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CONTRA COSTA
SPECIAL EDUCATION LOCAL PLAN
AREA
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Last updated 1/8/2020
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Disclaimer:
We have made reasonable attempts to insure our website is
educationally sound and does not have links to any questionable
material. Links from this site should not be construed as
an endorsement, explicit or implied, of the organization,
facility or information contained within those web sites. |
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ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES
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CDE
News Room Information from the Communications Office
which oversees all public relations and media activities
from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and
the California Department of Education (CDE).
California
Education and Other Codes is an absolutely invaluable
site if your job requires that you muck around in the law.
This service offers a good search function once you get
to the code you're dealing with.
California
Department of Finance maintains a page devoted to keeping
folks abreast of what's happening with the State budget.....a
good place to hear the latest.
California
Department of Social Services - Child Abuse Prevention
webpage including statewide abuse reporting hotline numbers
by county, available services, online mandated reporter
training and more. Download their document "California
Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Laws - Issues & Answers
for Mandated Reporters" here.
The Center
on Response to Intervention is a national leader in
supporting the successful implementation and scale-up of
MTSS/RTI and its components. The site contains information
and resources regarding research, strategies, reading methodology,
screening tools, etc. for district staff to consider implementing.
Child
Abuse Prevention Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra
Costa County Mandated Reporter Training: Any
person who works directly with children is a Mandated Reporter
and is required by law to report suspected child abuse or
neglect. CAPC offers free training to Mandated Reporters
throughout Contra Costa County on how to identify and report
suspected child abuse. Click the 'Programs' heading on their
webpage. In addition, CAPC offers free workshops for the
community and parent groups on the identification of suspected
child abuse and how to keep kids safe.
Children
& Family Services / Emergency Response to Child Abuse
CAPC-COCO's one page guide for Mandated Reporters including
the 24-hour/7 day a week toll free hotline: 1-877-881-1116.
Council
for Exceptional Children - Job Profiles in Special Education
provides descriptions of positions in special education
including qualifications, education, training and licensure
requirements.
Legislative
Update offers current information about the status of
emerging laws as well as thorough analysis by the Legislative
Analyst and committees.
Office
of Public School Construction The Office of Public School
Construction (OPSC) is under the authority of the State
of California's Department of General Services. As staff
to the State Allocation Board, OPSC implements and administers
a $35 billion voter-approved school facilities construction
program.
U.S.
Department of Education - Federal legislation, regulations,
guidance, and other policy documents can be found on this
site for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, No
Child Left Behind, and other topics.
U.S.
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services
OSERS provides the latest information on special education
from Washington, D.C.
WestEd
A nonprofit research and development agency working at the
national, state, and local levels, WestEd aims to improve
education and other important outcomes for children, youth
and adults.
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FAMILY RESOURCES

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The Internet can
be a wonderful tool in your search for information on your
child's unique needs. You can access the latest research on
treatments and instructional technology. There is information
from special interest groups and advocates for various methodologies.
The information can range from wonderfully informative to
blatantly misleading. In using the Internet, we recommend
you search the websites of nationally recognized organizations
with established credibility. |
Local
Contra Costa County and Surrounding Area

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211
Contra Costa - 211 is the national, toll-free, three-digit
phone number to call for information about all kinds of
local health and social services. Calls are answered 24
hours per day, 365 days per year by trained information
and referral specialists at the Contra Costa Crisis Center.
Bay Area
Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) is a 501(c)3
non-profit organization working to improve the health, independence
and social integration of people with physical disabilities
through sports, fitness and recreation programs.
Care
Parent Network - A one-stop family resource center serving
families of children with disabilities and special health
care needs.
Child
Abuse and Prevention Council - Surviving Parenthood
Guide: Advocacy, Support and Referral Services.
Contra
Costa ARC- A non-profit membership-based community organization
which exists to enhance and enrich the lives of children
and adults with developmental disabilities. They provide
direct services and advocacy to assist those they serve
in achieving their highest level of personal independence
and self-sufficiency.
Contra
Costa Crisis Center - Maintains a database of 24,000
sources for help or information on a variety of human services.
Contra
Costa Community Services Bureau - CSB provides child
development programs across Contra Costa County for children
0-5 years old and reserves 10% of their enrollment to serve
children with suspected or diagnosed disabilites.
Contra
Costa Employment and Human Services- In partnership
with the community they provide services that support and
protect adults, children, families and the elderly and promote
personal responsibility, independence and self-sufficiency.
The Children
and Families Services Department is the connection to
Child Welfare Projects and Programs that ensure safety of
children and work to toward healthy independence for families
and their children.
Environmental
Traveling Companions (ETC) opens the beauty and challenge
of the great outdoors to people with disabilities and disadvantaged
youth. Every year, more than 2,100 people join ETC to raft
whitewater rivers, ski alpine meadows, kayak the waters
of the Golden Gate and Tomales Bay, and build leadership
skills.
Family
Caregiver Alliance The mission of Family Caregiver Alliance
(FCA) is to improve the quality of life for family caregivers
and the people who receive their care. The services, education
programs, and resources from FCA are designed with caregivers
needs in mind and offer support, tailored information, and
tools to manage the complex demands of caregiving.
Independent
Living Resources of Solano & Contra Costa Counties
- ILR takes a multi-tiered approach to achieving viable
solutions for their client base. By providing free assistive
services to persons with disabilities, educating the public
about the needs and abilities of the Disability Community,
and advocating for systemic and social change, ILR hopes
to encourage autonomous living and community unity.
Maya
Cinema's "Maya Cares Program" presents select
family friendly films the first Saturday of the month at
9:30 a.m. for people with special needs. These presentations
will be sensory friendly with lower volume and brighter
lighting. Admission is free to guests with special needs
and $5 for friends, family and guardians. Maya Cinemas is
located at 4085 Century Blvd. in Pittsburg; showtimes and
additional information available on their website.
Starting 10/4/14.
Walnut
Creek Specialized Recreation
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The city of
Walnut Creek offers a wide variety
of activities and events for disabled
persons age 16 and above. You do not
need to be a resident of Walnut Creek
to participate. Some of the activities
offered Karate,
Bowling, Dances, Dinner Club and Saturday
trips to major league baseball games,
theme parks, plays, movies and more.
Other Bay Area cities
have programs and activities for
individuals with special needs and
their families. Contact your city
offices to see what they offer.
POISE
- (Parents of Orinda Individuals in Special Education) is
a resource for support and information - even mentorship
among families of differing ages with similar circumstances
in the Orinda School District.
Pump
It Up- The Concord location hosts a jump night each
month for special kids and their families. Call 925-681-1060
for schedule.
Regional
Center of the East Bay (RCEB) - The Regional Center
of the East Bay is a private, non-profit corporation under
contract with the California Department of Developmental
Services. RCEB works in partnership with many individuals
and other agencies to plan and coordinate services and supports
for people with developmental disabilities.
SEED
Lafayette - (Special Education Enrichment Development
Foundation) supports a wide range of programs that enhance
the education of our children with special needs in Lafayette,
CA.
SPSK-Lafayette,
CA This site administered by a local parent support
group is an excellent resource for links to academic activities,
sports, recreation and camps for parents, families and children
with special needs in central Contra Costa County.
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State and National
Resources

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American
Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities
- AAIDD promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective
practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual
and developmental disabilities.
American Foundation
for the Blind - A one-stop information and referral
resource for people who are blind or visually impaired,
the organizations and individuals that serve them, and the
general public.
Autism
Society of America - A leading source of information
and referral on autism.
California
Department of Education - If you need information
and/or referral services, call the California Department
of Education Procedural Safeguards Unit at 800-926-0648,
Weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Videophone line (for deaf/hard
of hearing) 916-374-7182, Weekdays 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Email: speceducation@cde.ca.gov. For general assistance
and/or information regarding special education programs
call 916-445-4613.
California
Parent Training & Information Centers - A list of
California agencies providing resources for families of
children with disabilities.
CalSTAT
- The primary recipients of California Services for Technical
Assistance and Training (CalSTAT) project services are special
education and general education teachers, administrators,
and families of students with disabilities. The website
features the EDge Newsletter and the Special Education Resource
Hub connecting California with Special Education Resources.
Canine
Companions for Independence - A non-profit organization
that provides highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing
support to ensure quality partnerships. CCI is the largest
non-profit provider of assistance dogs, and is recognized
worldwide for the excellence of its dogs, and the quality
and longevity of the matches it makes between dogs and people.
Cerebral
Palsy Group - Cerebral Palsy Group is an online resource
for anyone who has been affected by cerebral palsy, birth
injuries, or brain injuries. They provide free support and
useful resources to individuals and families who have been
diagnosed with cerebral palsy and other disabilities.
Children
& Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
- The nation's leading nonprofit organization serving individuals
with ADHD.
Council
for Exceptional Children-Division for Learning Disabilities
- Information and resources for teaching children with learning
disabilities.
Disability.gov
- Disability.gov is the federal government website for comprehensive
information about disability-related programs, services,
policies, laws and regulations. The site links to thousands
of resources from many different federal government agencies,
as well as state and local governments and nonprofit organizations
across the country.
National
Alliance of the Mentally Ill (NAMI) - National Alliance
on Mental Illness, the nations largest grassroots
mental health organization dedicated to building better
lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.
NAMI advocates for access to services, treatment, supports
and research and is steadfast in its commitment to raise
awareness and build a community for hope for all of those
in need.
National
Institute of Mental Health - Information about the symptoms,
diagnosis, and treatment of learning disabilities, ADHD,
autism, and many other disabilities and illnesses.
Parents Helping
Parents increases the quality of life for our most vulnerable
by providing services, resources and support for children
with special needs, their families, and caregivers in California.
PHP helps families who have children of any age with special
needs. It is never too late to call PHP. They assist families
from infancy through their child's adulthood. Even adult
siblings who have responsibility for the care of their sibling
with a disability.
Shriners
Hospitals for Children is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization,
committed to providing specialized care to children with
orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, cleft
lip and palate, and certain other special health care needs,
regardless of the families ability to pay. SHC strives
to transform children's lives by providing exceptional health
care through high-quality, innovative research in a patient
and family-centered environment.
Simplified
Technology for Children with Communication Disorders
- Information and resources regarding Augmentative and Assistive
Communication Technology.
Special
Education Services and Resources - Programs and services
available to students with disabilities, publications, training
and technical assistance opportunities and recruitment resources
and materials.
Special
Olympics, Northern California - Special Olympics, Northern
California provides athletic opportunities to children and
adults with intellectual disabilities, instilling the confidence
they need to succeed in life.
Spina
Bifida Association of America- The Spina Bifida Association
of America (SBAA) serves the 70,000 adults and children
who live with spina bifida. SBAAs programs give hope
and strength to people confronted with the challenges of
spina bifida.
Stop
Bullying- StopBullying.gov provides information from
various government agencies on what bullying is, what cyberbullying
is, who is at risk, and how you can prevent and respond
to bullying.
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SPECIAL EDUCATION RESOURCES

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California
Association of Resource Specialists Plus CARS+ is an
organization that represents the unique needs of resource
specialists and other special education teachers.
California
School Services is a business, financial, management,
and advocacy resource for educational agencies in California.
Common
Core Resources for Special Education this California
Department of Education site offers resources and guidelines
on what the CCSS and the new tests will mean for California
students in the Special Education community.
Specialized
Media & Technology, the California Department of
Education provides free Braille, large-print, audio cassettes
and American Sign Language VideoBooks to California's public
schools.
CLAS Early
Childhood Research Institute is developing a resource
bank of materials for families and practitioners working
with young children who are disabled or at risk for disabilities
from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Operation
Respect offers the curricula for the "Don't Laugh
at Me" Project. DLAM is working to transform schools,
camps and other youth organizations into more compassionate,
safe and respectful environments for children. Founded by
Peter Yarrow of the folk group Peter, Paul & Mary, the
project disseminates educational resources that are designed
to establish a climate that reduces the emotional and physical
cruelty some children inflict upon each other by behaviors
such as ridicule, bullying and - in extreme cases - violence.
Ed-Join
is an education job opening network portal to thousands
of teaching and other education job openings throughout
California.
GreatSchools.net,
information, support and hope for parents and educators
helping kids with learning differences.
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Additional
Disclaimer: This web page contains hypertext links to information
created and maintained by other public and private organizations.
These links are provided for the user's convenience. We do
not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness,
or completeness of this outside information. Further, the
inclusion of links to particular items in hypertext is not
intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended to
endorse any views expressed, or products or services offered,
on these outside sites, or the organizations sponsoring the
sites. |
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