Surviving Parenthood Guide On-Line

Special Needs

Advocacy, Support and Referral Services

Blind Babies Foundation
Oakland: (510) 446-6229
http://www.blindbabies.org
Provides home counseling for parents of blind children birth to 5 years old. Assists in the growth and development of child-mobility, orientation, adjustment to family life, walking, talking, eating, etc. Focus is on what the child can do at a critical point in development. Services are free. Services available in Spanish.

CARE Parent Network
(925) 313-0999 or (800) 281-3023
http://www.contracostaarc.com
Parent-directed family resource center serving families of children with disabilities. Information and referral, support groups, parent-to-parent matching program, Parent Resource Directory, quarterly newsletter, browsing library, parent education classes. Maintains a resource listing of home based visiting programs, which specialize in infants with special needs. Services are free. Spanish services available.

Deaf Counseling, Advocacy & Referral Agency
(DCARA)
Toll Free TYY: (877) 322-7288;
Toll Free Voice: (877) 322-7299
http://www.dcara.org
“Of, By and For” deaf, deaf-blind, deafened and hard of hearing people. Information and referrals to community services and agencies, peer counseling for everyday problems and crisis situations, independent living skills, communication access, legal advocacy, employment services and community education.

Developmental Disabilities Council
(510) 374-3665
Coordinates and advocates for services for people with mental retardation, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy, neurological handicapping conditions and severe learning disabilities. Provides information and referrals to families, agencies and others. Any interested person can belong to the Council. Services are free.

Disability Program of Planned Parenthood:
Shasta Diablo
Antioch: (925) 754-4550
Concord: (925) 676-0505
Central Richmond: (510) 232-1250
Richmond-Hilltop: (510) 222-5290
San Ramon: (925) 838-2108
Walnut Creek: (925) 935-3010
Vallejo: (707) 643-4545
Fairfield: (707) 429-8855
Napa: (707) 252-8050
http://wwwppshastadiablo.org
Primarily Contra Costa, but some other areas are served.
Sexuality and socialization program for disabled persons. Counseling, education and family planning for persons with special needs (ranging from physical, mental, and developmental disabilities). Information and referrals for programs and counseling concerning sexual abuse, prevention and treatment. Reproductive health care includes birth control services, STD treatment and prenatal care. Resource library available. Sliding scale fees. French services available.

Down Syndrome Connection
(925) 362-8660
http://www.downsyndromeconnection.org
Consists of parents, educators, therapists and concerned persons. Seeks to optimize the quality of life for individuals with Down Syndrome by offering direct services to them and their caregivers, and by educating the general public about special concerns and unique contributions of the Down Syndrome community.

Independent Living Resource
Concord: (925) 363-7293 or Antioch: (925) 754-0539
Serves Contra Costa County and Solano Counties. Helps people with disabilities rise to their highest level of independence. Benefits include advocacy, counseling, housing referral, peer counseling, interpreter-reader registries, career counseling workshops and support groups. Services are free.

Time-Out For Caregivers
(510) 522-2404
Respite in the form of relaxing getaways for the stressed parents/caregivers of children with special needs. B&B/hotel overnights, movie passes and restaurant certificates. Parent must engage their own substitute caregiver. Services are free.

United Cerebral Palsy of the Golden Gate
Contra Costa: (925) 939-8000
Alameda: (510) 832-7430
San Francisco & Marin: (415) 627-6939
http://www.ucpgg.org
Programs and services for individuals with disabilities (job-seeking and training, assistance with banking, shopping and recreation). Women's Health Project (refers women with disabilities to OB/GYN practitioners). Swim program for children with disabilities. Support groups for children and youth, counseling and crisis intervention. Services are free. Tagalog and some Spanish services available.

Education and Treatment Services

Barbara Milliff Center
(We Care Treatment Center)
(925) 671-0777
Early intervention treatment program for children birth to 6 years of age with special needs, and their families. Serves children with developmental disability or delay or at-risk for delay. Also serves children with special emotional or behavioral needs including those who have been neglected or abused. Specialists provide home visits. Services are free.

California Children's Services
(925) 313-6100
For physically disabled and ill children with disabling conditions that are expensive to treat. Need diagnosis and treatment plan from a physician to receive services. Call for information. Spanish services available.

Center for the Education of the Infant Deaf
(510) 848-4800
(510) 527-5196 TDD
http://www.ceid.org
Intervention program for babies and young children with hearing impairments and/or severe speech and language delays. Infant, toddler and transition classes. Contracts with local school districts. Evening sign language class for families and the public. Sliding scale fees or free with NPS or Regional Center Contract. Scholarships also available. Signing Exact English (SEE) & American Sign Language (ASL).

Contra Costa County Head Start
Concord: (925) 646-5540
Pittsburg: (925) 473-2000
Richmond: (510) 374-3732
http://www.ccccsd.org
Federal and State funded child development programs for low income children, ages birth to 6 years of age, pregnant women, and their families. Comprehensive services include individualized child development, health, nutrition, mental health, disabilities and family services. Low or no cost. Spanish, Vietnamese, Farsi and Arabic services available.

Contra Costa County Office of Education:
Special Education Services
(925) 942-3376
Information and referral for special education services available in the various districts for severely handicapped, severely emotionally disturbed and severely multiply handicapped students ages 3 to 21. Call the school district nearest you for referral to a program to suit your child's needs. Services are free Early Start Program
(925) 646-5540
Serves Contra Costa school districts (with the exception of Mt. Diablo & West Contra Costa). Provides educational service for children age birth to three. Specializes in children who have vision, hearing, orthopedic problems or other developmental disabilities. Services are free. Spanish services available.

George Miller Centers
Concord: (925) 646-5710
Richmond: (510) 374-3981
Serves Contra Costa County. Early intervention services, center and home based, for children birth to 3 years with special needs (developmental delays or disabilities). After school social recreation program for developmentally disabled students 11 to 22 years. Must be eligible for Regional Center Services. Spanish services available.

Lynn Center
(925) 439-7516
Lynn Center is an early intervention program serving children birth to 6 years of age with developmental delays or who are at risk for delays in a center based program or in their natural setting. The center also serves children with behavioral issues and assists preschools and daycares who have children with challenging behaviors. Sliding scale fee and free services. Spanish services available.

Regional Center of the East Bay
Concord: (925) 798-3001
Oakland: (510) 383-1200
http://wwwrceb.org
Case management, advocacy, coordination of services, some consultation with specialized staff for people of all ages with mental retardation, autism, epilepsy, cerebral palsy and certain neurological disorders, as defined by State Law. Early intervention for children under 3 years who are developmentally delayed. Services are free. Spanish and various Asian services available.

San Ramon Valley Unified School District
Special Programs
(925) 820-6815
http://www.srvusd.k12.ca.us/srvusd/
For residents in the San Ramon school district. Serves population from birth to 22 years of age with identified special education needs with a wide range of disabilities. Please call for general information. For specific programs and referrals, please contact your local school. If you are outside of the San Ramon school district, contact your local school.

Spectrum Center
(925) 685-9703 x 17
http://www.spectrumcenter.org
A program for children and young adults 3-22 with developmental disabilities and challenging behaviors who are without appropriate public school placement. The program addresses students’ needs in the areas of independent living, community integration, recreation, vocational training and functional academics. Speech Pathologists, Behavior clinicians, and classroom staff.

Through The Looking Glass
(510) 848-1112
http://www.lookingglass.org
An infant mental health and family support program that serves families and their medically at-risk or disabled babies and children, as well as the families, babies and children of a disabled parent. Services to families include support groups, referrals through the Regional Center for home-based infant mental health and family therapy services and developmental services. Also the National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities. Provides information and referrals, advocacy (custody), publications, research, parent-toparent network and phone consultations. Free to RCEB eligible. Spanish and French services available.