Resources to Support Parents Whose Children Have Special Needs
Local Resources
San Andreas Regional Center: The portal to almost all of the government funded services for people with developmental disabilities including intellectual disability, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism.
Parents Helping Parents: a nonprofit which supports parents of children with special needs. Includes education, support groups, specialized technology & more. Their course, “Sharing the Journey” gives parents a good introduction to all the issues they are facing. Free with babysitting, in English and Spanish.
Surviving Paretnhood.org, Elizabeth Batson’s website offers links to many resources (including this page) with a focus on supporting parents emotional needs.
Respite care:
Via West - a camp for adults and children with disabilities runs summer and weekend programs providing respite for caregivers (http://viaservices.org/content/west-campus-formerly-camp-costanoan)
Calvary Church - free, four hours every other month, takes most child and siblings. (http://www.calvarylg.com/ministry/shining-stars/respites)
Diagnosis
There are many people qualitified to assess and diagnosis children with different types of needs. CHAC offers a wide range of support services, including assessment with sliding scale options. (650) 965-2020 or chac.org. For other specialists, check the resource page at Parents Helping Parents.
Parents Helping Parents: a nonprofit which supports parents of children with special needs. Includes education, support groups, specialized technology & more. Their course, “Sharing the Journey” gives parents a good introduction to all the issues they are facing. Free with babysitting, in English and Spanish.
Surviving Paretnhood.org, Elizabeth Batson’s website offers links to many resources (including this page) with a focus on supporting parents emotional needs.
Respite care:
Via West - a camp for adults and children with disabilities runs summer and weekend programs providing respite for caregivers (http://viaservices.org/content/west-campus-formerly-camp-costanoan)
Calvary Church - free, four hours every other month, takes most child and siblings. (http://www.calvarylg.com/ministry/shining-stars/respites)
Diagnosis
There are many people qualitified to assess and diagnosis children with different types of needs. CHAC offers a wide range of support services, including assessment with sliding scale options. (650) 965-2020 or chac.org. For other specialists, check the resource page at Parents Helping Parents.
Crisis Hotline:
ChildHelp – parental stress hotline, not specific to special needs but immediate support for overwhelmed (800) 422-4453 staffed 24/7 with licensed professional counselors, translators for 170 languages.
ChildHelp – parental stress hotline, not specific to special needs but immediate support for overwhelmed (800) 422-4453 staffed 24/7 with licensed professional counselors, translators for 170 languages.
Internet Resources
When to Worry: information from the Center for Disease Control about developmental milestones, when to worry and what to do next: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html
Parent Center Hub - Index of resources on many different topics: http://www.parentcenterhub.org/resources/
New families should start with their introduction at http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/journey/
Family Voices – a national nonprofit for families with children who have special needs (http://www.familyvoices.org). Includes Health and medical resources including how to develop a care notebook.
Wrightslaw - IEP resources from the legal perspective (http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm)
Autism: Autism Speaks
ADHD: www.CHADD.org
Another guide for new parents: http://www.parenting.sa.gov.au/pegs/peg60.pdf
When to Worry: information from the Center for Disease Control about developmental milestones, when to worry and what to do next: http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/index.html
Parent Center Hub - Index of resources on many different topics: http://www.parentcenterhub.org/resources/
New families should start with their introduction at http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/journey/
Family Voices – a national nonprofit for families with children who have special needs (http://www.familyvoices.org). Includes Health and medical resources including how to develop a care notebook.
Wrightslaw - IEP resources from the legal perspective (http://www.wrightslaw.com/info/iep.index.htm)
Autism: Autism Speaks
ADHD: www.CHADD.org
Another guide for new parents: http://www.parenting.sa.gov.au/pegs/peg60.pdf
Counseling Referrals
SCV-CAMFT Members who work with children with special needs and/or their parents.
Elizabeth Batson LMFT #51584 408-462-2443 ([email protected])
www.batsonmft.com
1101 S. Winchester Blvd. #A-101, San Jose CA 95128
Works with overwhelmed adults (both individuals and couples) who have children of any age with special needs. The focus of Elizabeth’s work on the parent’s wellbeing, not the child’s behavior.
Shannon Feldman, LMFT #91146 ([email protected]) www.shannonfeldmanmft.com
2155 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 212, Campbell, CA 95008
Supports parents of children with special needs and assists parents in understanding their child's needs, navigating difficult behaviors, implementing routines and positive reinforcement strategies, and increasing coping skills, support, and resources.
Deborah Kjar, LMFT 408-912-1622 ([email protected])
1925 Winchester Blvd., Campbell, CA 95008
Works with parents to help with family dynamics and with children struggling with social and emotional differences, including autism.
Amy Stratton, LMFT #86908 (650) 740-0387
1710 South Amphlett Blvd., #107, San Mateo, CA 94402Works with people who have a child with special needs. Also see a few children, teens and young adults with special needs.
Elizabeth Batson LMFT #51584 408-462-2443 ([email protected])
www.batsonmft.com
1101 S. Winchester Blvd. #A-101, San Jose CA 95128
Works with overwhelmed adults (both individuals and couples) who have children of any age with special needs. The focus of Elizabeth’s work on the parent’s wellbeing, not the child’s behavior.
Shannon Feldman, LMFT #91146 ([email protected]) www.shannonfeldmanmft.com
2155 S. Bascom Ave, Suite 212, Campbell, CA 95008
Supports parents of children with special needs and assists parents in understanding their child's needs, navigating difficult behaviors, implementing routines and positive reinforcement strategies, and increasing coping skills, support, and resources.
Deborah Kjar, LMFT 408-912-1622 ([email protected])
1925 Winchester Blvd., Campbell, CA 95008
Works with parents to help with family dynamics and with children struggling with social and emotional differences, including autism.
Amy Stratton, LMFT #86908 (650) 740-0387
1710 South Amphlett Blvd., #107, San Mateo, CA 94402Works with people who have a child with special needs. Also see a few children, teens and young adults with special needs.
