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.

Monday, November 7, 2022

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

Lynda Karl, Parliamentarian

Flavia Seawright, Public Information Officer

Fall Transition Fair

Help young adults with disabilities (ages 15-22 years old) prepare for the quality adult life they envision. Students, parents, teachers, and care providers are invited to join us at the Transition Fair. Meet local agency representatives and gain information to assist with making adult life decisions.

Wednesday, November 9, 2022

5:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Click here to join.

5:30 pm:

Welcome

6:00 pm:

Interact with agency representatives from the Department of Rehabilitation, Tri-Counties

Regional Center, Colleges, Ventura County Behavioral Health, Ventura County Public Health and many more.

7:45 pm:

Closing/Thank you

Presentation and information at the fair are available in Spanish. No need to call ahead. Interpretation in ASL and other languages is available but must be reserved 2 weeks in advance. Call 805.437.1560.

The WorkAbility (WAI) program is funded and administered by the California Department of Education (CDE). The WAI program provides comprehensive pre-employment skills training, employment placement and follow-up for high school students in special education who are making the transition from school to work, independent living, and postsecondary education or training. Program services are appropriate to individual student needs, abilities, and interests.

The WAI program offers students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) the opportunity to complete their secondary education while also obtaining marketable job skills. WAI provides secondary students with an understanding of job-seeking and job-keeping skills. The employability of students improves through occupational class training and on-the-job subsidized or unsubsidized work experience.

The WAI program seeks employers in the business community who will give students with disabilities a chance to prove themselves in a competitive integrated employment setting. Local program sites successfully coordinate state and local service providers to offer comprehensive services tailored to local economic, social, and geographic needs and abilities.

Programs in the Ventura County SELPA:

There are three WorkAbility I programs within the Ventura County SELPA:

• Conejo Valley Unified School District - Denice Welter, Project Manager
• Las Virgenes Unified School District - Denise Edwards, Project Manager
• Ventura County SELPA - Joanna V. Della Gatta, Project Manager

WorkAbility I Works! Fact Sheet

We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to our community business partners for supporting our students in these endeavors.

Social/Emotional Learning Strategies (zoom)

Students and families continue to adapt to the many changes associated with the pandemic. The return to school can cause anxiety and stress for many. Ventura County SELPA is excited to announce a forum for families to learn tips and strategies and to discuss ways to support their child's behavioral and social emotional needs. Come with your questions and ideas as we support each other. No Cost, only registration is required below.

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Spanish interpretation is available when requested 7 days in advance. You will receive the Zoom link once a few days prior to the event.

REGISTRATION LINK:

https://vcoe.k12oms.org/eventdetail.php?id=219824

• 1 in 10 people will have a seizure and 1 in 26 will develop epilepsy during their lifetime.

• There are 3.4 million people living with epilepsy in the United States; 470,000 of them are children.

• Epilepsy is a neurological disorder that can affect any one of us regardless of race, age, or gender.
  
• Seizures are a symptom of epilepsy. Not all seizures are the same. Many people with epilepsy have more than one type of seizure.
  

1. STAY with the person and start timing the seizure. Remain calm and check for medical ID.
2. Keep the person SAFE. Move or guide away from harmful objects.
3. Turn the person onto their SIDE if they are not awake and aware. Don’t block airway, put something small and soft under the head, loosen tight clothes around neck.
4. Do NOT put anything in their mouth. Don’t give water, pills or food until the person is awake.
5. Do NOT restrain.
6. STAY with them until they are awake and alert after the seizure. Most seizures end in a few minutes.

When to Call 911

• Seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes
• Repeated seizures
• Difficulty breathing
• Seizure occurs in water
• Person is injured, pregnant, or sick
• Person does not return to their usual state
• First time seizure

Learn More Seizure First Aid and Safety

Without you, there is no epilepsy awareness, education, advocacy, or research. Let’s continue to be resilient and build awareness for our community.

Let’s take action together and make November the loudest and purple-est National Epilepsy Awareness Month ever for YOU! Be everywhere. Educate everyone. There are many ways you can get involved.

The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by a missing section (microdeletion) of chromosome 22, which is present from the time a child is conceived. The 22q11.2 deletion is almost as common as Down syndrome. It is present in 1 out of every 1,000 live pregnancies, in 1 in 68 children with congenital heart disease, and in 5 to 8 percent of children born with cleft palate. The deletion has the potential to affect almost every system in the body and can cause a wide range of health problems — although no two people are ever exactly alike or affected in the same way.

The 22q11.2 deletion is most often a “de novo” event, meaning that it is not inherited from either parent and does not usually run in a family. Only about 10% of children with the 22q11.2 deletion have a parent who is also affected. In the majority of individuals, the deletion happens sporadically without a previous family history of the condition. There is nothing the parents did or failed to do that caused the deletion to occur. For parents who do not have the deletion, the chance that a future child might be affected is very low. For individuals with the 22q11.2 deletion, there is a 50% chance of passing on the deletion to a child with each pregnancy. Individuals within the same family who have the deletion may or may not be similarly affected.

Devin Booker is NBA Community Assist Winner and Phoenix Suns Standout. He Hosted Families of Children with 22q11.2 at Suns vs. Bucks Game on March 8th. He Held a Meet and Greet for Children with 22q11.2 and Their Families.

22q reporter Louis Cavana was on the scene at Talking Stick Arena for the International 22q Foundation visit with Phoenix Suns’ Devin Booker, and had the opportunity to interview Devin post game — See what he had to say…

Louis-Cavana_Devin-Booker-1.mov

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

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

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

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.

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