Tag Archive for: Special Education Resources

Bakersfield, California, is a city found almost exactly between Fresno and Los Angeles; each are about 100 miles from Bakersfield (Fresno to the north, Los Angeles to the south).

Special Education Bakersfield

Though too far from these cities to take advantage of their special education resources, parents, teachers and students seeking special education support and information can find several organizations within Bakersfield to meet their needs. These organizations include mainly educational institutions and nonprofit agencies.

Educational Resources for Special Needs Professionals and Families

The Bakersfield City School District provides speech, language and physical therapy services to special education students. On the school’s website, teachers will find links to procedural safeguards, special education curriculum information and IEP preparation forms. Parents can access links to a special education handbook as well as information about the Community Advisory Committee, which holds meetings addressing a variety of special education topics such as intervention strategies and support services.

The Kern County Consortium Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) consists of 44 schools districts and three charter schools and is based in Bakersfield. The SELPA offers parent training through workshops and a video library. It also oversees an Early Start program. In addition, personnel development programs are offered.

The Stockdale Learning Center provides educational therapy services for children with learning disabilities. The center will run diagnostic testing and employ intervention techniques. Advocacy services and workshops for parents are also offered here.

Recreational, Legal and Support Resources for Special Education Students and Parents

From awareness programs to social skills development, a few organizations based in Bakersfield focus on support for special education families. Some of these organizations focus on specific developmental or learning disorders, while others have broad programs that encompass more than one disability.

The Kern Autism Network, an affiliate chapter of the Autism Society, hosts monthly family and sibling support group meetings and workshops to help children build social skills as well as an annual Autism Awareness Conference.

Special Education Bakersfield

Bakersfield’s Valley Achievement Center has an afterschool program and a social skills program for autistic children. It also operates an Early Start program for pre-schoolers, which includes behavior analysis and transition planning.

H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection Family Resource Center in Bakersfield offers parents support workshops, mentoring and assistance with IEP development. There’s also fun, social events for special needs children and their families, an educational program using puppets for 4th-grade students to help them understand about learning and developmental disorders, and activities for siblings of special education children.

Bakersfield is also home to the Society for Disabled Children, which supplies speech and language therapy and social activities which could include games, pasta dinners, rock wall climbing and even flying. The Society also oversees a summer camp for children with disabilities.

For legal support and advice, special education parents in Bakersfield can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). CSNLG can assist parents with Individual Education Plan (IEP) development and help to mediate disputes between special education parents and school systems. Their services are available throughout the state.

Valencia is an upscale neighborhood in Santa Clarita, California; thus, special education teachers, parents and students would find resources mainly in that city.

Special Education Valencia

Special education resources for Valencia residents can also be explored in other nearby areas, such as Burbank and Altadena. These resources are offered mainly through nonprofit organizations focusing on a specific learning or developmental disorder, such as autism or Asperger’s syndrome.

Educational Resources for Special Education Teachers, Parents and Students in Valencia

The Santa Clarita Valley Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) offers meetings addressing behavior intervention plans and strategies as well as aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Parents will also find networking opportunities through the SELPA, in addition to workshops. Special education training is also provided.

The Community Advisory Committee, in addition to workshops and meetings, also oversees advocacy and outreach practices.

Through the SELPA’s website, parents can access documents containing information about parents’ rights and a glossary of special education terms.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) offers counseling, mobility instruction, and speech, language, occupational and physical therapy services to special education students. LACOE also offers an Early Start program for special needs children.

Other Special Education Resources Available to Valencia Teachers, Parents and Students

The two organizations closest to Valencia that provide special education information and support for professionals and parents are found in Santa Clarita. They are the Family Focus Center of California State University – Northridge and the Santa Clarita Autism Asperger Network (SCAAN).

The former offers support groups, IEP training and parent mentoring at its Santa Clarita branch, which is located in the North Los Angeles County Regional Center. SCAAN is a networking and support service for special needs families.

Special Education Valencia

About 25 miles southeast of Valencia, the SFV (San Fernando Valley) Autism Families in North Hollywood hosts  workshops, lectures and conferences for parents. Activities designed to build social skills for autistic children are also provided.

Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) holds monthly meetings in both North Hollywood and Burbank. Burbank is about 28 miles outside of Valencia. These meetings can feature educational speakers and allow for special education parents to network with other parents.

About 38 miles southeast, in Altadena, California, Education Spectrum offers programs for children with autism, Asperger’s and related disorders and their families. Parent training sessions conducted by the organization targets behavioral management and intervention strategies and techniques. Children can attend social skills camps and individual or family therapy programs.

Valencia parents of special education children who might need or be interested in legal advice or support can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). Though based in Pasadena, the law firm offers its services, which include conflict mediation and IEP development assistance, throughout the state.

The county seat of Riverside County, the city of Riverside, California, is located approximately 50 miles east of Los Angeles. This fairly large city provides special education resources for students and their families as well as teachers and other educational professionals.

Special Education Riverside

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Many of these resources are offered through learning institutions and government offices. Special education parents, students and teachers can also turn to nonprofit organizations in the area that focus on specific disorders or disabilities.

Riverside Educational Institutions and Their Special Education Resources

The Riverside Unified School District provides special and modified classes for special education students.  On the school’s website, parents, students and teachers will find links to helpful resources:

  • Parents will find links to various organizations focusing on specific learning and developmental disorders as well as special education curriculum information and U.S. Department of Education articles
  • Professionals can access information about IEPs and intervention resources as well as simulated learning experiences and strategic teaching methods
  • Students can enjoy links to online learning aids such as games and stories in addition to online learning assistance tools and textbook sites

According to its website, the Riverside County SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) is the “largest multi-district SELPA in California”. This SELPA has an online training development guide for special education teachers and administrators that provides information about meetings, trainings and workshops.

For parents, the Riverside County SELPA has a Community Advisory Committee designed to increase awareness of special education services and provide support for parents. Details about this committee are also found on the organization’s website.

The Sunshine Early Childhood Center in Riverside began as a school for students with Cerebral Palsy in 1947 and today serves special education students with many types of disabilities and disorders, including autism, Down’s syndrome and speech and language impairments. The school has an Early Start program.

Special Education Riverside

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Therapeutic and Support Resources for Special Education Students and Parents in Riverside

Autism Society Inland Empire offers advocacy and support services for special education students and their families. The organization provides these services through parent support groups, workshops, and a regional taskforce. Parents can also access an electronic newsletter with information about autism and referral services.

The organization also hold various social events for parents and special needs children. These events include camps, day ranches and trips to ball games.

The Southern California Tri-Counties Brach of the International Dyslexia Association serves Riverside. This association has a parent support group and an action group focusing on awareness of this disorder. The organization’s website provides an online book list and informational videos.

The Riverside County Department of Mental Health has a children’s treatment center in Riverside that offers individual and family therapy programs, evaluations and case management.

Legal support and advice in the area of special education is provided to Riverside residents by the California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). Serving counties throughout the state, CSNLG can help with, among other issues, dispute mediations and IEP development.

Consistently ranking as among the best places to live in the U.S., Irvine, California is located approximately 40 miles from Los Angeles. The city achieves the aforementioned honor in part because it offers a highly-ranked public school system, which provides many several education resources for parents, teachers and students.

Special Education Spotlight Irvine

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Resources can also be found through nonprofit organizations and other learning centers throughout the city. These resources range from therapy programs to online articles.

Educational Resources for Irvine Special Education Teachers and Students

The website of the Irvine Unified School District supplies extensive resources for parents and educators. Parents will find links to online guides regarding special education programs and legislation as well as information about specific disorders such as autism and ADD.

The Orange County Department of Education provides information concerning parent rights, assistive technology and early education programs. Teachers will find training opportunities focusing on classroom management, behavior analysis methods and special education student success strategies.

The Child Development School at University of California – Irvine focuses on supplying a supportive educational environment for children with AD/HD. Services include assessments and transition programs. Behavioral parent training and family social skills training are also offered.

With a location in Irving, the Stowell Learning Center provides assessment and educational therapy programs for students with learning disorders. The center strives to help students improve skills in area of memory, language, communication and attention. The website also has links to many free articles.

Special Education Supportive, Therapeutic and Legal Resources in Irvine

Beyond educational institutions, Irvine is home to several organizations providing services and programs for special education students and their parents.

Irvine-based Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), a nonprofit organization, offers learning seminars and social events for autistic children and families. The organization’s website provides links to helpful articles about therapies, medical interventions, parents’ rights and support groups, and more. Books, DVDs and CDs on autism are available to members through the organization’s resource library.

KiDA (Kids Institute for Development and Advancement) is based in Irvine and serves Orange County. It is the largest Center for Autism in the county and offers clinical and educational services to special education students. These include behavior, occupational, and speech and language therapy, social groups and a school for K-6 students that focuses on behavior management and social skills development.

Special Education Spotlight Irvine

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The Greater Orange County CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) holds general meetings in Irvine. These monthly meetings are intended for parents and teachers of students with AD/HD; meeting topics have ranged from therapy techniques to collaborative strategies.

For legal support, special needs families can turn to the California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG), which is based in Pasadena but serves areas throughout the state. CSNLG’s services include mediating conflicts between special needs families and school systems and assisting parents with IEP development.

Raising and educating special needs children are not often tasks one can do alone. Fortunately, there are many resources available to parents and special education teachers.

Special Education  San Bernadino

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For those in San Bernardino, California, these resources are offered through schools, nonprofit organizations and mental health centers. Professionals and parents can find information and support through meetings, service programs and online articles. Programs are also available that are designed to help special education students build social and other skills.

In some cases, those seeking resources may need to venture outside of San Bernardino.

Educational Resources for Special Education in San Bernardino

The San Bernardino Unified School District provides online information for parents and staff. This includes downloadable files concerning intervention processes and parents’ rights. The school’s website also provides information about the Community Advisory Committee, types of academic instruction programs and psychological services.

The East Valley SELPA (Special Education Local Plan Area) is located in San Bernardino and is overseen by the San Bernardino Superintendent of Schools. The SELPA’s website provides links to IEP forms and parents’ rights information.

Hope, Inc. Academy and Institute in Rancho Cucamonga, located about 20 miles west of San Bernardino, is a combined non-public school and mental health institute providing various services to special education students.  The Academy provides specialized classroom learning, while the Institute offers clinical programs for children with autism, AD/HD and other disorders. These programs include behavioral, speech and occupational therapy, memory training, neurofeedback and behavior analysis.

Support and Development Resources for Special Education Parents and Students

The Institute for Child Development & Family Relations at California State University – San Bernardino offers behavioral intervention programs. Parent support groups are also found at the Institute.

The Inland Regional Center serves adults and children with developmental disabilities in San Bernardino County. It offers an Early Start program as well as services for school age special needs children.

Special Education  San Bernadino

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San Bernardino Parents of Asperger Kids Meetup Group provides links and information about social activities and meetings in the area.

Beyond San Bernardino’s city limits, meetings of the Pomona Valley/Inland affiliate of the Learning Disabilities Association (LDA) of California are held in Rancho Cucamonga the third Thursday of each month. While these meetings provide an opportunity for face-to-face interaction with special education parents and professionals, the association offers many online resources as well.

Its website provides links to articles and books as well as other helpful websites. Updated information about special education laws and a quarterly newsletter addressing such topics as instructional strategies for teachers and current research and legislation are also available on the LDA site.

Based in Pasadena, California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG) offers its services throughout California. These services include conflict mediation and assistance with IEP development.

One of the most populous cities in Orange County, California, Santa Ana offers various online and on-site resources for special education families and professionals.

Special Education Santa Ana

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From public schools to nonprofit organizations, special education teachers, parents and students in Santa Ana can find support, educational and therapeutic services within and near the city. These services range from clinical programs to online articles.

Educational Resources for Special Education Students, Parents and Teachers

Many resources in special education are found in public and nonprofit school settings in or within a few miles of Santa Ana.

The Santa Ana Unified School District offers occupational, physical, and language and speech therapy services to its special needs students.

The website of the Orange County Department of Education offers a link to an Early Education program for children with special needs up to five years of age. Links to information about assistive technology, parent rights and special classes in areas of language and behavior are also provided.

In addition, the department provides extensive training programs for special education teachers through its System of Support (SOS). This program allows teachers to receive training in instructional strategies, classroom management and intervention methods through classes and guest speakers.

Serving special education students in Orange County, The Prentice School in nearby North Tustin, about five miles northeast of Santa Ana, offers specialized education programs for elementary, junior high and high school students. The school utilizes a specific language arts approach for elementary and junior high students with dyslexia. The high school program utilizes active collaboration, community service and individualized support.

The school’s resources include parent support workshops, online publications about dyslexia and assistive technology, links to local, national and international special needs organizations, and information about assistive technology tools.

Services and Resources for Special Education Students and Parents in Santa Ana

The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders is based in Santa Ana. The center offers evaluation and treatment services and online resources for parents, which include recommended book listings and links to online articles. It also has a monthly family support group and advocacy services.

Easter Seals Southern California in Santa Ana offers behavior analysis and therapeutic services for autistic children. These services include speech, language and physical therapy.

The Greater Orange County C.H.A.D.D. (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) holds monthly support meetings in Santa Ana as well as in nearby Irvine and Orange. These meetings provide information about AD/HD as well as networking opportunities for families.

Based just several miles outside of Santa Ana, in Irvine, the nonprofit Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) offers learning seminars and social events for autistic children and families. The organization’s website provides links to helpful articles about therapies, medical interventions, parent support, parents’ rights and more. Books, DVDs and CDs on autism are available to members through TACA’s resource library.

Special Education Santa Ana

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KiDA (Kids Institute for Development and Advancement) is also based in Irvine and serves Orange County. It is the largest Center for Autism in the county and offers clinical and educational services. These include behavior, occupational, and speech and language therapy, social groups and a school for K-6 students that focuses on behavior management and social skills development.

For legal support and advice, Santa Ana residents can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG), which serves clients throughout the state. CSNLG can assist parents with Individual Education Plan (IEP) development and help to mediate disputes between special education parents and school systems.

Burbank, California, is known as the “Media Capital of the World” because of its vast resources in the media and entertainment industries. It is home, for instance, to major facilities of such companies as Warner Bros. and The Walt Disney Company.

Special Education Burbank

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The city also offers various resources in special education. From schools to nonprofit organizations, Burbank provides special education professionals, students and parents with online and on-site resources that include therapy programs, seminars, online publications and legal support.

Educational Resources for Special Needs Teachers and Families in Burbank

The Burbank Unified School District provides several links on its website that are useful to parents of special education students. There’s an online Parent Handbook, which provides information pertaining to, among other topics, IEP meetings and special education laws. Links also direct parents to brochures and pamphlets, which address parents’ rights, childcare and an Early Start program.

The Burbank Unified School District is part of the Foothill Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), which contains a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that provides parent training workshops and special education policy review. The CAC also holds quarterly meetings for parents, teachers, school administrators and community members.

Foothill SELPA’s website also provides online literature regarding parents’ rights, a glossary of special education terms and acronyms and links to various advocacy services.

Recreational and Therapeutic Resources for Special Education Students and Parents

A few nonprofit organizations devoted to specific behavioral or learning disorders have a presence in or near Burbank.

Autism Spectrum Therapies, with locations in Arizona, Washington and Louisiana as well as throughout California, has a Burbank office offering diagnostic, analysis and social development services to autistic children. These services include behavioral analysis, occupational and speech therapy, social skills programs and psychological evaluations.

Meetings of the SFV (San Fernando Valley) Autism Families in North Hollywood, approximately five miles west of Burbank, offer workshops, lectures and conferences. There’s also play activities for children with autism that help them to build social skills.

Special Education Burbank

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The Help Group, a nonprofit organization with various clinical and support programs for special needs children and their families, has a location approximately 20 miles south of Burbank. Services includes an after-school rehabilitation program, weekend and after-school activities such as basketball, tennis and a gaming club, and camps that integrate social development, trips and activities. These activities range from art to sports.

The Help Group is there for parents as well. Classes, seminars and conferences focus on topics such as stress management and communication techniques. Parent support groups are also offered.

Located approximately 15 east of Burbank in Altadena, California, Education Spectrum has programs for both autistic students and their parents. Play therapy and family therapy programs, social skills training, community integration and parent training classes are among the main offerings of this organization. Its website provides links to national autism organizations and research news.

Pasadena-based California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG) offers its services throughout California. These services include mediating conflicts between special needs families and school systems and assistance with IEP development.

Glendale, California, is the third largest city in Los Angeles County. Being a large city, Glendale offers various resources for special education teachers and parents through online articles, seminars, workshops and meetings.

Special Education in Glendale

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Special education students, too, can find programs and other resources designed to help them develop social skills or benefit from various therapeutic approaches. Legal and advocacy services for special needs families are also available in Glendale.

Educational Resources for Special Education Teachers, Students and Parents

The Glendale Unified School District provides a resource specialist for special education students in regular classrooms. Special day classes are also available. The district has an advisory committee to offer support for parents and educators and raise awareness about special education in the community. The school district’s website also includes an online Special Education Glossary and details about IEP development.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education offers several services to special education students, including speech and occupational therapy, counseling, mobility assistance and adapted physical education classes. An Early Start program overseen by the office targets infants and toddlers who might have a development disability.

The Foothill Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA), which includes the Glendale Unified School District, contains a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that provides parent training workshops and special education policy review. The CAC also holds quarterly meetings for parents, teachers, administrators and community members.

Foothill SELPA’s website provides several helpful resources, such as online literature regarding parents’ rights, a glossary of special education terms and acronyms, links to advocacy services and a brochure about IDEA’s ChildFind program (which offers evaluation services and public awareness events).

College View School in the Glendale Unified School District provides special education services to students with learning and physical disabilities. Speech therapy, adaptive equipment, swimming therapy and canine therapy are among the services offered in this school.

Tobinworld is another special education school located in Glendale.  The school utilizes a behavior management system to help developmentally disabled students build social, communication and other skills.

Other Special Education Resources for Glendale Students and Parents

Special Education in Glendale

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Several nonprofit organizations in Glendale focus mainly on autism. Services include support for both parents and students. These organizations include:

  • Foothill Autism Assurance: holds monthly resource meetings with guest speakers for parents of autistic children. The organization also provides workshops and social functions. Links to relevant organizations and blogs are found on the website.
  • The Armenian Autism Outreach Project (AAOP): based in Glendale, this organization focuses on raising awareness about autism in the Greater Los Angeles area. The nonprofit organizations hold IEP resource meetings, guest speaker events, panel discussions and parent seminars.
  • Autism International Foundation: also based in Glendale, the foundation provides advocacy services to parents of children with autism. The foundation also assists in getting children assessed.
  • Actors for Autism:  offers acting, dancing, film making, animation and music programs for special education students. Social skills classes are available at the organization’s Sherman Oaks location, approximately 12 miles from Glendale.

Offering its services throughout California, Pasadena-based California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG) provides legal support to special education students and their parents. Among the firm’s primary services are IEP development assistance and conflict mediation between schools and special needs parents.

From conferences to support groups, special education teachers and parents in the beach city of Malibu, California, located in Los Angeles County, can find professional development and personal assistance for raising and educating special needs children.

Special Education Malibu

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Special needs students, too, can find various resources in Malibu. These resources include therapeutic programs, recreational activities and social skills development.

Educational Resources for Malibu Special Needs Parents, Students and Educators

Many of the educational resources for special education in Malibu come through the public school system.

The Los Angeles County Office of Education provides speech therapy, counseling services, occupational therapy, mobility instruction and adapted physical education classes. An Early Start program is designed for infants and toddlers who might have a development disability.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has a Special Education District Advisory Committee (SEDAC) that provides monthly meetings open to the public as well as parent meetings to provide IEP development assistance and to make parents aware of the resources and services available to them by SEDAC. A transition handbook for post-high school special needs students and their parents is provided online by the school district.

The McKinna Learning Center in Malibu offers a day school called the Learning Lab for children with learning disabilities. They also provide educational therapy services, tutoring and a summer skills program.

The Malibu Learning Center provides tutoring services for young children, teens and adults with learning disabilities. The center’s website also provides a link to helpful articles about learning and learning disabilities.

Other Resources for Special Education Professionals, Parents and Children in Malibu

Malibu Special Education Foundation provides support for special needs parents, students and educators:

  • Students can develop social skills, participate in therapeutic activities, go on field trips and perform community service; programs include a “Best Buddies” weekly lunch program and weekly yoga classes
  • Parents can join a monthly support group, designed to help them understand the special education system and provide support in raising their special needs child; attend speaker programs
  • Special education teachers and administrators can attend continuing education seminars and conferences

Paradigm Malibu Adolescent Treatment Center provides various treatment programs for teens with various personality and other disorders. The center’s website provides a link (Introduction and Overview to ADD/ADHD) that directs readers to PsychCentral. There, they will find articles about ADHD symptoms, treatment options, coping tips, book reviews and more.

Offering its services throughout California, Pasadena-based California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG) provides legal support to special education students and their parents. Among the firm’s primary services are IEP development assistance and conflict mediation between schools and special needs parents.

Located west of Los Angeles, the beachfront city of Santa Monica, California, provides on-site and online resources for parents and teachers of special education students.  Support and information can be found through workshops, group meetings and online articles.

Special Education Santa Monica, Special Education Resources, Special Needs

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Special needs children can find several recreational and developmental resources throughout the city. These resources are offered mainly through occupational therapy programs and nonprofit organizations.

Educational Services and Resources for Special Education Teachers and Students

The Los Angeles County Office of Education provides several services to special education students, including speech therapy, counseling, occupational therapy, mobility instruction and adapted physical education classes. It also offers an Early Start program for infants and toddlers who might have a development disability.

The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District has a Special Education District Advisory Committee (SEDAC) that provides monthly meetings and online resources such as a post-high school transition handbook for special needs students in grades 8-12 and their parents. The committee also oversees outreach activities designed to help parents with IEP development as well as making them aware of the services and resources provided by SEDAC.

With a location in nearby West Los Angeles, Pride Learning Center offers reading, spelling, math and writing tutoring programs for children with learning disabilities.

Resources for Special Needs Students and Their Families

The Special Needs Resource Group in Santa Monica offers support services for special education students. Parents can consult with behavior therapists, communication specialists or other professionals at their location or at the students’ home. An art therapy program is also offered, as is a classroom intervention program.

Family Service of Santa Monica, part of Vista Del Mar Child and Family Services, provides an early intervention program for special needs students. It also offers workshops for parents, addressing such topics as stress management and anger management.  While not specifically designed for parents of special needs children, these workshops could prove useful for this group.

F.A.C.T. (Family, Adult and Child Therapies) offers parent and child support services through in-home behavior training, social skills groups, parent education and support groups, and sibling support programs for autistic children and their families.

We Rock the Spectrum Santa Monica is a nonprofit organization providing online information for parents of special education students. The organization’s website has definitions of autism, learning disability, speech impairment and other special education terms, as well as information about IEPs, IDEA and parents’ rights. The site also has links to online articles about autism and advocacy services and IEP meeting tips.

Big Fun Gymnastics, which has locations in Torrance, Huntington Beach and Simi Valley, among others, offers its therapeutic swimming program for special needs children at the Santa Monica Swim Center.

Based in Pasadena and offering its services throughout California, the California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG) provides legal advice and support to special education students and their parents. Among the firm’s services are IEP development assistance and conflict mediation.