ADMINISTRATIVE RESOURCES

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.

Local
Contra Costa County and Surrounding Area

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.

Department of Developmental Services (DDS) - The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) ensures that Californians with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to lead independent, productive lives in their community of choice. DDS oversees the coordination and delivery of services to over 350,000 individuals who have cerebral palsy, intellectual disabilities, autism, epilepsy, and related conditions through a network of 21 regional centers and state-operated facilities.

Following are links to messages from California's Surgeon General, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris about Free Early Start Services. {posted 9/19/2021}
To find free, local Early Intervention resources call 1-800-515-2229 (BABY)

The first three years of every baby or toddler’s life are critical. It is important to keep up with your well-baby checks: https://bit.ly/3ev9wcf

EarlyIntervention is key to helping your baby or toddler who may have developmental delays and disabilities. Learn more here: https://bit.ly/3ev9wcf

How your baby or toddler plays, talks, learns, and moves tells you important things about their development. Learn more: https://bit.ly/3ev9wcf.

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.

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.

State and National
Resources

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 nation’s 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. SBAA’s 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.

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.