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“Consumer directed” means that a person with a disability, often working with their family, decides exactly who will be hired to provide support services.  The consumer is the person with a disability and they are “directing” or controlling exactly who will assist them.

Our Consumer Directed Attendant Guide provides information on understanding and utilizing consumer directed services to get the help you need in your home and community.

Reports and studies show what we have come to know at The Arc of Northern Virginia quite personally– people with developmental disabilities are much more likely to have negative interactions with the justice system and end up incarcerated than the typically developing population.

Developing Positive Interactions for People with Developmental Disabilities and First Responders, Police, and the Justice System:  A Guide for People with Developmental Disabilities and their Loved Ones is written for people with disabilities and their families aimed at planning to prevent negative interactions and how to managed if something goes wrong.

When Individuals with Developmental Disabilities Become Involved in the Criminal Justice System: A Guide for Attorneys is a parallel guide for attorneys hired to represent people with developmental disabilities to learn about the unique needs and rights of their new clients.

We have seen a huge increase in the number of people opting to use live-in aides to make living with greater independence possible.  These new guidebooks were created by The Arc of Northern Virginia in 2018 as a result of a grant award from the Arlington Community Foundation.

Live-in Caregiver Guide – Information for people with developmental disabilities and their loved ones on utilizing live-in supports will help people with disabilities and their families weigh the option of a live-in caregiver, learn how to proceed, and troubleshoot along the way.

Live-in Caregiver Guide for Caregivers – Information for people considering work or working as live-in caregivers for people with developmental disabilities is the parallel version for live-in caregivers, written to help them understand the requirements of the job, how to perform this work well, and what to do if they have problems.