Palo Alto Unified School District

Community Advisory Committee 
for Special Education


News
Programs
Advocacy
Resources
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Resources

Camps

Special EDition - the newsletter of the Palo Alto CAC

Articles

"Full Inclusion":  Things To Think About
Vocational Education
Finding a Balance Between the Joy and the Sorrow:  Parenting Children with Special Needs, by Susan L. Markowitz, Ph.D.

Web Sites

SELPA 1 CAC - "SELPA" stands for Special Education Local Plan Area, as it is defined by the state Office of Education.  SELPA 1 includes all the public schools in the cities of Los Altos, Palo Alto, and Mountain View, and it also has a CAC that is independent from Palo Alto's.  Check their web site for a schedule of programs and a very handy guide, What Every Parent Should Know About Special Education.

Parents Helping Parents

Cure Autism Now

Special Needs Project

Books

Dealing With Anger
The Explosive Child by Ross Greene

For younger kids:
Don't Rant and Rave on Wednesday by Adolph Moser
The Mad Family Gets Their Mads Out by Lynne Nanka

For the 7-10 year old:
Andrew's Angry Words by Dorothea Lachner

For 8-11 year olds:
A Volcano in My Tummy by Warwick Pudney - This is a workbook that kids can
work in with exercises designed to identify feelings.

Videos

The CAC has a library of videotapes available to loan.  To borrow one of these tapes, call Tina Underwood, 650-493-5442.

“How Difficult Can This Be?” – This informative and entertaining videotape can help parents and educators understand learning disabilities. It allows the viewer to look at the world through the eyes of a learning disabled child. It features a unique workshop where attendees participate in a series of classroom activities that recreate the experiences of students with a variety of learning disabilities. The workshop is lead by Richard Lavoie, a nationally known speaker who has served as a teacher and administrator for special needs programs since 1972.

“Last One Picked…First One Picked On” – Playing with friends is a daily ritual for most children. But kids with learning disabilities are often isolated and rejected. This videotape addresses the social problems these children face – and offers some practical solutions for parents. Richard Lovoie explains why that happens – and what parents can do to help children improve their social skills.

“When the Chips Are Down” – Host Richard Lavoie offers practical advice on dealing with behavioral problems quickly and effectively. He shows how preventive discipline can anticipate many problems before they start. And he explains how teachers and parents can create a stable, predictable environment in which children with learning disabilities can flourish.

“Good Intentions, Mistaken Assumptions” – This is a video presentation in which adults with various disabilities reflect on their experiences in elementary and secondary school. It is educational and inspirational to hear these individuals share their successes and their fears. It was filmed in Palo Alto and sponsored by the City of Palo Alto Task Force on Disability Awareness.

“Uncommon Sense for Parents with Teenagers” – Author Michael Riera helps parents understand and cope with issues of sex, alcohol, academics, eating disorders, drugs, parties, divorce and remarriage. His upbeat, unpatronizing approach sets his expertise apart, and promotes true communication between parents and their emerging adult-children. This tape was made of Dr. Riera’s presentation for a CAC program.

“Look What You’ve Done” – With 25 years of experience, Dr. Robert Brooks discusses methods for building everyday courage and uncovering “islands of competence” in children with learning disabilities so they can reinforce those strengths with new motivation and hope.

 

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