Early Intervention at The Arc of Loudoun
Children start learning the moment they’re born. Getting children with disabilities and their families the support they need early in life can make all the difference—according to the CDC, early intervention can make a big difference in a child’s ability to learn new skills, overcome challenges, and succeed in school and life. But for families with a child with a disability, navigating resources to find the services their child is eligible for can be overwhelming.
The Arc of Loudoun’s Claude Moore Center for Early Intervention supports children 18 months to 8 years old to increase children’s ability to learn new skills, master developmental milestones, overcome challenges, and increase their success in school and in life. Our Early Intervention programs are a collaboration between Open Door Learning Center preschool, Aurora Behavior Clinic, ALLY Advocacy Center, and Bridge the Gap funding to create a comprehensive support system for children and families.
Together, these programs create a continuum of care, ensuring that educational, behavioral, and advocacy needs are met in an integrated manner. The Arc of Loudoun is unique in its ability to provide this collaboration all in one place on our campus in Leesburg. We help children develop essential skills early, preparing them for future academic success, improved developmental outcomes, and increased access to resources.
The Arc of Loudoun Early Intervention Programs:
Open Door Learning Center (ODLC) preschool provides educational services tailored to children of all abilities, including those needing early intervention. ODLC is an inclusive preschool for children ages 2 ½ -7 with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities. Licensed by the VDOE, ODLC focuses on building social skills, teaching developmentally appropriate academics, and getting preschool students and their parents ready for kindergarten. Our inclusive environment helps develop communication, adaptability, acceptance, peer leadership and social skills. Students with disabilities can receive therapy services from Aurora Behavior Clinic while attending ODLC during the day. ODLC is an approved Child Care Subsidy Provider through the Commonwealth of Virginia ensuring that all eligible families have affordable access to preschool. ODLC partners with ALLY Advocacy Center to empower families with the support and resources, this can include free consultations, community referrals, and personal invitations to trainings and events.
Learn more at odlc.thearcofloudoun.org
Aurora Behavior Clinic (ABC) provides children attending ODLC individualized therapy sessions as part of their early intervention plan, ensuring consistency between education and behavioral support. ABC provides Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy, Occupational Therapy (OT), and Speech Language Pathology (SLP) for clients through individual and group sessions that focus on communication and social skills. ABC is an in-network insurance carrier that accepts most insurance providers as well as Medicaid. The Clinic is staffed by a highly credentialed and experienced team, featuring Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBAs), Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analysts (BCaBAs), Licensed Behavior Analysts (LBA), Registered Behavior Technicians (RBTs), and fully accredited Occupational and Speech Language Pathology Therapists. In addition to individual therapy sessions, ABC also offers group Social Skills Programs. ABC partners, educates, and supports families on how to continue therapy at home and partners with ALLY Advocacy Center to share further support and resources.
Learn more at abc.thearcofloudoun.org
ALLY Advocacy Center supports families navigating disability services, advocating for their children’s rights in education, and ensuring access to resources. ALLY works diligently to meet the unmet needs of the disability community by providing free information on disability rights; referrals to local, state, and federal resources; free consultation; financial assistance through Bridge the Gap funds; and events and workshops for people with disabilities, their families, and the professionals who work with them. Some of the programs ALLY hosts throughout the year include iCan Bike Camp, Holiday Giving Program, Sensory Santa Visits, Disability Resource Fair, and Practice Traffic Stops. ALLY supports low-income families in our community by providing referrals for resources such as English classes, employment opportunities, or rental assistance in our community to ensure they have the best support and access to the early intervention services they need.
Learn more at ally.thearcofloudoun.org
Bridge the Gap funding helps qualifying families afford preschool or therapy services. The Arc of Loudoun launched the Bridge the Gap fund in 2021 after seeing an increased need in our community. Bridge the Gap is managed by The Arc’s ALLY Advocacy Center and Finance Department and uses the HUD Area Median Income (AMI) guidelines for Loudoun County as the framework to determine who to serve and how funds were allocated. The Bridge the Gap fund enables qualified low-income families to receive much needed early intervention services.
Contact us at ally@thearcofloudoun.org for more information.
The Arc of Loudoun’s Early Intervention programs are located at our campus in Leesburg, VA along with the Aurora School, a year-round private K-12 special education day placement school; and Ability Fitness Center, a wellness center that provides access to innovative, customized, and activity-based interventions for individuals with neurological disabilities.