Parent Resources
"At Your Fingertips" Resources
The websites below can assist parents in locating organizations, resources, conferences, and device manufacturers essential to the child with complex communication needs.
The websites below can assist parents in locating organizations, resources, conferences, and device manufacturers essential to the child with complex communication needs.
AAC/AT Conferences
AAC By-The-Bay Conference (sponsored by The Bridge School):
This is a local conference for parents, professionals and AAC users, occurring every other year at Cisco in San Jose.
www.bridgeschool.org (click on the Outreach tab)
ATIA Conference (Assistive Technology Industry Association):
The ATIA Conference (Orlando, Florida) addresses all disabilities and all types of assistive technology for all ages, from early childhood to seniors. Sessions and events embrace the education market, university-level disability services, technology for independent living, accommodations for the workplace, the needs of an aging population, and research on technology developments and outcomes.
www.atia.org
CSUN Conference (California State University Northridge):
The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference (San Diego, CA) has provided an inclusive setting for researchers, practitioners, exhibitors, end users, speakers and other participants to share knowledge and best practices in the field of assistive technology.
www.csun.edu
Closing the Gap Conference
At Closing The Gap (Minneapolis, Minnesota), you’ll find practical and sound strategies, extraordinary resources and the latest products.
www.closingthegap.com
isaac Conference (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication)ISAAC – the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication – is a membership organization working to improve the lives of children and adults with complex communication needs.
ISAAC’s goal is to create worldwide awareness about how AAC can help individuals without speech. ISAAC accomplishes this by sharing information and promoting innovative approaches to research, technology and literacy through AAC. Activities include hosting the ISAAC biennial conference, sponsoring projects, and offering awards and scholarships.
www.isaac-online.org
AAC By-The-Bay Conference (sponsored by The Bridge School):
This is a local conference for parents, professionals and AAC users, occurring every other year at Cisco in San Jose.
www.bridgeschool.org (click on the Outreach tab)
ATIA Conference (Assistive Technology Industry Association):
The ATIA Conference (Orlando, Florida) addresses all disabilities and all types of assistive technology for all ages, from early childhood to seniors. Sessions and events embrace the education market, university-level disability services, technology for independent living, accommodations for the workplace, the needs of an aging population, and research on technology developments and outcomes.
www.atia.org
CSUN Conference (California State University Northridge):
The CSUN Assistive Technology Conference (San Diego, CA) has provided an inclusive setting for researchers, practitioners, exhibitors, end users, speakers and other participants to share knowledge and best practices in the field of assistive technology.
www.csun.edu
Closing the Gap Conference
At Closing The Gap (Minneapolis, Minnesota), you’ll find practical and sound strategies, extraordinary resources and the latest products.
www.closingthegap.com
isaac Conference (International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication)ISAAC – the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication – is a membership organization working to improve the lives of children and adults with complex communication needs.
ISAAC’s goal is to create worldwide awareness about how AAC can help individuals without speech. ISAAC accomplishes this by sharing information and promoting innovative approaches to research, technology and literacy through AAC. Activities include hosting the ISAAC biennial conference, sponsoring projects, and offering awards and scholarships.
www.isaac-online.org
Agencies, Programs & Services for Special Needs Students and Families
RCEB (Regional Centers of the East Bay)
The Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is one of the 21 regional centers in the State of California which together serve more than 269,000 individuals with, or at risk for, developmental disabilities, and their families.Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) serves people of all ages with developmental disabilities. We also serve infants and toddlers with a developmental delay as well as those who are at high risk for a developmental disability or those who have an established risk for developmental disability.
www.rceb.org
CCS (California Children Services)
California Children's Services (CCS) is a state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. Through this program, children up to 21 years old can get the health care and services they need. CCS will connect you with doctors and trained health care people who know how to care for your child with special health care needs.
www.dhcs.ca.gov
FSN (Family Support Network)
Family Support Network (FSN) provides services and resources that help children with special needs reach their full potential. Founded in 1985 by a group of concerned parents, FSN has been serving the special needs community throughout CA by bringing together parents and professionals all dedicated to helping children achieve their dreams. FSN has developed and implemented several successful programs to meet the health needs of parents with young children. Collaborating with several local agencies, FSN reaches out and serves the community in many different ways .
Our local network is located in San Francisco at 95 Washburn St., 94103
www.familysupportnetworkca.org
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)
UCP Affiliates provide services such as housing, physical therapy, assistive technology training, early intervention services, individual and family support, social and recreational programs, community living, state and local referrals, employment, employment assistance and advocacy.
www.ucp.org
The Center for AAC & Autism
The Center for AAC & Autism is dedicated to building awareness of the power of AAC to change the lives of children with autism and other developmental disabilities, who are challenged by limited spontaneous communication skills.
By providing specialized clinical training to health care professionals, teachers, and parents...empowering clients and families with education, resources, and information...and supporting clinical research, our aim is to give all children the ability to speak their mind and heart and become engaged in their world.
www.aacandautism.com
DREDF (Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund)
www.dredf.org
DREDF is a Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) funded by the US Department of Education. PTIs serve families of children and young adults from birth to age 26 with all disabilities: physical, cognitive, emotional, and learning. They help families:
The Center for Independent Living (CIL)
www.thecil.org
The CIL supports and empowers people with disabilities throughout the Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda communities.
Creative Growth Art Center
www.creativegrowth.org
Creative Growth is a large nonprofit art studio for artists with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Creative Growth provides a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition and representation.
CHIM Studio (Create, Healing, Inspiration & Mind)
www.chimstudio.org
Students with special needs (ages 7-22 years) participate in a 10-week Saturday program of art, music and yoga guided by visual artist Younhee Paik, musicians Hyunji Park & Andrew Rhim, and Yoga instructor Michelle Turbin. Sessions occur at Paik's studio in the Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland. The program is tuition free. A $50 donation is requested for the purchase of art materials. Parents are encouraged to participate with their child and/or relax in the beautiful Paik Studio gardens. For information on the current year's sessions, contact Younhee Paik for registration through the website above.
RCEB (Regional Centers of the East Bay)
The Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) is one of the 21 regional centers in the State of California which together serve more than 269,000 individuals with, or at risk for, developmental disabilities, and their families.Regional Center of the East Bay (RCEB) serves people of all ages with developmental disabilities. We also serve infants and toddlers with a developmental delay as well as those who are at high risk for a developmental disability or those who have an established risk for developmental disability.
www.rceb.org
CCS (California Children Services)
California Children's Services (CCS) is a state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. Through this program, children up to 21 years old can get the health care and services they need. CCS will connect you with doctors and trained health care people who know how to care for your child with special health care needs.
www.dhcs.ca.gov
FSN (Family Support Network)
Family Support Network (FSN) provides services and resources that help children with special needs reach their full potential. Founded in 1985 by a group of concerned parents, FSN has been serving the special needs community throughout CA by bringing together parents and professionals all dedicated to helping children achieve their dreams. FSN has developed and implemented several successful programs to meet the health needs of parents with young children. Collaborating with several local agencies, FSN reaches out and serves the community in many different ways .
Our local network is located in San Francisco at 95 Washburn St., 94103
www.familysupportnetworkca.org
UCP (United Cerebral Palsy)
UCP Affiliates provide services such as housing, physical therapy, assistive technology training, early intervention services, individual and family support, social and recreational programs, community living, state and local referrals, employment, employment assistance and advocacy.
www.ucp.org
The Center for AAC & Autism
The Center for AAC & Autism is dedicated to building awareness of the power of AAC to change the lives of children with autism and other developmental disabilities, who are challenged by limited spontaneous communication skills.
By providing specialized clinical training to health care professionals, teachers, and parents...empowering clients and families with education, resources, and information...and supporting clinical research, our aim is to give all children the ability to speak their mind and heart and become engaged in their world.
www.aacandautism.com
DREDF (Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund)
www.dredf.org
DREDF is a Parent Training and Information Center (PTI) funded by the US Department of Education. PTIs serve families of children and young adults from birth to age 26 with all disabilities: physical, cognitive, emotional, and learning. They help families:
- Obtain appropriate education and services for their children with disabilities
- Work to improve education results for all children
- Train and inform parents and professionals on a variety of topics
- Resolve problems between families and schools or other agencies
- Connect children with disabilities to community resources that address their need
The Center for Independent Living (CIL)
www.thecil.org
The CIL supports and empowers people with disabilities throughout the Oakland, Berkeley, and Alameda communities.
Creative Growth Art Center
www.creativegrowth.org
Creative Growth is a large nonprofit art studio for artists with intellectual, developmental and physical disabilities. Creative Growth provides a professional studio environment for artistic development, gallery exhibition and representation.
CHIM Studio (Create, Healing, Inspiration & Mind)
www.chimstudio.org
Students with special needs (ages 7-22 years) participate in a 10-week Saturday program of art, music and yoga guided by visual artist Younhee Paik, musicians Hyunji Park & Andrew Rhim, and Yoga instructor Michelle Turbin. Sessions occur at Paik's studio in the Redwood Heights neighborhood of Oakland. The program is tuition free. A $50 donation is requested for the purchase of art materials. Parents are encouraged to participate with their child and/or relax in the beautiful Paik Studio gardens. For information on the current year's sessions, contact Younhee Paik for registration through the website above.
BORP (Bay Area Outreach Recreation Program)
BORP advances the lives of people with physical disabilities through sports and recreational activities. BORP’s Youth Sports Program offers a variety of opportunities that make it easy for any student to get involved. From the highly competitive wheelchair basketball program, to the newly formed sled hockey program and the expanded Jr. Adventures program, BORP has something for everyone. BORP offers: Adaptive Cycling, Power Soccer, Wheelchair Basketball, Sled Hockey, Youth Adventures. TACLE 1 & 2 students enjoy an annual Spring field trip to BORP with their families. Students and families are invited to join BORP for cycling, free of charge.
www.borp.org
Informational Websites
AAC Intervention (Caroline Musselwhite's website offering AAC products, tips, professional services and events.)
www.aacintervention.com
Dr. Caroline Musselwhite is an assistive technology specialist with more than 30 years of experience working with children and adolescents with severe disabilities, in a variety of settings, including Head Start, developmental day programs, and the public schools. She has also taught courses at several universities, including West Virginia University, and Western Carolina University.
Dr. Musselwhite has authored a number of textbooks and “how-to” books on a range of topics, including Emergent Literacy
Success, Communication Programming for Persons with Severe Handicaps, and Reading Activities Project for Older Students (R.A.P.S.). She has also authored a number of software programs (Write to Talk, Social Scripts) and books (Learning to Work) for youth with disabilities. She has presented thousands of workshops throughout the world, and is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC).
Creative Communicating
www.creativecommunicating.com
Creative communicating is a small business started by Pati King-DeBaun, in 1992 to develop and distribute products for children with disabilities. Creative Communicating is dedicated to creating fun, simple and universally accessible resources for communication, early literacy, and creativity in young children with disabilities.
PrAACtical AAC
www.praacticalaac.org
PrAACtical AAC supports a community of professionals and families who are determined to improve the communication and literacy abilities of people with significant communication difficulties. It was founded in 2011 by two SLP professors, Carole Zangari and the late Robin Parker, around a shared passion for AAC.
www.aacintervention.com
Dr. Caroline Musselwhite is an assistive technology specialist with more than 30 years of experience working with children and adolescents with severe disabilities, in a variety of settings, including Head Start, developmental day programs, and the public schools. She has also taught courses at several universities, including West Virginia University, and Western Carolina University.
Dr. Musselwhite has authored a number of textbooks and “how-to” books on a range of topics, including Emergent Literacy
Success, Communication Programming for Persons with Severe Handicaps, and Reading Activities Project for Older Students (R.A.P.S.). She has also authored a number of software programs (Write to Talk, Social Scripts) and books (Learning to Work) for youth with disabilities. She has presented thousands of workshops throughout the world, and is a founding member of the Board of Directors for the International Society for Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ISAAC).
Creative Communicating
www.creativecommunicating.com
Creative communicating is a small business started by Pati King-DeBaun, in 1992 to develop and distribute products for children with disabilities. Creative Communicating is dedicated to creating fun, simple and universally accessible resources for communication, early literacy, and creativity in young children with disabilities.
PrAACtical AAC
www.praacticalaac.org
PrAACtical AAC supports a community of professionals and families who are determined to improve the communication and literacy abilities of people with significant communication difficulties. It was founded in 2011 by two SLP professors, Carole Zangari and the late Robin Parker, around a shared passion for AAC.