MULTIPLE COUNTIES
Autism LifeSpan Center; Chico. Serving 9 Northern California counties. Supports individuals with developmental disabilities & their families. The resource office includes a lending library with more than 500 books, videos, DVDs & curriculum materials spanning the autism spectrum. Provides families, individuals, educators, and other professionals with information and resources. Also offers trainings and monthly parent support group. autismlifespan.org. 2418 Cohasset Rd., Ste. 150. (530)897-0900.
Autism Speaks. An organization that helps families recognize early signs of autism and seek early intervention to improve learning, communication and social skills. autismspeaks.org. (888)288-4762.
Autism Support Network. A free online community that connects thousands of families to support each other. Strategies & guides for managing autism. Provides a search feature to find support near you. Search “Autism Support Network” on Facebook.
Braille & Talking Book Library; serving Northern California. A free service that loans braille & audiobooks & playback equipment by mail to eligible Northern California residents who are unable to read standard print materials due to blindness, low vision or physical disabilities. Library.ca.gov. btbl@library.ca.gov. (916)654-0640.
California Children’s Services. A state program for children with certain diseases or health problems. Through this program, children up to age 21 can get the health care and services they need. dhcs.ca.gov.
- Butte. (530)552-3891.
- Shasta. For Partnership Health Members with CCS, call (800)863-4155. Non- Partnership clients with last names starting with A-G and T-Z call (530)229-8436. Last names starting with H- S call (530)229- 8107.
- Siskiyou. (530)841-2132.
- Tehama. (530)527-6824.
California MENTOR. The Family Home Agency programs match adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who want to be part of the community with nurturing caregivers called Mentors. In a Mentor’s home, individuals can develop relationships that help them grow and receive support while gaining valuable life skills. Serves individuals referred by Far Northern Regional Center. To find out more about the services or how to become a Mentor, visit ca-mentor.com. (530)221-9911.
California State Department of Rehabilitation. Serving all upper CA counties. Helps individuals with physical, mental, emotional or learning disabilities go to work for the first time or return to work. Job training & placement, adaptive technology, vocational counseling, help with transportation & more. By application. dor.ca.gov.
- Butte Co; Chico. 1370 E. Lassen Ave. Suite 110. (530)895-5507.
- Shasta Co; Redding. 1900 Churn Creek Rd., Ste. 100. (530)224-4708.
- Siskiyou Co; Yreka. 500 N. Main St. (530)842-1662.
- Tehama Co; Red Bluff. 705 Pine St. (530)529-4270.
Camp Ronald McDonald; Susanville. Provides confidence building experiences for children who are at risk, disadvantaged and/or living with physical, developmental or emotional disabilities. Registration opens Jan 1. Financial aid available. Rmhcnc.org. jkahn@rmhcnc.org. (916)734-4230
Cerebral Palsy Guidance; Answers, support and assistance for parents of children with cerebral palsy. Information and resources for everything from financial assistance to medical equipment. Medical information on the site has been medically reviewed by board certified physicians. cerebralpalsyguidance.com.
Children’s Craniofacial Association. A national, 501(c)3 nonprofit organization which addresses the medical, financial, psychosocial, emotional, and educational concerns relating to craniofacial conditions. Annual family retreat and local meetups around the country. ccakids.org. (800)535-3643.
Disability Action Center of Northern California; Butte, Colusa, Glenn, Lassen, Modoc, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou & Tehama Counties. Serving the needs of people with disabilities since 1980. Advocacy, peer advising, information & referrals, housing strategies, assistive technology, durable medical equipment reuse program, volunteer opportunities, vision resources & traumatic brain injuries program. Offers voice options & senior communications program (social media), for all ages, families & individuals. actionctr.org.
- Chico. 1161 East Ave. (530)893-8527.
- Redding. 2453 Athens Ave. (530)242-8550.
Disability Rights of CA; Education and community outreach, self-advocacy help, legal advice or representation. disabilityrightsca.org.
Down Syndrome Diagnosis Network; DSDN supports parents who have recently received a diagnosis for their child or unborn baby and connects them to other families. Resources, education, and support for parents and caregivers of a loved one with Down syndrome. (612)460-0765. dsdiagnosisnetwork.org.
Down Syndrome Information Alliance (DSIA); Serving Sacramento, Yolo, Placer, El Dorado, Nevada, Yuba, Shasta, Solano and Sutter counties. Support, referrals and resources to empower individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and the community. downsyndromeinfo.org. (916)658-1686. info@downsyndromeinfo.org.
Extended School Year (ESY). Special education and related services provided to a student with a disability beyond the regular school year in accordance with their IEP. The need for ESY services must be determined annually on an individual basis by the Individual Education Program (IEP) team. Contact your school for more information and availability.
Far Northern Regional Center. In upper CA counties, serving individuals with developmental disabilities & their families. Services and support to allow a person with developmental disabilities to live a meaningful and productive life. Referrals to services & support for infants to adults. farnorthernrc.org.
- Chico. 1377 East Lassen Ave. (530)895-8633.
- Redding. 1900 Churn Creek Rd., Ste. 319. (530)222-4791.
- Mt. Shasta. 421 Chestnut St. (530)222-4791.
- Lake Almanor. 401 Peninsula Dr., Ste. 2. (530)257-5516.
All mail must be directed to P.O. Box 492418, Redding, CA 96049.
Head Start/Early Head Start. Support for children ages 5 & under with special needs & their parents. To find a program in your area, use the Head Start Locator online or call a local office in your county. eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov. (866)763-6481.
Homeschool Association of California (HSC) Special Needs Homeschooling Information. Volunteer contact person for general information about homeschooling kids with special needs. hsc.org. (888)472-4440.
In-Home Support Services. California will pay parents of minor children as providers. To qualify, a child must have an undeniable level of need & documentation from a physician or regional center. In a 2-parent household, 1 parent must be working or enrolled full time in an educational program for the other parent to be paid as a provider. The provider parent must prove inability to maintain employment due to the needs of the child. cdss.ca.gov/In-Home-Supportive-Services.
Medi-Cal & Medicaid Waivers. Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, offers waivers to specific groups of individuals based on specific geographic areas of the state & provides medical coverage to individuals who may not otherwise be eligible under Medicaid rules. search “Medi-Cal Waivers“ on dhcs.ca.gov.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI); NAMI is the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. nami.org/home. (703)524-7600. Local chapters: Butte (530)894-8551, Shasta: (530)691-4450.
National Association for Down Syndrome (NADS). The oldest Down syndrome advocacy organization in the country. Helps people with Down syndrome reach their full potential. Offers prenatal information for parents expecting a child with Down syndrome. nads.org.
National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD); A database and resource center for people who are living with or have loved ones with a rare disease. rarediseases.org. (800)999-6673.
Northern California Center on Deafness; North Highland. Serves clients in Shasta, Butte, Siskiyoum Glenn and Tehama counties by providing communication services; counseling; advocacy, services; independent living skills instruction; job development and placement; information and referral; and community education. norcalcenter.org. (916)349-7500.
Parent Infant Programs; Redding. Serving most upper CA counties. In-home program for children ages 0-5 with developmental needs. Curriculum focuses on maximizing the development of the individual child, strengthening the parent-child relationship & helping parents develop strong advocacy skills. parentinfantprograms.com.
- Redding. 2628 Victor Ave., Ste. B. (530)247-1375.
- Chico. 2550 Floral Ave. (530)343-8106.
Rowell Family Empowerment of Northern CA; Siskiyou, Trinity, Shasta, Tehama, Butte & Glenn County. Parent-founded, parent-operated, nonprofit organization that offers free services to families of children ages 3-22 with special needs. Programs and trainings are supported through grants, contracts, donations & fundraising activities. rfenc.org. (530)226-5129.
SLATE. The hallmark of SLATE (Successful Living with Autism through Training & Education) is Get SET (Social Emotional Training). SLATE’s summer program provides an environment for children & young adults to learn & grow side by side with typical children. rfenc.org/s-l-a-t-e. (530)226-5129.
State Council on Developmental Disabilities: Established by state and federal law as an independent state agency to ensure that people with developmental disabilities and their families receive the services and supports they need. The North State Office covers Butte, Glenn, Plumas, Tehama, Lassen, Shasta, Trinity, Modoc and Siskiyou Counties. scdd.ca.gov. (530) 895-4027.
The Autism Society. The nation’s leading grassroots autism organization, increasing public awareness, advocating for appropriate services & providing the latest treatment information. Also hosts a national autism conference. autism-society.org. (800)328-8476.
Wings of Eagles. The Joseph Alvarez Organization for Seriously Ill Children is dedicated to helping & financially assisting families with seriously ill children in Butte, Glenn, Colusa, Tehama, Sutter, & Yuba Counties. “Wings of Eagles” was founded in memory of Joseph Alvarez in June of 1993, who died of a very rare and terminal form of leukemia a month before his tenth birthday. “Wings of Eagles” celebrated 30 years of service to the community in 2022. “Wings” has helped hundreds of families that have seriously ill children over the years with their out-of-pocket expenses, including gas, food, & lodging. wingsofeagles.org. (530)893-9231 or (530)570-5985.
Wondermoms. A project by three moms to share real talk, helpful information, and practical advice with parents of kids who have special needs. Includes a blog, resources, and many helpful tips and advice for navigating parenting children with special needs. wondermoms.org.
Yes She Can, Inc. Dedicated to helping young women with autism and related disabilities develop transferable job skills and workplace social skills through authentic work experience. Serves teen girls with autism spectrum disorders transition from high school to adulthood and young women. yeshsecaninc.org. (914)358-1460.
BUTTE COUNTY
ARC of Butte County; Chico. Serving Butte, Glenn & Tehama Counties, ARC assists people with developmental disabilities to choose & realize their goals. Family support groups in English & Spanish. arcbutte.org. 2030 Park Ave. (530)891-5865.
CSU, Chico Autism Clinic. Year-round program promotes the sensory, motor, communicative & cognitive skills of children with 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)898-4314 or (530)898-6324.
Chico Children’s Museum. With almost 7,000 square feet of exhibit space, the museum is focused on encouraging children and their caregivers to connect with imaginative play. Over the fall and winter, visitors will find an updated sensory room for a calming, therapeutic space for children; improvements to the camping room and a new play area. Walk-in admission Tu-Thu, 10am-1pm; Fri-Sun, 10am-4pm. Two-hour private group visits available Mondays. Special overnight trips and after-hours private events available by request. Birthday parties Sat & Sun, 10am-noon & 2-4pm by reservation. info@chicochildrensmuseum.org, chicochildrensmuseum.org. 325 Main St. (530)809-1492.
Chico Christian Preschool. An outreach ministry of Neighborhood Church of Chico. Ages 6wks-6yrs. Enrichment classes and inclusion program for children with special needs. chicochristianpreschool.org. Or contact tamarawanink@ncchico.org. 2801 Notre Dame Blvd. (530)879-8988.
Chico Down Syndrome Connection. Meets at the Arc Pavilion located at 2020 Park Avenue. 5:30-6:30pm is a time for dinner and socializing. 6:30-8pm respite childcare workers are provided by The Arc and the parents meet in a private room to welcome new families, offer support, and discuss wants and needs within the group, and any topics brought to the table relevant to Down syndrome. Search “Chico Down Syndrome Connection” on Facebook. chicodsc21@gmail. (530)413-8833.
Chico Speech and Language Center; Chico. Celebrating over 25 years of service for our local community and beyond. Specializing and providing services to all ages and communication disorders. Chicospeechandlanguagecenter.com. 2627 Forest Ave. (530) 894-0702.
Family First Solutions; Chico. Behavior services throughout the North State area. familyfirstsolution.com. 3435 Silverbell Rd. (530)487-7265.
Full Circle Speech Therapy; Chico. The North state’s leading pediatric clinic. Complete speech, language and swallowing evaluations and evidence-based treatments. Each client is treated individually with approaches specifically designed to reach optimal gains in speech, language, and/or swallowing/feeding deficits. Serves clients of all ages. Fullcirclespeechtherapy.com. 643 West East Avenue. (530)892-9127.
Little Red Hen Autism 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. Year-round programs include Lil’ Sprouts (ages 4-7), Buddin’ Sprouts (ages 8-12), and Growing Together Teens (ages 13-17) These programs target communication, play skills, group participation & positive peer interactions. Provides sensory exploration & behavioral support in a fun & engaging environment. autismlifespan.org. 2418 Cohasset Rd., Ste. 150. (530)897-0900.
Sibling Support Group; Chico. The sibling support group has been created to give siblings of disabled kids a chance to unite and build friendships over common struggles. This is a safe place to meet new friends and share experiences. All kids are welcome. Please contact carlyhines@arcbutte.org for more information on dates and locations. RSVP is a must before attending for snack and volunteer purposes.
Special Needs Carnival; Durham. For children and adults with intellectual and physical disabilities. A safe, accepting haven for those with special needs and their families. Carnival goers have access to a wide range of activities tailored specifically for individuals with disabilities, including face painting, a bounce house, adapted games and crafts, sensory activities, a cakewalk, superheroes, and other characters. Booths are wheelchair accessible. Carnival is designed to avoid loud noises and and sensory overload. Free of charge to special needs children and their families. Held twice a year in May and Oct. facebook.com/specialneedscarnival
The Lifespan Center Store; Chico. 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)897-0900.
Work Training Center; Chico. Formerly Do-It Leisure. Programs in Chico, Oroville & Paradise. Dedicated to meeting the training, vocational & recreational needs of people ages 18 & up with disabilities. Day programs (transportation assistance available), community employment services & more. wtcinc.org. (530)343-7994.
Glenn County
The Rusty Wagon; Orland. Provides adults with disabilities a place in our community to learn, work and thrive. Our training store features local foods, goods and unique artisan products as well as a shopping experience, with superb customer service provided by our associates. Stop by and let our associates tell you all about our products.” 420 Walker St. http://www.glenncoe.org/Departments/Glenn-Adult-Program/The-Rusty-Wagon (530) 988-9132.
SHASTA & TEHAMA COUNTIES
Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels; Redding. Organization is committed to aiding families who have children suffering with pediatric cancer or life-threatening illness by providing unique support including groceries, gas, bills and other support. aawoa.com. (530)378-2373.
Connections ABA; Redding. Provides behavioral services and early intervention for children 0–10 years of age with a diagnosis of ASD. 2526 Goodwater Avenue. (530)226-8255.
Mountain Valley Special Education JPA; Redding. A consortium of small school districts in Shasta County striving to provide a continuum of special education services by employing highly qualified professionals, sharing special education knowledge and expertise, and providing professional development. 10140 Old Oregon Trail. mvjpa.com. (530)547-3274.
NCCDI Tehama County Head Start; Red Bluff. Focused on the mission of enriching children’s lives, empowering families, and engaging the community. Early Head Start and Head Start services, and counseling for individuals and families of all ages. nccdi.com. 220 Sycamore St., Ste. 200. (530)529-1500 or (877)224-7772.
North Valley Services; Red Bluff. Programs & activities for persons with special needs ages 18 & older. Emphasizes independence and integration into the community. Functional, behavioral and employment skills development, transportation assistance, resource info, and more. northvalleyservices.org. 11799 Highway 99W. (530)527-0407.
Ridgeline Pediatric; Redding. Specialized pediatric day health and respite services. Two locations in Redding are staffed with pediatric RNs, LVNs, and personal care attendants. The pediatric unit serves children ages birth-22 and the Transitional Care Unit allows children to continue services with Ridgeline after 22 years as long as the program is the best fit for their needs. ridgelinepediatric.com. (530)605-4866 or (530)255-8582.
Rough Rider Roundup; Redding. An inclusive, family-friendly outdoor event for the special needs community of Shasta County and the surrounding area. Rough Rider Roundup incorporates horse- and ranch-themed events into adaptable and accessible activities for children and adults of all ages and abilities. Held Annually in October. Registration required. roughriderroundup.com. 21449 Roughout Road. (209)256-9640.
Sensory friendly films. Prime Cinemas; Red Bluff. 2nd Sat of the month at 10:30am. Year-round for families of individuals with disabilities. Lights will be dimmed, trailers limited and sound volume lowered. The films will also be open captioned. 400 S Main Street. Primeredbluff.com. (530)529-5491.
Sensory Hour at Turtle Bay; Redding. Sensory Hour is an event for children with autism spectrum disorders and/or sensory processing sensitivities and their families to experience the Museum at their own pace. Dimmed lighting, minimal sounds and a relaxed atmosphere. Free, but preregistration is required, and spots fill quickly. Check the website or call for information about upcoming dates. turtlebay.org/sensory-hour. 844 Sundial Bridge Drive. (530)242-3108.
Sensory Innovations; Redding. Provides sensory experiential learning, physical therapy and wellness that is accessible for people of all ages. This unique resource center was designed by a group of occupational therapists to promote client-directed health and wellness. Single visits rates and memberships available. sensoryinnovations.org. 20 Hilltop Drive, Suite A. (530)780-5559
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. Opportunities for education, parenting support, and resources to families in Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity counties. 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. Free for qualifying families. shastaheadstart.org. 375 Lake Blvd., Ste. 100. (530)241-1036.
Small Talk Pediatrics; Redding. Provides speech therapy services for children of all ages. Each therapist has a passion for speech therapy and understands the value of communication in each persons’ life. smalltalkpeds.com. 2526 Goodwater Avenue. (530)226-8255.
Special Needs Inclusion Parent Partnership; Redding. A parent support group that works with agencies within Northern California to provide equal information to all parents and caregivers. sites.google.com/view/north-state-snipp/home (530)215-9473.
SISKIYOU COUNTY
Alyssa Araiza Wings of Angels; Redding. Committed to aiding families who have children suffering with pediatric cancer or life-threatening illness by providing unique support including groceries, gas, bills and other support. aawoa.com. (530)378-2373.
Siskiyou Early Head Start; Yreka. Comprehensive child development services to low-income families in Siskiyou County. Parent involvement is a key part of the program. Choose the Early Head Start option from the programs and services drop down menu. 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. See them for wonderful quality outdoor benches and picnic tables, purchases which help to support their work. siskiyouoc.org. Mt. Shasta (530)926-4698. Yreka (530)842-4110.
