Special Education Spotlight Fresno: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Residents of the populous city of Fresno, the largest in California’s Central Valley, can find various academic, nonprofit and community organizations devoted to special education topics.

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Resources in this city include support groups, professional development programs, online articles, recreational activities and workshops. From parents seeking legal advice to special needs students seeking to become more active or engaged through sports or recreational therapies, Fresno provides a variety of options for anyone with a personal or professional interest in special education.

Academic Resources for Special Education Students in Fresno

The website of the Fresno Unified School District provides information about a Community Advisory Committee and links to the Special Education Local Plan, forms detailing parents’ rights, an IEP satisfaction survey  and services for deaf and hard of hearing students.

The Fresno County Office of Education offers intervention and support programs for children with disabilities. Besides overseeing special education curriculum and instruction for students at the elementary, middle and high school levels, the office provides or assists in leading parents and special education students to:

• speech and language pathology services
• audiological services that includes hearing assessment and otoscopic exams
• visual impairment assessment and consultation, including Braille instruction
• preschool assessment
• parent workshops

Resources for Fresno Special Education Parents and Students

Various community centers and nonprofit organizations based or with offices in Fresno are great sources of information and activities for special needs children and their parents.

EPU Children’s Center in Fresno has a Family Resource Center that provides advocacy services, parent support groups and IEP training clinics. A teenager and young adult group allows those with special needs to meet others and helps to develop communication and social skills.

The Central Valley Children’s Services Network is a Fresno-based nonprofit organizations with parent and professional workshops, support groups, advocacy services and child care resources for special needs children. The network’s site has links to telephone counseling services, mental health counseling and local agencies.

Special Olympics Northern California partners with the Fresno Unified School District to provide a community sports program for special needs children.

More Fresno Resources for Special Education Students, Teachers and Parents

Other Fresno or nearby organizations addressing specific disabilities or disorders include:

• Central Valley: Fresno Regional Center‘s website provides links to articles about learning disorders, autism, disabilities laws and physical disabilities
• Down Syndrome Association of Central California: offers parent workshops and support programs; website also has links for teacher and professional resources
• The Autism Center at Fresno State University: provides assessment and intervention services to schools; families can attend seminars and weekly meetings
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Fresno: website provides detailed information about ADHD, such as symptoms and treatments; offers family education programs and support groups
• Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association: though not based in Fresno, the association services the entire Northern California area and has teacher training programs and the website has links to helpful online articles for parents and professionals

Parents of special education students in Fresno who are seeking legal support or assistance, such as with IEP development or navigation of special education laws, can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG). Though based in Costa Mesa, the firm provides services throughout the state.