Parenting a child requires support and we all—at some point—find ourselves in need of resources for children with special needs. None of us can go it entirely alone, either. Those of us with children who have different needs often find that the typical parenting resources do not address our concerns or questions: we often have unanswered questions. Below are some of the many resources that Leigh and Susie have found very helpful throughout their many years as parents of children with special needs.
Parents Helping Parents
Parents Helping Parents could become one of your next resources for children with special needs. It is an agency staffed (mostly) by parents who have children with disabilities. If you call Parents Helping Parents, you are incredibly likely to get thoughtful, personalized advice. When the people at Parents Helping Parents cannot help, they will provide suggestions on other agencies that might be able to assist you.
Parents Helping Parents offers classes in individualized education plans (IEPs) and behavior management techniques. A small list of other classes includes: conservatorships, in-home support services (IHSS), supplemental security income (SSI), Person-Centered Planning.
Parents Helping Parents also offers support groups for a wide variety of individuals and groups. Check out their website to learn more!
COPAA, Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates
Protecting the Legal and Civil Rights of Students with Disabilities
The second of our resources for children with special needs, COPAA membership is restricted to those of us parenting children and professional advocates and attorneys who support us. The advocates and attorneys who are members of COPAA are in private practice. COPAA does not accept anyone for membership who is paid by or working for a school district. COPAA provides special education training for parents, professional advocates, and attorneys. Every March they hold a four day conference where parents, attorneys, and advocates can take classes. Topics include Advocacy 101, and may include learning more about the types of dyslexia and the most appropriate interventions. In addition to coming away with information you can use right away, you WILL know more than you did when you started the conference. You will also meet people as passionate about supporting our kids as you are.
COPAA also files amicus curiae briefs in cases of national significance.
San Andreas Regional Center
Last on this list of resources for children with special needs, the San Andreas Regional Center (SARC). “San Andreas Regional Center provides case management and community services for residents of Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, and Monterey counties whose intellectual or developmental disabilities cause severe impairments in their daily lives.”
For families in California: you have a local Regional Center to serve your child. If you think your child might be eligible for services, contact them for an intake appointment. When your child becomes a Regional Center client, the Regional Center is the payer of last resort. Unless you are independently wealthy and expect to remain so, this will be critical once your child leaves the school system. Services include housing, programs, and behavior support. For children of any age, they also fund parent respite. One especially big deal is MediCal. Most (perhaps all) Regional Center clients are eligible for MediCal. This can be critically important if (for any reason) your child does not have or loses their private medical insurance.
As parents, we understand. As advocates, we can help.