Families Helping Families
Education.Community.Support.
Education
Parents Of Autistic Children of Northern Virginia (POAC-NoVA) and its predecessor organization have worked for more than two decades to improve the quality and quantity of education for students with autism in Northern Virginia.
We meet regularly with decision makers in Fairfax County Public Schools, and are looking for members to lead the same effort in other Northern Virginia school districts. POAC-NoVA strives to keep our members’ concerns front and center. We have developed relationships that allow our members to not only have their concerns heard, but acted upon.
We also closely follow the education budget process at the local and state level and alert our members when programs that serve our kids are in jeopardy.
Community
POAC-NoVA offers a private member listserv when you join, which is made up of hundreds of resourceful and supportive local parents and caregivers from counties and cities throughout Northern Virginia.
We hold meetings several times per year on topics of interest to our community. Topics include expert advice on developing a successful IEP for your child, inclusion opportunities within schools, adapted sports and recreation opportunities for your child and your family, and many more. Visit our Events page for upcoming meetings.
POAC-NoVA also hosts a BBQ pool party in July and a holiday party in December, as well as smaller social events throughout the year.
Support
In addition to our popular listserv, we offer in-person support group meetings for caregivers, which provide an informal and safe space to talk openly with other families. We have found that one of the best sources of information and support are other parents and caregivers who truly understand how autism affects an entire family. Please visit our Events page for our schedule of support group meetings.
