Resources for Children with Special Needs

I also have special needs child. My advise to you is to call the nearest Regional Center. In San Joaquin County we call Valley Mountain Regional Center. It is my understanding that every county in California has a Regional Center that is set up and Federally funded. Regional centers find (free of charge) services for the disabled. They will get you in contact with schools, medical specialist, care providers etc. Not only will they get you in contact with them. If you need assistance in paying any of these services they will help. Alot of services are available even if you make over $100,000 a year. Many more are available for those families who earn less than $50k a year. So, give them a call, they are wonderful!

I dont know of any doctors or resources for you but Discovery Toys are great toys especially for special needs children. All the toys are eductaional and there are alot to work with sensory needs, cause and effect, letter and number recognizing, and a whole lot more.
If you are interested I could send you a catalog.
Best wishes
C.

I'm not sure if you would be willing to travel to Fresno but I know Krazter/Graves does have a support group for children with special needs, you might want to try them. I prefer Dr. Mary Graves over Dr. Krazter, just personal opinion.

My son was also born with CDH. We go to a wonderful doctor who has had CDH babies before. Dr. Richard Loomis Sutter Pediactric in Auburn. I don't know where you are or if this helps. If you would like to chat more feel free to email me.

I have a special needs daughter that is yet to be diagnosed because she has yet to perfectlt fit a label. This means I recieve no services.....But thank god for Dr Fraley and Dr Vasquez at Fresno Childrens Medical Group. ###-###-#### Be weary of Madera Unified, they are slow and try to put your needs off. Be firm and be informed on all your rights. We moved to fresno into Central Unified because Madera was worthless for a high functioning child. Good luck!!!

I live in Madera, and you are right about the limited amount of good schools. I haven't dealt with any special needs kids, but I can give you some options for schools. The only schools I will send my children to are either Berenda, which is out in the country club area, Lincoln, which is a fairly new school located on Sunset about a mile past Granada, John Adams, I'm not sure of those streets, Howard Elementary, which is out in the country on Ave. 14, and that's about it. There might be a couple more, but I haven't heard anything about them. They have built a few new schools, but they aren't on a good side of town. Good luck.

I have a question? What is CDH? I know what CHD means cause my son has one. I am co-coordinator of Mended Little Hearts which is a support group in the central valley that helps and supports families whose children are afflicted with CHDs. I would try calling Exceptional Parents Unlimited in Fresno. In fact they have helped me by sending an advocate to my 504 meetings at my sons school. He is 10. They have lots of resources. Eventhough your daughter is too old for EPU, they will be more than willing to help you and I bet they will have names of pediatricians who treat children with special needs in the area. There is another place that EPU sends their children after the age of 5 but I cannot remember the name of it off hand but EPU would certainly know because they referred me over there. If you have any questions, please feel free to email.

I would call around and see if you can find a pediatrician that has other kids with the same problem or someone that is very familiar with it as they will be more equipped to help out.
As for schools, I would immediately contact the school district. Go around and visit every school with SDC classes.
You have the right to choose any school in that district.
My son was placed in the wrong class. So I met with one of the special ed people from the district and we went from school to school to school to find just the right class for my son. I was very happy with the school I picked.
Also find out the name of the Regional Center in that area so your daughter can get all the services she should be receiving from the state.
Good Luck! If you have any questions feel free so send me a private message.
E.