Our History

Langley was created from a desire to care for and support adults with developmental disabilities in an environment that was very much like a family home.

“The Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board (CSB) holds Langley in high regard and recognizes its long-term commitment to quality service delivery, community involvement, and positive outcomes for the individuals served.”

…Alan Wooten, Director, CSB Community Living Services

In the early 1980s, members of three McLean churches (Trinity United Methodist, Immanuel Presbyterian and Lutheran Church of the Redeemer) chaperoned monthly dances sponsored by the ARC of Northern Virginia. After getting to know some of the young adults with developmental disabilities who attended these dances, they became concerned about what would happen to these vulnerable individuals after their parents could no longer care for them. 

At that time, the model for caring for men and women with developmental disabilities was moving away from institutionalization and into small group homes in residential areas. A primary goal of this movement was to bring these individuals into the community instead of keeping them apart from it. Studies at the time showed a growing need for smaller community residences where these people could live in a shared home with their peers and develop the skills important to day-to-day living. 

Our founders wanted to create such an environment and opened our first group home in 1985. We continue to carry out this mission today—and support more than 50 adults through the operation of five homes and a large community support drop-in services program in the Fairfax County-Falls Church City area. 

In 2011, Langley Residential Support Services received an award from the Fairfax County Human Rights Commission for “…dedicated service to the citizens of Fairfax County, Virginia in the field of Human Rights.” In 2012, we were nominated for the Fairfax Chamber of Commerce’s Non-Profit of the Year award. More recently in 2020, U.S. Representative Gerry Connolly recognized LRSS' late Executive Director Betsy Schatz in the Congressional Record of the 116th congress in Virginia for her more than three decades of advocacy efforts for our local developmentally disabled community. While these accolades are appreciated, the most meaningful honor comes from the people we serve who have consistently given a 98 percent overall approval rating in our annual satisfaction survey.