Parent Resources
We believe that you know your student best and that the resources that will be most helpful to you are the ones that you research yourself. Below is a list of resources that we hope will assist you on your journey of finding the best solutions for your student. Please note that we are always building this list and welcome your input on individuals and institutions where you have had positive results.
Current Families: LearnSpeed Student Calendar
Once your LearnSpeed account is set-up, parents can find their student’s calendars with the following steps:
Login to LearnSpeed at https://www.learnspeed.com/gd/account/login
Select “Students” tab
Select student name
Select “Calendar” tab
Special Needs Support, Information, Advocacy, and Technology
Parents Helping Parents – Parents Helping Parents (PHP) is a wonderful overall resource that supports, educates, and inspires families and the community to build bright futures for youth and adults with special needs.
The Parents Helping Parents iTech Center has the largest Assistive Technology (AT) demonstration and training center in the San Francisco Bay Area. AT Specialists provide parents, professionals, adults, and children with the opportunity to gain “hands-on” experience with instructional devices, software, and apps; discover tools that best suit your child’s needs!
AABA (Aspire Advocacy Bay Area) With years of direct, in the trenches experience, AABA staff are parents of children with multiple disabilities and understand intimately the confusion, stress, and frustration that comes from dealing with school districts.
Feerick Advocacy - Feerick Advocacy is focused on helping families navigate the special education, IEP, and Section 504 process. Additionally, they work to help families get the services they need while maintaining healthy relationships with their schools.
Tech Potential - Rachel M. “Shelley” Haven - Tech Potential provides technology assessments to ensure that individuals with physical, sensory, cognitive, and learning challenges can unlock their potential with technology.
Learning & Attention Issues
Understood.org – Understood is an awesome online source of resources, support, and community for people who learn and think differently, and one of the biggest names in the field. Their resources are so strong that we often walk through them together with parents to review proven and vetted information. Just a great resource.
Dyslexia and Dysgraphia Support, Information, and Testing
Yes, school districts can and should assess for dyslexia and use the term dyslexia in identifying the needs of a student. Decoding Dyslexia does a great job of addressing and explaining this issue.
Understood.org explains further explains the Dear Colleague letter on the use of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia in IDEA evaluations, eligibility determinations or IEP documents. If your student has one of these diagnoses, you should be aware of this letter.
Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association. They’ve been providing research-based information on dyslexia to our area and NorCal for more than 40 years.
Here is a breakdown they have of new and existing California legislation regarding dyslexia and its impact.
The Yale Center for Dyslexia and Creativity. A great source of cutting-edge research, informed advocacy and trustworthy resources to help those with dyslexia reach their full potential. A strong website.
Dyslexic Advantage – Promoting positive identity, community, and achievement among dyslexic people by focusing on their strengths
Dysgraphia Life - Provides information, education, beneficial products and services to those with learning disabilities and writing difficulties
Learning Ally – Audio books and parent support. A proven accommodation for kids with reading-based learning differences such as dyslexia.
Bookshare – Accessible online library for people with print disabilities. A great resource for finding audio textbooks.
Reading Rockets - An online resource for helping struggling readers
Turning Points - Assessment of Specific Learning Disorder with impairment in: reading/dyslexia, mathematics/dyscalculia, and written expression/dysgraphia; etc.
Excellent books for parents of students with dyslexia
Overcoming Dyslexia by Sally Shaywitz
The Dyslexic Advantage: Unlocking the Hidden Potential of the Dyslexic Brain by Brock L. Eide and Fernette F. Eide
Resources for dyslexia specific testing can be found at the Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association resource directory.
Crisis Management
The Bodin Group – Therapeutic consultants, experienced guides and advocates
Resources for Students with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder)
ESPA - Early Support Program for Autism - A joint program between Stanford Children’s Health and Children’s Health Council to provide supportive services at no cost to families of individuals with suspected or diagnosed autism. Services provided: sharing resources, helping families connect with providers, parent education, guidance in navigating the education and health care systems. Serves children through adults.
EvoLibri - Serving teens and adults with specific challenges - therapy, coaching, career/employment, independent living skills, classes & social groups.
ConnectEd - Ages 2-12 progressive steps to help children learn how to better function in, and navigate, their natural, dynamic environments
Social Thinking - Ages 4-7 help your young child develop foundational social competencies
Open Doors Therapy - Autism services for neurodiverse adults and teens
Thrive - Help children, teens and adults get unstuck from situations or behavioral patterns that are not working for them
Laughing Giraffe Therapy - Laughing Giraffe Therapy offers individual and group occupational therapy services for children and families with a wide range of diagnoses including, but not limited to, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Sensory Processing Disorder, ADD/ADHD and Learning Differences.
Technology Addiction Services
Nugent Family Counseling Center - Internet, Social Media, and Video game issues are common, and can negatively impact relationships, work, and your overall quality of life. At Nugent Family Counseling Center offer treatments to break internet addiction and improve mental health and well-being.
Therapeutic Resources
GOALS Therapy - With an evidence-based approach to therapeutic service, GOALS Therapy helps children and teens become all that they have the potential to be - happy and successful at home, at school, and beyond.
Teen Therapy Center - A private mental health clinic dedicated to providing help and support to teens and their families.
Other therapeutic resources and recommendations are available on request.
Neuropsychological and Educational Assessments for Children and Adults
You have a choice in who evaluates your child. You can request an evaluation through your school district or you can schedule a private evaluation. If you choose to have a private evaluation, here is a partial list of area professionals for your reference.
Cost and family match are important so we recommend that you call the offices that you are interested in, discuss the process and choose the clinician that best matches your needs. Find out more about evaluations from Understood.org.
N.E.A.T.
Janet Rulifson, M.A., M.S.
Jana Parker
Ordaz Psychological Health
Sarah Ordaz, Ph.D.
Westerfield Psychological Assessment
Mark Westerfield, Psy.D.
Morrissey-Compton Educational Center
The Center for Developing Minds
Turning Points Educational Solutions
Additional recommendations for clinicians can be provided upon request.
To request a school evaluation for your child, you have to follow a simple but formal process. You have to write a letter of request and give your consent for an evaluation. The process for getting a private evaluation is different from a free school evaluation. Find out more about requesting an evaluation (including sample letters) at Understood.org
LGBTQ+ Recommendations
It is important to us that all of our students are represented and receive quality and appropriate support. We encourage our students to converse with our staff about their needs or concerns. We hold all of our conversations with great personal care.
We can provide a broad variety of LGBTQ+ resources and organizations on request. If you have questions regarding LGBTQ+ services and resources, please do not hesitate to reach out with your question.
Standardized Testing
The College Board – Administers the PSAT, SAT, Subject Tests and AP Exams
ACT – Administers the ACT test
Common Core Accommodations - An article from Understood covering different accommodations for these tests. Most of your accommodations for other standardized tests should be valid.
College Counseling
Empowerly - Empowerly helps students navigate their admissions journey to top colleges with a 94% success rate.
OnTarget College Consulting – Jennifer Piercey - On Target is focused on finding the "right fit" school. They’re not interested in the ‘Top Ten or Nothing’ mentality. They believe in finding the right place for a student to grow.
Creative Kid College Coach – Harriet Katz - If your student is interested in the arts in any way, this is who you want to see. Nationally renowned - so demand is high - but they are the best at finding the right fit in the arts.
Achievement College Planning - Valori Stitt - From their website: “Best fit, best chance,. Achievement college planning. Helping students chart their unique story.”
Thrive College Counseling - Marci Schwartz - Thrive is fantastic at matching students with unique learning needs with the right college experience. They help families and students understand how to develop the skills necessary to successfully transition to a college experience.