CAC NEWS

A collaborative partnership of

school districts, staff, students, parents/families, and community agencies

Supporting Equitable Learning, Programs and Access

for ALL students.

The Ventura County SELPA has a Community Advisory Committee (CAC) that facilitates communication between districts and families, has regular meetings to discuss issues with SELPA leadership, and provides parent trainings on topics such as the IEP process, behavior strategies, life after high school and social skills. The CAC promotes services and resources for special education students and their families.

Who is in the CAC?

• Parents/guardians of individuals with disabilities (the majority)
• Representatives of agencies that serve people with disabilities
• School staff

How can I participate?

Members of the public are always welcome to attend CAC meetings and give public comments. CAC Meetings are governed by the Brown Act and only items on the agenda will be discussed. Staff may follow-up as needed. If you prefer to speak with a CAC member privately or by phone, call the SELPA office at (805) 437-1560 for contact information, including the name of your school district representative.

Promote connection, collaboration and communication between districts and parents

Creating Community:

• Outreach to families and connecting with the broader community
  

Building Capacity:

• Fostering connections between districts, parents, and community organizations
  

Inclusion and Beyond:

• The Why, What & How of Inclusive Practices
  

Mental and Social Emotional Health:

• Provide parent education and resources available to help families understand mental health with an emphasis on destigmatization and fostering their child’s social emotional development.
  

Legislative Action:

• Participate in Legislative Action Day, connect with local and federal lawmakers
  

Transition Across the Grade Spans:

• Virtual and In-Person Transition Fairs

• Transition IEP training
  

CAC and Leadership Development:

• Receive leadership development support and training
  
• Develop updated VC SELPA CAC Best Practices
  
• Update Parent Guide and CAC Handbook
  

Email Sign-Up!

The Ventura County SELPA is dedicated to providing information and support to families and caregivers of students with disabilities so that they can be informed partners in the educational process of their children. There are numerous activities and resources that are provided to fulfill that mission.

Sign up to receive announcements of informational items for families directly to your email.

To nominate someone (Teacher, Student, Parent, Specialist) for "going above and beyond" in serving special education students and/or families, go to the SELPA website, click on "Information for Families" and look under CAC for an application.

New School Year Calendar will be posted for SY 2023-2024

4 - 6 PM

Members of the public are always welcome to attend CAC meetings and give pubic comments.

To receive Meeting Notices Click Here.

2022-2023 CAC BOARD

Carole Shelton, Chair

Lee Ann Holland, Vice-Chair

Myra Medina, Membership Secretary

Amanda Alfred, Treasurer

Vacant, Parliamentarian

Flavia Seawright, Public Information Officer

Amber Christensen, Recording Secretary

Often, we think of health in physical terms, but mental wellness is just as important. Mental health plays a big role in our day-to-day mood and quality of life, which becomes very obvious when we're feeling sad, stressed, or anxious. But it also is apparent when we're feeling happy, calm, and confident.

So, this May, let's celebrate Mental Health Awareness Month by paying closer attention to our mental health, and doing more of the things that keep us mentally well!

Here are some strategies to help live your life fully:

Talk

It’s good to talk about mental health struggles; we all have them. It could mean talking with a friend or family member, or with your doctor or a counselor. It’s OK to not always feel OK. But if it becomes too much it’s time to seek help.

Sleep

Healthy sleep is critical for your body and mind. If you have things on your mind that are keeping you awake, try writing them down before bed. Put down your phone and stop looking at screens an hour before bedtime. Try reading a book in bed until you feel sleepy.

Eat

A healthy diet is good for your body and mind. Try to eat a well-balanced diet. Introduce more fruit and vegetables (especially vegetables). Try to avoid pre-packaged and processed foods. A glass of water every couple of hours works wonders!

Practice mindfulness

A short period of calm can change your whole day. It might come from mindfulness, meditation or prayer, but finding time to step away from the business of daily life can strengthen your brain to cope better with stress.

Exercise

It can be a challenge to fit a regular exercise plan into your life. But it is so worth it! Regular exercise will help your body and your mind. You’ll move better and you’ll feel better.

Relationships

Stay in touch with friends and family– in person or virtually. Find time to share feelings and make time do things together. Remember the good times and experiences. Make some new memories. Enjoy the world with others!

• Disability, mental health, and education professionals lack key knowledge about people with I/DD and mental health challenges.
  

• There is often a lack of appropriate, available resources or services for families.

• People, families, and professionals struggle to communicate effectively with one another

• People with dual diagnosis, parents, and siblings may often feel lonely or isolated as a result of lack of understanding, discrimination, or stigma.

• Professionals need training on how to more effectively support people and families.

• People with disabilities and families need training and education.

• Peers, professionals, and family members working together as a team is important for helping families feel supported and successful.

• People with I/DD and mental health challenges need more opportunities for emotional support, inclusion, and building relationships

This year, NAMI is celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month with the More Than Enough campaign!

It’s an opportunity for all of us to come together and remember the inherent value we each hold — no matter our diagnosis, appearance, socioeconomic status, background or ability. We want every person out there to know that if all you did was wake up today, that’s more than enough. No matter what, you are inherently worthy of more than enough life, love and healing. Showing up, just as you are, for yourself and the people around you is more than enough.

Join The #MoreThanEnough Campaign

Throughout the month, share on social media why you are more than enough by tagging (@NAMICommunicate) and using the hashtag #MoreThanEnough.

Each May, Better Hearing & Speech Month (BHSM) provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of ASHA members in providing life-altering treatment.

For 2023, our theme is “Building a Strong Foundation”

Throughout the month, you’ll see public outreach that includes sharing member stories and survey results, and mass media campaigns. We will also offer an array of simple resources—a social media contest, website graphics, press releases, posters, and more—to help ASHA members spread the word about their work.

American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) outreach

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the “Identify the Signs” campaign, so much of ASHA’s BHSM outreach will focus on early identification and intervention. New polling results will be released at the beginning of May from members who work with 0–5 populations.

SLP Robert Augustine, ASHA president, and audiologist Tena McNamara, 2024 president-elect, will lead a national media tour on the topic.

As part of the “Real Stories” public service announcement campaign, which launched during BHSM last year, ASHA will also release a new series of video ads about members’ work. These PSAs feature stories of people of all ages with communication disorders and show how the work of certified audiologists and SLPs makes differences in their lives.

Keep an eye on www.asha.org/bhsm for the latest updates.

During Apraxia Awareness Month, Apraxia Kids hopes to make an impact and Be the Voice for children with apraxia of speech!

WHAT IS CHILDHOOD APRAXIA OF SPEECH (CAS)?

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a motor speech disorder that makes it hard for children to speak. Children with the diagnosis of apraxia of speech generally have a good understanding of language and know what they want to say. However, they have difficulty learning or carrying out the complex movements that underlie speech.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CAS AND A SPEECH DELAY?

A true developmental delay of speech is when a child is following a “typical” path of speech development, although at a rate slower than normal. A child with apraxia of speech is on a “different” path, and has difficulty planning the movement sequences required for speech. This may result in inconsistent errors and difficultly with smooth transitions from sound to sound or syllable to syllable to form words, phrases, and sentences.

Hunter Syndrome (MPS II) is a mucopolysaccharide disease known as Hunter syndrome. MPS II has a wide range of symptoms that vary in severity and can be managed and treated with enzyme replacement therapies. There is no cure for MPS II.

MPS II patients are missing the enzyme iduronate sulfatase, which is essential to breaking down the mucopolysaccharides dermatan and heparan sulphate. These materials remain stored in the body’s cells, causing progressive damage. Babies may show little sign of the disease, but as cells sustain damage, symptoms start to appear.

The symptoms of PWS change over time in individuals with PWS, and a detailed understanding of the nutritional stages of PWS has been published.

In addition to obesity, a variety of other symptoms can be associated with Prader-Willi syndrome. Individuals usually exhibit cognitive challenges, with measured IQs ranging from low normal to moderate intellectual disability. Those with normal IQs usually exhibit learning disabilities. Other issues may include growth hormone deficiency/short stature, small hands and feet, scoliosis, sleep disturbances with excessive daytime sleepiness, high pain threshold, speech apraxia/dyspraxia, and infertility. Behavioral difficulties may include obsessive-compulsive symptoms, skin picking, and difficulty controlling emotions. Adults with PWS are at increased risk for mental illness. PWS is a spectrum disorder and symptoms vary in severity and occurrence among individuals.

Williams Syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic condition that is present at birth and can affect anyone. WS affects 1 in 10,000 people worldwide – an estimated 20,000 to 30,000 people in the United States. It is known to occur equally in both males and females and in every culture.

It is characterized by medical problems, including cardiovascular disease, developmental delays, and learning challenges. These often occur side by side with striking verbal abilities, highly social personalities, and an affinity for music. WS occurs equally in males and females and in all cultures worldwide.

There are many features common to those with Williams syndrome.

The Angel City Games is a family friendly event with wide array of activities and special events throughout the week for all to enjoy. The goal is to celebrate the talents and strengths of adaptive athletes, and create a community of support and understanding around sports.

This event is for individuals of all ages and all ability levels who are interested in trying adaptive sports. The coaches and team are trained to work with novices and welcome you to try as many sports as possible to find out what you like!

SAVE THE DATE:

Jun 29 – Jul 2, 2023

University of Southern California (USC)

Sports Schedule and Registration Links. Click Here!

Registration is required. All Athletes must register. An Angel City Sports Athlete is anyone that will be actively participating in sport. Athletes may be a child or an adult who has a disability or be non-disabled family or friends. Registered Athletes will be the only members who are allowed to participate in sport in the event.

Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp provides sports and recreation skills development for children, youth, and young adults between the ages of 6 to 21 years old who can use a wheelchair to participate in activities.

The 2023 Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp will be held July 17-21. Visit the Volunteer Services page to apply for camp volunteer opportunities.

Camp provides recreational and competitive opportunities for youth athletes ages 6-21* with physical disabilities who use a wheelchair, or could use a wheelchair, to participate in sports and recreation. *New young adult group added for athletes up to 21 years of age.

Sports and recreation activities include basketball, rugby, tennis, swimming, hand cycling, climbing wall and more. The five day camp will be held July 17-21, 2023 at the Recreation Center on UCSB campus.

Registration for this year's event is now open. Please click here for registration.

Ventura YMCA

Southeast Ventura County YMCA

Camarillo Family YMCA

Oxnard Special Populations

Ventura Park and Recreation

Ojai Park and Recreation

Fillmore Park and Recreation

Santa Paula Park and Recreation

Moorpark Park and Recreation

Simi Valley Park and Recreation

Conejo Park and Recreation

Pleasant Valley Recreation Park and Recreation

Ventura County Libraries

Covers Fillmore, Oxnard, Ojai, and Ventura

Oxnard Libraries

Camarillo Libraries

Santa Paula Libraries

Thousand Oaks Libraries

Simi Valley Library

Boys and Girls Club of the Greater Conejo Valley

Boys and Girls Club of Greater Ventura

Boys and Girls Club of Camarillo

Boys and Girls Club of Moorpark and Simi

Drop the kids off to play while you connect with other parents of kids with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Children (up to 18 years old) will enjoy a movie, reading corner, bounce house, and sensory activities while parents eat, drink, and mingle.

Pre-registration is required for this event as space is limited. Register online here.

We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals to engage and participate fully. To request accommodations or for inquiries about accessibility, please email welcome@sbzoo.org.

The Pleasant Valley Park and District located in Camarillo, invited the community to celebrate the grand re-opening of the Arneill Ranch Park on July 9, 2022. Arneill Ranch Park was developed in 1980 as a five-acre park. It is nestled in the Arneill Ranch community of Camarillo. It features a walking track, fitness stations, restrooms a play structure, and picnic tables. The park sits between Arneill Drive and Sweetwater Avenue in Camarillo.

This new public amenity is Camarillo's first fully inclusive play area for youth of all abilities. It has a new playground equipment designed to accommodate special needs children. Funding for the ADA exercise equipment was donated by Camarillo Amber's Light Lions Club.

The City of Ventura opened a new public amenity as Ventura’s first fully inclusive play area for youth of all abilities.

The 10,750 square foot play area features a colorful play surface, new landscaping, gathering areas, swings, hammocks, balance beams, a sensory garden, a motion-inclusive carousel, embankment climbers, and music play areas.

It also features a sensory wall with recognition tiles dedicated to those who donated to the project.

Our park includes a one-of-a-kind "SensAbility Playground", an interactive play area stimulating senses and abilities.

The playground features many unique play pieces including "Playville" miniature village, elevated sand table, "Sand Works", one backhoe digger, Tenor Marimba (a xylophone-like musical piece), Talking Bob, talking horns, a sign language panel, and several sensory panels.

The play area is surfaced with sand and rubber, providing accessibility to approximately 60% of the playground.

Ventura County SELPA is committed to supporting families and districts as they work towards early resolution options. Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provides a neutral environment and a variety of choices and utilizes consultation, collaboration, and communication to resolve disagreements, preserve relationships and maintain focus on the needs of our students. ADR allows the decision-making process to stay in the hands of the family and district.

Transition Resources

Special Education Rights at Age of Majority

Transition Information For Students

Transition Agency Padlet

Educationally Related Social Emotional Services (ERSES)

Social Emotional Services

Social Emotional Continuum

Residential Care Fact Sheet

Rainbow's mission is to serve children and adults with developmental disabilities and their community. Rainbow believes that every person should be valued, respected and given the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.

For more information and to register or for ongoing Support Groups, Training & Activities go to:

www.rainbowconnectionfrc.weebly.com

Sign up for emails here.

Call: 805-485-9643 or 800-332-3679

Email: rainbow@tri-counties.org

Tri-Counties Regional Center is one of twenty-one non-profit regional centers in California providing lifelong services and supports for people with developmental disabilities residing in San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties.

TCRC provides person and family-centered supports for individuals with developmental disabilities to maximize opportunities and choices for living, working, learning, and recreating in the community.

Tri-Counties Regional Center Offices

All TCRC offices have re-opened to the public.

On-Call Managers
Simi Valley Office: (805) 456-8020 sv@tri-counties.org
Oxnard Office: (805) 456-8021 ox@tri-counties.org

Fillmore Office: (805) 292-1101

Early Start Program – Newborn to Age 3, No Referral Needed

Are you concerned about your child's development? Does any aspect of their speech, physical abilities, behavior, or any other area seem delayed? We want you to know that the Tri-Counties Regional Center Early Start program is here to identify and treat developmental delays in children 0-3 years of age. These services are free; there is no cost to you. Our clinical and intake teams are fully operational. Please share the word that anyone may refer to our Early Start program. If you are concerned about your child’s development, visit our Connect with an Intake Coordinator web page. Learn more about our Early Start program here.

Register Here For Regional Email Alerts

Welcome to SCDD!

The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)is 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 supports they need.

Consumers know best what supports and services they need to live independently and to actively participate in their communities. Through advocacy, capacity building and systemic change, SCDD works to achieve a consumer and family-based system of individualized services, supports, and other assistance.

Vision:

Californians with developmental disabilities are guaranteed the same full and equal opportunities for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness as all Americans.

Mission:

The Council advocates, promotes and implements policies and practices that achieve self-determination, independence, productivity and inclusion in all aspects of community life for Californians with developmental disabilities and their families

The Ventura County SELPA office is responsible for the implementation of the Ventura County Special Education Local Plan, and for ensuring a free appropriate public education to all students with identified disabilities according to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

Emily Mostovoy-Luna - Associate Superintendent

Sarah Fontenot- Administrative Assistant III

Local Plan Implementation

Interagency Coordination, Policies & Procedures

SELPA Office Operations

Related Staff: Adapted PE Teachers, Assistive Technology Assessment Center,

Orientation & Mobility Specialists, Residential Placement Consultants

Regina Reed - Director of Personnel Development Anabel Lopez-Penny - Administrative Assistant II Program & Personnel Development

ERSES Program & COEDS

Behavior

Early Start

Related Services Staff: Social/Emotional Services Specialists, DHH Teachers

Joanna V. Della Gatta - Director of Technical Support and Transition Mariella Cazares-Flores - Administrative Assistant II

SIRAS Support, Forms & Instructions

Private Schools

Pattern of Strengths & Weaknesses Model

WorkAbility Program

Transition

Related Services Staff: Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, WorkAbility Specialists

Kim DeAnda - Program Specialist

Jeanine Murphy-Assistant Director, Family & School Collaboration

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Services

Email: vcselpa@vcoe.org
Website: www.vcselpa.org
Location: 5100 Adolfo Road, Camarillo, CA, USA
Phone: 805-437-1560
Facebook: https://facebook.com/VenturaCOE
Twitter: @VenturaCOE