Page 89 - North State Parent Family Resource Guide Fall/Winter 20/21

NORTH STATE PARENT FAMILY RESOURCE GUIDE FALL/WINTER 2020/2021 SPECIAL NEEDS
developmental disorders. Allows children to experience the sensory & motor input they are seeking in order to balance their nervous systems so they may focus on learning other skills. Sliding scale available. Search “autism clinic” at csuchico.edu. (530) 898-6373 or (530) 898-6324.
Do-It Leisure; Chico. Recreation & empow- erment agency for individuals ages 18 & up with developmental disabilities. Individual- ized programs & sports programs for all skill levels. Summer camps, independent living skills program, group socializing & recreation program (by referral). wtcinc.org/programs/ do-it-leisure. 2233 Fair St. (530) 343-6055. Family First Solutions; Chico. Provides behavior services (ABA) throughout the Northstate area., 55 Declaration Drive, Suite B. (530) 487-7265.
Innovative Preschool, Inc.; Chico. An integrated preschool program serving typically developing children & children with special needs. Unique structure emphasizes social-emotional learning through play. innovativepreschool.org. 1560 Manzanita Ave. (530) 343-2028.
Integrative Therapy; Chico. Sensory mo- tion-based occupational therapy & massage for children & infants with special needs, including sensory processing & motor delays. Also offers trainings for parents with children with sensory processing issues & classes on infant massage for special needs children. 2627 Forest Ave. (530) 879-9030.
Little Red Hen LifeSpan Center; Chico. Nonprofit organization offers year-round socialization training programs for children, teens & young adults with autism spectrum disorder. Unique programs teach children skills needed to successfully integrate into the community. Targets communication, play skills, group participation & positive peer interactions. Provides sensory exploration & behavioral support in a fun & engaging envi- ronment. autismlifespan.org. 2418 Cohasset Rd., Ste. 150. (530) 897-0300.
Not Your Garden Variety Theatre Com- pany; Chico. Geared for children & teens with autism, running as a 6-week summer program, helping ages 4-17 learn new ways to express & interpret emotions, build friend- ships & strengthen group participation skills. Run by Little Red Hen. autismlifespan.org. (530) 897-0300.
The Lifespan Center Store; Chico. Features items & toys that assist in developing pretend play skills, social & language skills, sensory & fine motor skills for children ages 4-12. Also offers awareness merchandise. Open during Little Red Hen’s Children’s Programs & Autism Lifespan’s office hrs. autismlifespan.org. 2418 Cohasset Rd., Ste. 150. (530) 897-0300.
Work Training Center; Chico. Programs
in Chico, Oroville & Paradise. Dedicated to meeting the training, vocational & recreation- al needs of people ages 18 & up with disabili- ties. Day programs (transportation assistance available), community employment services & more. wtcinc.org. (530) 343-7994.
SHASTA & TEHAMA COUNTIES
Connections ABA. Redding. Provides behav- ioral services for children 0 - 10
years of age with a diagnosis of ASD and early intervention. 2526 Goodwater Avenue. (530) 226-8255. connectionsaba.net
NCCDI Tehama County Head Start; Red Bluff. nccdi.com. 220 Sycamore St.,
Ste. 200. (530) 529-1500 or (877) 224-7772.
North Valley Services; Red Bluff. Offers programs & activities that assist persons with special needs ages 18 & up. Emphasizes inde- pendence and integration into the commu- nity. Functional, behavioral and employment skills development, transportation assistance, resource info and more. northvalleyservices. org. 11799 Highway 99W. (530) 527-0407. Shasta Head Start, Inc.; Redding. Shasta Head Start is dedicated to making a positive difference in the lives of young children, one family at a time. We provide opportunities for education, parenting support, and resources to families in Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties. Our highly qualified staff provide full-day and part-day classes, nutritious meals, safe and inclusive environments, parent education and support, and curricula supporting kindergarten readiness. Our program is zero cost for qualifying families. shastaheadstart.org. 375 Lake Blvd., Ste. 100. (530) 241-1036
Small Talk Pediatrics; Redding. Provides speech therapy services for children. 2526 Goodwater Avenue. (530) 226-8255. smalltalkpeds.com.
SISKIYOU COUNTY
Siskiyou Early Head Start; Yreka. Offers comprehensive child development services to low-income families living in Siskiyou County. Parent involvement is a key part of the program. siskiyoucoe.net. 1 Childs Way. (530) 842-8493.
Siskiyou Opportunity Center; Yreka
and Mt.Shasta. Organization that helps individuals with developmental disabilities ages 18+ find meaningful employment. siskiyouoc.org. Mt. Shasta (530) 926-4698. Yreka (530) 842-4110
EQUINE ASSISTED
LEARNING &
PSYCHOTHERAPY
Ananda Ranch. Provides girls & women a place to awaken their full potential. Founded by Tricia Weldon PHD, MA., EAP, EAL, CTS. Tricia holds Level II certification under the Equine Assisted Growth & Learning Associa- tion as an equine specialist & facilitator. She is also a Girls Circle certified facilitator & a trauma specialist/intervention & consultant. anandaranch.org. (530) 925-2567.
Grenada. 901 White Rock Rd.
Mt. Shasta. 1716 Pine Grove Dr. Handi-Riders. Butte County. (530) 533-5333. facebook.com/HandiRidersofNorthernCalifornia. Stable Hands; Yreka. Improves the physical, mental, emotional & social health of people living with disabilities through equine assist- ed activities & therapy. Ages 2 & up. Horses Helping Heroes veterans program (free). Scholarship program available. stablehands. org. (530) 842-3082.
Triple Creek Ranch; Shasta & Tehama County locations. Therapeutic horseback riding for individuals of all ages with physical, emotional & mental/learning disabilities. The unique relationship developed with a horse can lead to increased confidence, patience, self-esteem & more. Also offers youth horse- manship activities. tcri.org. triplecrkranch@ yahoo.com. (530) 527-9394.
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Could Your Child’s Reading Difficulty be Dyslexia?
BY SARAH LYONS
Children learn to read at their own pace, but if your child is struggling to make significant progress compared to their peers, it may be possible they have a reading disability called dyslexia. According to Mayo Clinic, “Dyslexia is a learning disorder that involves difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and learning how they relate to letters and words (decoding). Also called reading disability, dyslexia affects areas of the brain that process language.” (mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dyslexia/symptoms-causes/syc-20353552)
Symptoms of dyslexia
Some of the symptomes of dyslexia include:
• Speech delay, trouble learning words, problems forming words correctly, reversing
sounds or words that sound alike.
• Reading below the expected level for age, difficulty with spelling and difficulty
reading aloud.
• Trouble remembering sequences or identifying rhyming words, reversing letters or
numbers.
• Spendinganunusuallylongtimecompletingtasksthatinvolvereadingandwriting
or avoiding these activities.
Start early to help your child succeed
People who struggle with dyslexia have normal intelligence and can succeed in school and careers with proper tutoring and support. So how do you help your child succeed?
Early intervention has been proven to help kids struggling with dyslexia. As soon as you notice a problem, talk to your child’s doctor or teacher about testing, resources and support. There is no single test that can determine if your child has dyslexia, but a combination of questionnaires, medical history, psychological evaluations and academic testing can be very helpful. Early intervention and a good partnership between parents and teachers are crucial to helping kids feel confident and successful in school and future careers.
Ask for an IEP at school
Meet with your child’s teacher and ask for an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This could be the first important step in determining if your child has dyslexia and getting the help he needs to succeed.
California Dyslexia Guidelines, issued in 2017, ensure that school psychologists look for the possibility of dyslexia when assessing public school students for special education eligibility. The guidelines also help schools and school districts in identifying, assessing, planning, providing, evaluating, and improving educational services for students with dyslexia.
The California Dyslexia Initiative, which is included in the state’s 2020-2021 budget passed in late June, sets aside $4 million for screening, professional learning for teachers, research and a conference on dyslexia.
Although the amount is small compared to the overall education budget, it lays the groundwork for future investment and brings much-needed attention to the issue, advocates said.
“This is a very big deal. It’s fantastic news,” said Megan Potente, co-educator outreach manager for Decoding Dyslexia California, an advocacy group that lobbies for better dyslexia services in schools.”
Check in often with your child’s teacher and encourage them to reach out if the interventions put in place don’t seem to be helping your child make adequate progress.
Tutoring and good reading habits
Consider tutoring. Individual help from a tutor can be tailored to your child’s particular needs and learning style and can go a long way in helping a struggling reader.
Encourage reading. Read aloud to your child, model good reading habits and add reading to everyday activities such as cooking, games or instructions. Turn off electronics whenever possible and use the printed page.
Be Supportive
Encourage your child’s efforts and be supportive as they work through challenges. Talk about what they are struggling with and discuss ideas that will help solve problems they may be facing. Prioritize positive learning at home. Provide a clean, organized and quiet place to study and offer help as needed.
Join a support group or see a counselor. Having people around you that understand what you are going through while offering support can be a big help as you learn how to support your child.