Resources for Children with Special Needs

Before we begin this post, we want to be sure to talk about identification of children with special needs. Some disabilities are readily apparent and are often diagnosed very early in a child's life i.e. Down Syndrome or Spina Bifida. However, many disabilities are less discernible and require a close look at development over time. If you are a parent of a young child or are a child care provider, be sure to closely follow development in order to catch any delay early in the child's life. Early Intervention is critical to help narrow the gap in development and is especially true during the first three years of life when the developing brain is most pliable and response to the interventions is greatest.

Visit the CDC's website for list of developmental milestones for children 0-5 years.

If you are a child care provider and have concerns about the development of a child in your care, you may be unsure of how to approach the child's family with your concerns. West Ed created a fantastic presentation entitled, "Talking with Parents When You Have Concerns About a Child in Your Care"  to help you navigate through this process. 

Age is important when accessing services

Concerns about children ages 0-3 should be directed to your child's pediatrician and/or the local California Regional Center. In Alpine and El Dorado counties the service provider is Alta Regional Center. Alta Regional Center administers the California Early Start Program and Alta Regional has an infant development specialist to provide a developmental screening. If the child qualifies an Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) will be created to help support the individual needs of the child. 

If the child has reached their third birthday, the local school district is responsible for developmental screening and services. On the western slope of El Dorado County, contact the school district in your area by viewing this map. In South Lake Tahoe contact the Lake Tahoe Unified School District. In Alpine County contact the Alpine County Unified School District. If the child qualifies an Individual Education Plan (IEP) will be created to help support the individual educational needs of the child. Certain children may also qualify for services through the Regional Center to help them meet their needs unrelated to education. Contacting the Regional Center, even if the child is 3 years or older, is always a good idea. 

Other great resources for children with special needs:

Warmline Family Resource Center is an Early Start Family Resource center which serves both El Dorado and Alpine Counties (as well as Sacramento, Placer, Yolo and Nevada Counties). Their agency provides resources and supports to families of children with special needs from birth to age 22. In addition to support groups and workshops they offer a toll-free hot line staffed by parents of children with special needs 1-800-660-7945. 

Disability Rights California and Wrightslaw are great resources for navigating through the process of setting up IFSPs, IEPs and IPPs ensuring children receive necessary services to support their development.

California Inclusion and Behavioral Consultation Network- The California Inclusion and Behavior Consultation (CIBC) Network is a professional development project funded by the Early Education and Support Division (EESD) of the California Department of Education (CDE) and is coordinated by the WestEd Center for Prevention and Early Intervention. The CIBC Network will provide technical assistance to early care and education programs related to inclusion and challenging behaviors. 

Special Quest Multimedia Training Library- Training videos to support inclusion are available at no cost with funding from the Office of Head Start. 

Technical Assistance Center on Social Emotional Intervention- TACSEI provides free resources to support the social-emotional outcomes in young children with, or at-risk of delays or disabilities. They have a great series entitled "Backpack Connection Series" related to behavior, emotions, routines and schedules and social skills. 

California's Map to Inclusion & Belonging- a cyber warehouse of resources related to caring for children with special needs. 

Give them every opportunity to be their best.