbia is for children birth to three who have delays in development or disabilities regardless of income. Provides evaluations, services and Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP). See the website for eligibility and referral information.
  • Head Start  
    Head Start and Early Head Start are programs to promote school readiness in children in low income families including children with developmental delays and disabilities. There are many Early Head Start and Head Start programs in DC. This office has information about the programs. Early Learning Services for Parents- Head Start Collaboration Office 
  • Secondary Transition 
    District of Columbia Public Schools Transition Services, Programs and Supports has compiled a guide of information and resources to support students’ with disabilities transitions to life after high school.
• Elementary, Secondary & Specialized Education
  This office of OSSE is working with the DC Public Schools and Charter schools in the city to put into places improvements to the special education program to meet the needs of all students with special needs.

Youth in Transition Programs
The DC Department on Disability Services, Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) Youth Transition Services Unity provides coordinated activities for students to move from school to post-secondary education, vocational training, employment and independent living.

Resources

Center of Excellence for Infant & Early Childhood Mental Consultation (CoE for IECMHC)
A national technical assistance center dedicated to the advancement and impact of the field of IECMHC through training, technical assistance and resource development.

Services

MedStar Health Autism and Communication Disorders Clinic
The Autism and Communications Disorders Clinic provides a comprehensive interdisciplinary diagnostic evaluation of infants and young children suspected of having a Pervasive Developmental Disorder and/or a serious communication disorder. The clinic conducts evaluations addressing children’s communication, social interaction, sensory motor and cognitive strengths and needs. Call (202) 444-8785 to schedule an appointment.

Bright Beginnings, Inc.
We have had a partnership with Bright Beginnings for nearly two decades to provide early intervention and early childhood services in this Early Head Start/Head Start program. Services include identification of developmental delays and disabilities, support for classrooms in meeting the needs of children with delays and disabilities, program planning and individualized interdisciplinary related services.

Developmental Evaluation Clinic (DEC)
The Developmental Evaluation Clinic provides an interdisciplinary evaluation of babies up to two years of age who were born prematurely. Children receive an interdisciplinary evaluation. Areas addressed include cognitive, motor and neurodevelopmental functioning. Call (202) 444-8569 to schedule an appointment.