ALLY Advocacy Center
Mission and Vision of ALLY Advocacy Center
Children and adults with disabilities often face many hurdles as they attempt to live their lives as fully engaged, active members of our society. Finding the information and support they need regarding issues such as education, employment, public benefits, housing and health care can be a frustrating experience.
The ALLY (A Life Like Yours) Advocacy Center opened its doors in April 2010 to help members of our community navigate what can be a complicated system and an overwhelming amount of information. We work to support families and maximize the potential of ALL children so that they may THRIVE in the community.
History
ALLY is located on the historic Paxton Campus in Leesburg, VA, a property with a long history of serving children and families in need. In 1922, Rachel Paxton had a vision: She wanted her incredible home and property to serve and benefit needy children. She created the Margaret Paxton Memorial for Convalescent Children, in honor of her deceased daughter. Over the years, the property has served as a convalescent center, an orphanage and a day care center. In 1967, a group of parents with children with disabilities also had a vision: They formed The Arc of Loudoun, a 501(c)3 organization, to start a preschool to serve their children when no one else would. In 2009, these visions united, forming The Paxton Campus, which has grown into a full service organization with multiple programs that create an innovative learning environment for children of ALL abilities so that they may THRIVE in the community.
Educational Advocacy Program
ALLY assists parents and caretakers of children with special education needs. We do this through group information sessions (see Parent Network Meetings, below), individual consultations and legal representation (on a case-by-case basis). Underlying all efforts of the staff of ALLY is our fundamental belief that education is the key to opportunity for all individuals. Because of this belief, much of our work is focused on ensuring that children with disabilities receive the free, appropriate public education to which they are legally entitled under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Our model is not to walk into an IEP meeting and “represent” clients. Instead, we believe in working with parents and caretakers behind the scenes (in most cases) and in providing them with the tools, knowledge and skills to best advocate for their child. In the process of educating our clients and their families about their legal rights to an appropriate education, we also strive to empower them to be effective advocates for themselves both now and in the future. By providing clients with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to effectively advocate for themselves and members of their families, we strive to not only help them overcome current obstacles, but also to provide them with the life skills they will need as they continue to work towards achieving “A Life Like Yours.”
While ALLY’s primary goal is to provide clients with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective advocates for themselves, in some cases, direct representation by an ALLY staff member may be advisable. Decisions regarding requests for direct representation are made on a case by case basis based on staff availability and a consideration of the unique circumstances of each case, including a thorough review of all relevant documents.
Parents and caretakers experiencing difficulties or having concerns regarding their child’s IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or lack of an IEP, may schedule an educational consultation by calling the office at 703.777.1939.
Educational consultations and legal representation are available for a reasonable fee, however families may qualify for our sliding fee scale, based on income levels.
Representative Payee Program
ALLY Advocacy Center provides representative payee services to adults with disabilities, free o f charge. A representative payee is an individual or organization appointed by The Social Security Administration to receive Social Security and/or SSI benefits for someone who cannot manage or direct someone else to manage his or her money. Payees (ALLY) are responsible to use the benefits to pay for the current and foreseeable needs of the beneficiary and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. A strict accounting of benefits and savings must be reported annually. Payees play a vital role in serving beneficiaries. They help to ensure that benefit payments are used for basic needs first, providing the beneficiary with a more stable living environment. Once a beneficiary’s daily needs are met, any funds leftover must be saved for that specific beneficiary’s future use. At ALLY, we truly care about our clients and we strive to motivate beneficiaries to work toward more independent living.
If you, or someone you know, is in need of representative payee services, please contact Julia Buchen, Adult Services Liaison at 703.777.1939, ext. 201.
Maggie’s Closet
Officially opening for “business” in the early winter of 2011 is the newest program of ALLY Advocacy Center: Maggie’s Closet. During these difficult economic times, it has become more and more challenging for parents and caretakers to provide the very basic necessities to their families. In response to the requests for assistance from the community, ALLY has created Maggie’s Closet, which will be located in a fully renovated, inviting and beautiful space on the Paxton Campus in Leesburg, Virginia. We are offering a unique “shopping” experience to both children and adults, where they can come to the closet, grab a shopping bag and pick out what clothing they need. And it is all for free.
We are happy to take donations of gently used and new clothing, in all sizes, baby to adult. We will accept new socks and undergarments, as well as financial donations (which can be made payable to ALLY Advocacy Center). For more information, please call 703.777.1939 or email Tammy Goddard at tgoddard@paxtoncampus.org.
Information and Referrals
The staff of ALLY works hard to keep up to date on public and private programming, information and services available in the community. We work closely with clients to identify local, state and federal agencies that provide the necessary supports and services they need to function in their daily lives. We collaborate with many social service agencies in Loudoun County to secure the best available services for our clients, providing referrals as needed. We strive to serve those families in Loudoun County who are working but struggling due to the high cost of living in the area, low wages and the high cost of dependent care.
Parent Network Meetings
Several times throughout the school year, we facilitate meetings for parents on relevant and current topics, bringing in experts to discuss trends, ideas and best practices for parents and caretakers of children with IEPs. 7:00pm start time for Presentation, Networking, & Ask-the-Advocate discussions. For more information or to RSVP contact Pam Schoppert at parentnetwork@paxtoncampus.org.
This year’s meetings are scheduled as follows:
Tuesday, March 13th ESY and Summer Planning: you can’t start too soon!
Spring into Summer! It’s not too early to start thinking about summer and what it will look like for your child. Extended School Year (ESY) comes in many shapes and sizes; Come listen to a panel of experts discuss the options. Also find out about other summer activities available for your child.
Thursday, May 10th Transition Tactics and Techniques
The only thing constant in life is change! If your child’s future involves a transition
(e.g., transition to Kindergarten, transition to middle or high school, graduation and beyond), please join us to discuss specific strategies to aid your transition. In addition, our resident advocacy expert will talk about the changes to the LCPS IEP system and how they affect you!
Social Skills Group
We are happy to offer small social skills development groups to children who may need assistance in developing those skills. Utilizing ABA techniques, and supervised by highly trained staff, our social skills groups run in 6 week sessions throughout the year (including the summer). The age groups are 5-9 years old and 10-13. Groups are limited to no more than 5 participants, plus 2 to 3 “typically developing” peers. For more information, contact us at 703.777.1939, ext.. 200.
For more information, please visit our website at www.allyadvocacycenter.org.
