For Individuals with Reading Challenges (visual impairment, dyslexia)

Virginia Department for the Blind and Visually Impaired  features resources, reading material, and adaptive equipment.

The following locations are regional Talking Book Centers, through the Library of Congress’s National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. Please click on your nearest regional center to find more resources and librarians to assist you.

The International Dyslexia Association features resources, fact sheets, and advocacy tools.

Decoding Dyslexia  is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for Virginia’s children who have dyslexia, as well as educating the public. The Virginia Chapter has support group meetings throughout the state.

Bookshare makes reading easier. People with dyslexia, blindness, cerebral palsy, and other reading barriers can customize their experience to suit their learning style and find virtually any book they need for school, work, or the joy of reading. This free service is available to any person with a demonstrable diagnosis.

For Individuals with Hearing Impairment

Virginia Department for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing features resources, information, adaptive equipment and interpreter accessibility.

The Maryland Deaf Culture Digital Home has a wealth of historical, cultural, and informational resources. The materials and services listed, however, are only for Maryland residents.

For Individuals with Visual AND Hearing Impairment

The Virginia Department of Education has a wealth of resources and services for this community.

The Virginia Project for Children and Young Adults with Deaf-Blindness, supported by Virginia Commonwealth University, is designed to provide technical assistance, training, distance education, and networking information to families, teachers, and service providers of individuals birth through 21 who have both a hearing loss and a vision loss.

The Northern Virginia Resource Center for the Virginia DeafBlind Project is a regional support and services network.

For Individuals on the Autism Spectrum

The Virginia Commonwealth Autism Center for Excellence is is a statewide resource center dedicated to improving the lives of individuals with ASD and their families.

The Virginia Department of Education supports efforts to build capacity for those serving students with autism. Existing projects include increasing access to information and training, providing technical assistance, strengthening communities of practice, and helping to identify evidenced based practices through research and practice.

The Virginia Autism Council is Virginia’s clearinghouse on best practices and research-based education and training opportunities to advance personnel development and knowledge regarding autism in Virginia.

Autism Speaks is dedicated to promoting solutions, across the spectrum and throughout the life span, for the needs of individuals with autism and their families through advocacy and support; increasing understanding and acceptance of people with autism spectrum disorder; and advancing research into causes and better interventions for autism spectrum disorder and related conditions. Toolkits for families and educators are available.

The Autism Internet Modules were developed with one aim in mind: to make comprehensive, up-to-date, and usable information on autism accessible and applicable to educators, other professionals, and families who support individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Written by experts from across the U.S., all online modules are free, and are designed to promote understanding of, respect for, and equality of persons with ASD.

The content on this page was provided by the Library of Virginia.