Disabled residents can turn to area support groups

The Prince William area offers several organizations that provide services such as day care, support group sessions and job training for disabled citizens and their families.

Government Services
Disability services complements the Community Services Board that addresses services, in part, for people with needs related to mental health or mental disabilities. Prince William County, Manassas and Manassas Park have different groups.

- The Prince William Community Services Board in Woodbridge, 15948 Donald Curtis Drive, Suite 200, (703) 792-4900; in Manassas, 7969 Ashton Ave., (703) 792-7800. Headed by Executive Director Tom Geib, the board offers a variety of programs for the mentally and physically disabled and those with other needs. A listing of services can be found at the agency's Web site, www.pwcgov.org/csb.

- The Prince William Committee for Persons with Disabilities meets the first Tuesday of every month at 7:30 p.m., at the McCoart Administration Center, 1 County Complex in Woodbridge. Call (703) 792-7649.

- The Cities of Manassas/Manassas Park Disability Services Board serves the two cities and meets the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. at the Manassas Department of Social Services, 9309 Center St., Suite L2 & 304. Call (703) 335-5556.

- The Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services, 9309 Center St., Suite 304, in Manassas, offers employment services, community living assistance, and assistive technology services. Call (703) 335-5550.

- The Virginia Department of Health in Woodbridge, call (703) 792-7300; in Manassas, call (703) 792-6300.

- The Department of Social Services in Prince William County, call (703) 792-7500; in Manassas, call (703) 361-8277; and in Manassas Park, call (703) 335-8880.

Other Organizations
The following organizations also offer help to the disabled and can answer questions about disabilities:

- The Arc of Greater Prince William/INSIGHT Inc. is the oldest non-profit agency for people with disabilities in Prince William County. The Arc has two childcare centers for developmentally disabled children between the ages of six months and 22 years, the Robert Day Child Care Center, 9208 Centreville Road in Manassas, and the Muriel Humphrey Center, 13505 Hillendale Drive in Woodbridge. These developmental day care centers provide essential services for parents who must work everyday and who may not be able to find or afford care for their disabled children otherwise. For the Muriel Humphrey Child Care Center, call (703) 670-5060; for the Robert Day Child Care Center, call (703) 361-2443.

In addition, The Arc provides therapeutic recreation activities for disabled citizens including bowling, field trips, social dances and events, volleyball, and basketball. Call (703) 670-4800.

The Arc's Residential Services (INSIGHT Inc.) manages seven residential group homes for 41 developmentally disabled citizens. There are also 19 supported living residences for those adults capable of living semi-independently in town houses or apartments. Group homes and supported living residences provide a family-like environment where adults with developmental disabilities live together in the community. INSIGHT can be contacted at (703) 580-5375.

The Arc also has a Vocational Skill Advancement Center located at 19143 Fuller Heights Road in Triangle. It provides vocational services that offer community integration, activities of daily living, and, social development for adults that require intensive support. The Arc runs two job sites, Spinaweb, a retail shop in Occoquan where adults with developmental disabilities weave clothes, and Mobile Crews, where participants are trained to do janitorial and lawn service work for churches, businesses, and private homes. Call (703) 221-8787.

Lastly, The Arc provides extensive family support services for parents of developmental disabled citizens. These include family network meetings, educational workshops, informational and referral services, respite subsidy programs, respite care, parents' night out and the annual Circle of Support Conference. Family Support Services can be contacted at (703) 670-4800.

- Didlake Inc., at 8621 Breeden Ave., Manassas, enriches the lives of people with disabilities through employment, training, education, community inclusion, advocacy, day support, and transportation. Services are nationally accredited. For information, call (703) 361-4195 or (800) 669-4000 or visit www.didlake.com.

- Accessibility and Advocacy for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing meets every month at the McCoart Administration Center in Woodbridge. Contact Lori Mack at (703) 257-5400 for more information.

- Community Residences, based in Arlington, provides residential and crisis services for people with disabilities throughout Northern Virginia. Call (703) 841-7768 or visit www.comres.org.

- ENDependence Center of Northern Virginia, a nationwide Arlington-based group, promotes the independent living philosophy for people with disabilities. ENCV offers peer counseling, independent living skills training, advocacy, information, and referral. Call (703) 525-ECNV (3268).