CHILD CARE
Adopt A Special Kid (AASK): Provides education and support services for adoptive and foster families and children.
Bananas: Non-profit child care referral and support agency serving the diverse families in northern Alameda County. Free parenting information, workshops, referrals to family child care, child care centers, preschools, babysitters, in-home caregivers, nannies, and playgroups. Provides subsidized child care for parents in need. Also offers: training, workshops, classes, and technical support to caregivers, and child care programs to assure parents a wide selection of quality care.
Camp ALWAYS: Award-winning camp for adoptive families.
Camp Bennett: An intensive therapy and social skills summer camp providing constraint-induced movement therapy for hemiplegic children ages 3-8.
Children’s Council of San Francisco: Works to make affordable, high-quality child care a reality for all working families. Provides child care subsidy assistance, health and nutritional services, advocacy, and public education. Free resource and referral listings for children with special needs.
Early Head Start Home Based Program: Specialized center and home based program serving children with disabilities ages 0-3.
Family Resource Network: Offers peer support, information & referral, advocacy, and training to families in Alameda County who have children with disabilities from birth to age 22. Trained staff answers common questions regarding a child’s disability, offers guidance in navigating complicated service systems, helps to locate community resources, and provides emotional support.
Family Voices of California (FVCA): Statewide collaborative of locally based, parent-run centers that work to ensure quality health care for children and youth with special health care needs.
Intensive Physical Therapy (TheraSuit Method): Clinic on Piedmont Ave. in Oakland is opening September 5, 2011. Email: mh@movementdiscoveries.com or call: 650-652-1700 to make an appt. with PT Graciela Pagano.
Jeena: Self-help group for parents of children with developmental disorders who are interested in improving their family’s quality of life. Focused on the specific cultural needs of families from South-East Asia. Links page includes: information about autism, CP, and metabolic disorders, and links to online forums, support groups, therapists, and transportation.
Kidpower: Learn how to protect kids from bullying and empower them with social skills.
Parents of Orinda Individuals in Special Education (P.O.I.S.E. ): Information and support for Orinda parents with kids in special education.
Starfish Therapies: Pediatric therapy business that offers physical, aquatic, and speech therapy. Also teaches classes in: sign language for babies, body mechanics for parents and caregivers, and motor skills for kids.
Through the Looking Glass: Serves families in which either the parent or child has a disability.
DISCUSSION GROUPS
Fremont Parents – Yahoo Group: Forum for parents with special needs children who live in Fremont, CA. Exchange ideas, info. and resources, discuss issues, communicate concerns, and help each other.
Group Counseling for People with Developmental Disabilities: Sliding scale for adults ages 18 and up. Focuses on how to handle emotions effectively, communication skills, and relationship building.
Physical Challenges Bay Area – Yahoo Group: Online discussion group for adults and parents who have children with: cerebral palsy, microcephaly, lissencephaly, muscular dystrophy, muscular atrophy, spinal injuries, and other movement disorders and physical challenges. Swap information on adaptive equipment, assistive technology, medical resources, events, workshops, and fun places to go.
GENERAL
AAC-RERC: The Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center functions as a collaborative research group dedicated to the development of effective AAC technology.
Alameda County Public Health Department: Public health services.
Center for Accessible Technology: Provides access to computers for people with disabilities.
Cerebral Palsy Center for the Bay Area: Provides innovative programs and services and creates a culture of support for people with disabilities.
Communication Works: A private practice that provides the highest level of speech, language, social, and occupational therapy services to its clients in Oakland and the Bay Area. Website also features extensive list of Bay Area support groups.
Computer Technologies Program: Broadens employment opportunities for people with significant disabilities by providing training in information technologies and self-marketing strategies and advocacy, in partnership with the business and rehabilitation communities.
Directory of Toys and Supplies for Home Therapy: Directory includes therapy suppliers, toy stores, and parent teacher stores that sell to individuals as well as professionals.
Ed Roberts Campus: Facility in Berkeley that houses organizations such as: the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program, the Center for Accessible Technology, the Center for Independent Living, the Computer Technologies Program, the Disabled Rights Education and Defense Fund, Through the Looking Glass, and the World Institute on Disability.
Project Search Internship Program: Apply for a year long, Monday through Friday internship at a local business. Combines classroom instruction, career exploration, and on the job training.
Speech-to-Speech: Involves specially trained Communication Assistants (CAs) who are familiar with a wide variety of speech patterns of callers with cerebral palsy, stroke complications, voice disorders, or other speaking difficulties. The CA repeats the STS user’s side of the telephone conversation as needed, to ensure that the entire conversation is understood.
Toolworks: A human services agency dedicated to providing the tools and resources that promote independence, equality, and personal satisfaction.
World Institute on Disability: Program work focuses on issues and problems that directly affect people’s ability to live full and independent lives. A majority of the board and staff are persons with disabilities.
INDEPENDENT LIVING
Center for Independent Living: World’s first organization run by and for people with disabilities. Supports disabled people in their efforts toward independence and works to open doors in the community to full participation and access for all.
Community Resources for Independent Living: Peer-based disability organization that advocates and provides resources for people with disabilities to improve their lives and make their communities fully accessible.
Dare to Dream Attendant Services: In-home nursing and personal care services with an emphasis on consumer choice and independent living.
East Bay Innovations (EBI): Dedicated to assisting people with developmental disabilities to live in their own homes and to be employed in jobs of their choosing. Provides an array of support services and help in accessing and utilizing community resources.
Futures Explored, Inc.: Provides life skills and work-related training to adults with developmental disabilities. Supports consumers in reaching their optimum level of individual potential by delivering a broad range of resources and ongoing guidance.
Independent Living Resource Center, San Francisco (ILRCSF): Disability rights advocacy and support organization.
Section 8 Housing Listings: Alameda County, Berkeley, Contra Costa, Richmond
LAW AND POLICY
Disability Rights California: Designated the state’s protection and advocacy system for Californians with disabilities, they offer free legal and advocacy services for disability-related issues.
Keeping the Lanterman Promise: KTLP is a group of individuals who care about the preservation of the Lanterman Act and the 1985 California Supreme Court decision that created a contract between the state and its citizens with intellectual and other developmental disabilities.
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund: A leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities.
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD): Established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and support they need.
RECREATION PROGRAMS
Bay Area Association of Disabled Sailors: Seeks to make all aspects of sailing accessible, offers dinghy sailing every Saturday and keelboat sailing every Sunday.
Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program: Hosts activities such as bicycling, water sports, and camping for children and adults with disabilities.
Catch a Special Thrill (C.A.S.T.): Fishing programs for children with disabilities.
Disabled Sports USA: Provides national leadership and opportunities for individuals with disabilities to develop independence, confidence, and fitness through participation in community sports, recreation, and educational programs.
Halleck Creek Ranch: For over 30 years Halleck Creek Ranch has helped people with disabilities live a life without barriers through therapeutic horseback riding. Located in the Nicasio Valley in Marin County.
Stephen J. Wampler Foundation: Wilderness programs for kids with disabilities.
2010 Summer Camps: Extensive list of summer camps from the Family Resource Network.
Xenophon Therapeutic Riding Center: Therapeutic horseback riding in a safe and secure environment.
UC BERKELEY STUDENTS
The Disabled Student’s Program (DSP): Committed to ensuring that all students with disabilities have equal access to educational opportunities at UC Berkeley. Offers a wide range of services for students with disabilities. Services are individually designed, and based on the specific needs of each student as identified by our disability specialists.
WHEELCHAIRS
Wheelchairs of Berkeley: Provides custom manual and power wheelchairs and rehab equipment to children and adults.
MORE BAY AREA RESOURCES
Dandelion: Dandelion is a special needs magazine for families. Their website provides a comprehensive list of Bay Area resources that includes: organizations for specific challenges, everyday services, and therapy and medical services.