Tag Archive for: special education attorney santa clarita

Spotlight on Special Education in Modesto: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

The largest city in Stanislaus County, Modesto, California, is home to a few resources for special education professionals, parents and students. These resources can be found through educational organizations, treatment centers and nonprofit agencies.

Special Education Modesto

However, though it is a large city, Modesto has somewhat limited special education resources. Residents seeking support in or information regarding special education might look beyond the city’s limits to organizations located in nearby cities.

Education-Based Resources for Special Education Teachers, Parents and Students

Modesto City Schools provides a Community Advisory Committee offering parents workshops and meetings addressing such topics as IEP development and special education laws. The website for the school system also provides a link to a document detailing the rights of special education parents and children. Parents can also access Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) news.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education, based in Modesto, has a Special Education Department that oversees speech and language, occupational therapy and Early Start services. The office also has an intern program for teachers seeking special education certification.

Other Organizations in or Near Modesto Offering Special Education Resources

Very few organizations focusing on special needs are located directly in Modesto. Parents and special education professionals interested in workshops, support groups or other services may need to travel up to 50 miles outside of Modesto.

Behavioral treatment programs are offered to infants, toddlers, preschool and elementary special needs children through the Central Valley Autism Project in Modesto. Programs are designed to help children develop language, social and cognitive skills. B.E.S.T. (Behavioral and Educational Strategies and Training) has an office in Modesto  offering assessment and treatment plans for autistic children. Parent services include a newsletter, monthly support group and training workshops.

Based about 30 miles northwest of Modesto in Stockton and serving several counties, including Stanislaus, Family Resource Network provides advocacy services, workshops, seminars and support groups for parents of special education students. The Network also hosts an annual Early Start symposium and publishes helpful articles for special education parents in an online newsletter published four times per year.

Special Education Modesto

In Sierra Vista, about 50 miles southeast of Modesto, the Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center offers an Autism Support Group for parents. The group meets on the third Friday of February, April, June, August, October and December.

And the Sacramento Autistic Spectrum and Special Needs Alliance (SASSNA), about 75 miles Modesto, provides advocacy and case management services. There’s also events designed to help special education students build social skills, parent support groups and an email discussion group for families, teachers and other professionals.

The California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG) is a Pasadena-based firm offering services throughout the state. These services include IEP development assistance and conflict mediation.

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Spotlight on Special Education in Santa Clarita: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

A small city located northwest of Los Angeles, Santa Clarita offers both educational and nonprofit support for special needs parents and their families. Special education teachers, too, can find some professional development opportunities in Santa Clarita.

Special Education Santa Clarita

Resources, however, are somewhat limited, and special education parents and families may need to look beyond this city’s limits. Fortunately, cities such as Burbank and North Hollywood, within 20 to 30 miles of Santa Clarita, are home to several special needs organizations providing support services in the form of workshops, camps and training programs.

Special Education Resources in the Santa Clarita Educational System

Parents, teachers and students can find helpful resources through the Santa Clarita Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA). Parents will find family support services and parent workshops, and special education children can benefit from child find activities and a referral program. Online resources include a parents’ rights document and glossary of terms. Training is also provided to special education teachers.

The SELPA’s Community Advisory Committee (CAC) offers meetings and networking opportunities. Meetings can address such topics as behavior intervention strategies and positive behavior strategies. Community outreach and advocacy practices are also conducted by the CAC.

The Saugus Union School District in Santa Clarita offers a Student Support Services office that provides assistance to parents with special education issues and concerns.

Support Services and Resources for Special Education Families in Santa Clarita

The following organizations are the only two specifically designed for special needs found  in Santa Clarita:

Special Education Santa Clarita

Outside of Santa Clarita, special education parents and families can turn to the following for therapeutic, social and behavioral support:

  • The SFV (San Fernando Valley) Autism Families in North Hollywood, approximately 20 miles southeast of Santa Clarita, offers workshops, lectures and conferences. Activities designed to build social skills for autistic children are also provided.
  • The Burbank office of Autism Spectrum Therapies, which also has locations in other states including Arizona and Washington, offers behavioral analysis and social skills programs as well as occupational and speech therapy and psychological evaluation services. Burbank is about 23 miles southeast of Santa Clarita.
  • The nonprofit organization Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) holds meetings at two locations in Burbank. TACA has parent mentoring and support workshops as well as conferences, clinics and webinars.
  • About 33 miles southeast, in Altadena, California, Education Spectrum offers programs for children with autism, Asperger’s and related disorders and their families. For children, programs are designed to help build social skills, while parent training includes behavioral management strategies and intervention techniques. Individual and family therapy programs are also offered, as are social skills camps.

In some cases, parents of special education children may need to seek legal advice or support. California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG), based in Pasadena and offering its services throughout California, can help with such issues as IEP development or conflict resolution.

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