Spotlight on Special Education in Irvine: Resources for Students, Teachers, and Parents

Consistently ranking as among the best places to live in the U.S., Irvine, California is located approximately 40 miles from Los Angeles. The city achieves the aforementioned honor in part because it offers a highly-ranked public school system, which provides many several education resources for parents, teachers and students.

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Resources can also be found through nonprofit organizations and other learning centers throughout the city. These resources range from therapy programs to online articles.

Educational Resources for Irvine Special Education Teachers and Students

The website of the Irvine Unified School District supplies extensive resources for parents and educators. Parents will find links to online guides regarding special education programs and legislation as well as information about specific disorders such as autism and ADD.

The Orange County Department of Education provides information concerning parent rights, assistive technology and early education programs. Teachers will find training opportunities focusing on classroom management, behavior analysis methods and special education student success strategies.

The Child Development School at University of California – Irvine focuses on supplying a supportive educational environment for children with AD/HD. Services include assessments and transition programs. Behavioral parent training and family social skills training are also offered.

With a location in Irving, the Stowell Learning Center provides assessment and educational therapy programs for students with learning disorders. The center strives to help students improve skills in area of memory, language, communication and attention. The website also has links to many free articles.

Special Education Supportive, Therapeutic and Legal Resources in Irvine

Beyond educational institutions, Irvine is home to several organizations providing services and programs for special education students and their parents.

Irvine-based Talk About Curing Autism (TACA), a nonprofit organization, offers learning seminars and social events for autistic children and families. The organization’s website provides links to helpful articles about therapies, medical interventions, parents’ rights and support groups, and more. Books, DVDs and CDs on autism are available to members through the organization’s resource library.

KiDA (Kids Institute for Development and Advancement) is based in Irvine and serves Orange County. It is the largest Center for Autism in the county and offers clinical and educational services to special education students. These include behavior, occupational, and speech and language therapy, social groups and a school for K-6 students that focuses on behavior management and social skills development.

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The Greater Orange County CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) holds general meetings in Irvine. These monthly meetings are intended for parents and teachers of students with AD/HD; meeting topics have ranged from therapy techniques to collaborative strategies.

For legal support, special needs families can turn to the California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG), which is based in Pasadena but serves areas throughout the state. CSNLG’s services include mediating conflicts between special needs families and school systems and assisting parents with IEP development.