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

One of the most populous cities in Orange County, California, Santa Ana offers various online and on-site resources for special education families and professionals.

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From public schools to nonprofit organizations, special education teachers, parents and students in Santa Ana can find support, educational and therapeutic services within and near the city. These services range from clinical programs to online articles.

Educational Resources for Special Education Students, Parents and Teachers

Many resources in special education are found in public and nonprofit school settings in or within a few miles of Santa Ana.

The Santa Ana Unified School District offers occupational, physical, and language and speech therapy services to its special needs students.

The website of the Orange County Department of Education offers a link to an Early Education program for children with special needs up to five years of age. Links to information about assistive technology, parent rights and special classes in areas of language and behavior are also provided.

In addition, the department provides extensive training programs for special education teachers through its System of Support (SOS). This program allows teachers to receive training in instructional strategies, classroom management and intervention methods through classes and guest speakers.

Serving special education students in Orange County, The Prentice School in nearby North Tustin, about five miles northeast of Santa Ana, offers specialized education programs for elementary, junior high and high school students. The school utilizes a specific language arts approach for elementary and junior high students with dyslexia. The high school program utilizes active collaboration, community service and individualized support.

The school’s resources include parent support workshops, online publications about dyslexia and assistive technology, links to local, national and international special needs organizations, and information about assistive technology tools.

Services and Resources for Special Education Students and Parents in Santa Ana

The Center for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders is based in Santa Ana. The center offers evaluation and treatment services and online resources for parents, which include recommended book listings and links to online articles. It also has a monthly family support group and advocacy services.

Easter Seals Southern California in Santa Ana offers behavior analysis and therapeutic services for autistic children. These services include speech, language and physical therapy.

The Greater Orange County C.H.A.D.D. (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) holds monthly support meetings in Santa Ana as well as in nearby Irvine and Orange. These meetings provide information about AD/HD as well as networking opportunities for families.

Based just several miles outside of Santa Ana, in Irvine, the nonprofit Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) offers learning seminars and social events for autistic children and families. The organization’s website provides links to helpful articles about therapies, medical interventions, parent support, parents’ rights and more. Books, DVDs and CDs on autism are available to members through TACA’s resource library.

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KiDA (Kids Institute for Development and Advancement) is also based in Irvine and serves Orange County. It is the largest Center for Autism in the county and offers clinical and educational services. 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.

For legal support and advice, Santa Ana residents can turn to California Special Needs Law Group (CSNLG), which serves clients throughout the state. CSNLG can assist parents with Individual Education Plan (IEP) development and help to mediate disputes between special education parents and school systems.