San Benito County Office of Education
Krystal Lomanto, County Superintendent of Schools
Engage, Encourage, Empower, Educate!
Parent & Community Resources
Single Hero
- Procedural Safeguards
- Resolving Disputes
- SELPA Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
- San Andreas Regional Center (SARC)
- Local, State, and Federal Resources
Procedural Safeguards
Notice of Procedural Safeguards:
What is the Notice of Procedural Safeguards? This information provides you as parents, legal guardians, and surrogate parents of children with disabilities from three (3) years of age through twenty-one (21) and students who have reached age of eighteen (18), the age of majority, with an overview of your educational rights or procedural safeguards. The Notice of Procedural Safeguards is required under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and must be provided to you:
- When you ask for a copy
- The first time your child is referred for a special education assessment
- Each time you are given an assessment plan to evaluate your child
- Upon receipt of the first state or due process complaint in a school year, and
- When the decision is made to make a removal that constitutes a change of placement
(20 USC 1415[d]; 34 CFR 300.504; EC 56301[d][2], EC 56321, and 56341.1[g][1]
Notice of Procedural Safeguards (English) Aviso de Garantías Procesales (Español)
Resolving Disputes
Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) Process Options
When the parent expresses dissatisfaction with what the district proposes or is providing, the district provides an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Mediator who has been trained by the SELPA. Once contacted, the ADR Mediator calls both parties to determine what the issues are. Both the district and the parents will have the opportunity to describe the situation from their point of view, and then the ADR Mediator may suggest that one of the options listed below be tried:
- Phone Mediation - Phone mediation is the first level of response that ADR can employ. Following the identification of the parties' issues and interests, the ADR Mediator will coordinate communication between the parties and facilitate resolution over the telephone.
- Facilitated IEP/IFSP - The ADR Mediator works with disputing parties to structure the IEP/IFSP and facilitates the meeting. Parents or school staff may request that an ADR Mediator facilitate an IEP/IFSP meeting if a meeting is expected to be difficult. The ADR Mediator uses specific techniques designed to assist the parties in completing the IEP/IFSP while maintaining good relationships.
- Conference-style Mediation - The ADR Mediator organizes, facilitates, and conducts a meeting to resolve the differences between the parent(s) and the school district. During this process, each party has a chance to state his/her position, share concerns, and listen to the other party's position. The ADR Mediator assists the parties in reaching a mutually agreed upon resolution.
If a District Level Informal ADR is not Successful
If the issue or issues are not resolved at the District ADR Informal Level, then the next step for resolution would involve the filing of an official complaint or request for a Mediation and Due Process Hearing. These processes revolve around the specific issue: either a perceived failure to implement a law (Complaint) or a disagreement between the parents and the education agency regarding assessment, identification, or placement of a child (Request for Mediation and Due Process). While a complaint is filed and then investigated, a request for Mediation and Due Process Hearing involves another more formal resolution process, which will involve a SELPA level Mediator. See below for procedures depending on the type of issue.
Filing of a Complaint - A complaint alleges that there has been a failure to implement a federal or state special education law or regulation by a public education agency. Public education agency means a district, special education local plan area (SELPA), county office, or any public agency providing special education or related services to students. The complaint process is available for any child who has been referred, assessed, or identified for special education services.
Persons Who May File a Complaint - Anyone who believes that there has been a violation of special education law or regulations may file a complaint. This includes parents, school staff, organizations, and other interested parties.
Required Information in the Complaint - The complaint should describe the problem and include all the information needed to support the allegation or complaint.
SELPA Community Advisory Committee (CAC)
The Community Advisory Committee (CAC) membership includes: special education parents, regular education parents, special education teachers, support staff and administrators. The role of the CAC in the development of the Local Plan is to provide input, provide a form for members of the public, including parents or guardians of individuals with exceptional needs who are receiving services under the plan to address questions or concerns, review drafts, make recommendations to the Special Education Committee (SEC), and review the final plan before submission.
San Andreas Regional Center (SARC)
San Andreas Regional Center is a community-based, private nonprofit corporation funded by the State of California to serve people with developmental disabilities as required by the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Act. The Lanterman Act is part of California law that sets out the rights and responsibilities of persons with developmental disabilities. San Andreas is one of 21 regional centers throughout California serving individuals and their families who reside within Monterey, San Benito, Santa Clara, and Santa Cruz regions.
Local, State, and Federal Resources
The California Autism Professional Training and Information Network (CAPTAIN) is a cross-agency network developed to support the understanding and use of evidence based practices (EBPs) for individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders (ADR) across the state of California.
Autism Distance Education Parent Training (ADEPT) Interactive Learning is an original MIND Institute/CEDD 10-lesson interactive, self-paced, online learning module providing parents with tools and training to more effectively teach their child with autism and other related neurodevelopmental disorders functional skills using applied behavior analysis (ABA) techniques.
Hope Services is Silicon Valley's leading provider of services to people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs. Hope Services currently serves approximately 3,700 people and their families in nine Bay Area Counties and provide a broad spectrum of services. Hope also operates a number of businesses to raise funds and provide employment for people with developmental disabilities, including a recycle/reuse business for clothing and household goods, auto donation, Hope Thrift stores, and staffing solutions for businesses.
Social Vocational Services (SVS) offers a comprehensive array of services for individuals with a broad range of needs and interests who happen to have intellectual or development disabilities. Services offered included a variety of Community Inclusion, Career Exploration, Employment, Independent/Support Living Services, and more.
Autism Speaks is dedicated to creating an inclusive world for all individuals with autism throughout their lifespan. They do this through advocacy, services, supports, research and innovation, and advances in care for autistic individuals and their families.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 17.9% of people with a disability are employed. To help level the playing field, Resume Builder, has created a comprehensive step-by-step guide that can help people with disabilities create an impactful resume that can highlight their skills and value to potential employers. This guide includes important insight such as laws that protect their rights, workplace discrimination, and harassment to ensure they receive a fair chance at achieving their career goal.
The Dealhack PWD Discounts Guide is the ultimate savings guide for persons with physical, intellectual, and sensory disabilities. Every three months, they update their lists to include the newest offers to help you save on your purchases. Their list currently consists of more than 80 stores and services divided into 19 categories.
Dealhack - Disability Discount Guide
The Diagnostic Center, Northern California (DCN) services are provided by expert, transdisciplinary teams of diagnostic professionals, including educational specialists, speech/language specialists, school psychologists, clinical psychologists, and a pediatrician who address the unique educational needs of Northern California's students with complex learning and behavioral challenges enrolled in special education programs. The DCN operates from a "whole child" perspective focusing on the needs of the students we serve. The DCN is one of three regional assessment centers operated by the State Special Schools and Services Division of the California Department of Education. The Centers provide assessment, training, and technical assistance to all Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) in California. The DCN offers highly specialized services in the following areas:
- Comprehensive, state-of-the-art assessment and educational planning services to assist local school districts in determining the needs of their most complex students;
- On-site technical assistance and consultation in program and instructional design based on the unique needs of each student;
- Professional development opportunities for teachers, administrators and special education staff, including presentations at national, statewide, and local conferences and workshops, provided by specialists with "hands-on" experience;
- Family education opportunities, including consultation, referral, and resource information.
There is no cost for their services; however, requests for assessment services must be generated by the local school district.
Diagnostic Center Northern California
The AFIRM Modules are designed to help an individual learn the step-by-step process of planning for, using, and monitoring a specific evidence based practice (EBP) with learners on the autism spectrum who range in age from birth to 22 years of age. Each module provides information about a specific EBP and the steps necessary to implement the strategy with fidelity. Supplemental materials and handouts are available for download on the website.
To learn more about the updated EBPs, check out the National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice website.
Autism Focused Intervention Resources & Modules National Clearinghouse on Autism Evidence and Practice
Learn the Signs. Act Early.
From birth to 5 years, your child should reach milestones in how they play, learn, speak, act and moves. Track your child's development and act early if you have a concern.
A digital collaborative to support educators in the implementation of EBP's for learners with Autism in the context of the home environment. Please click the link below to watch the recorded session, including training and material for parent-implemented intervention.
ECHO Autism Special Edition: Partnering with Families
The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE) creates products and delivers services that are high quality, relevant, and useful to the field of dispute resolution in special education and early intervention.
The Center on Secondary Education for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (CSESA) has conducted a series of research activities including focus groups, small pilot studies, and a large scale randomized control trial to develop, refine, and evaluate a comprehensive intervention program for high schools serving individuals on the autism spectrum. Learn more about our research through a review of our presentations and publications.
The California Department of Developmental Services (DDS) works to ensure Californians with developmental disabilities have the opportunity to make choices and lead independent, productive lives as members of their communities in the least restrictive setting possible.
Department of Developmental Services
The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) works in a partnership with consumers and other stakeholders to provide services and advocacy resulting in employment, independent living, and equality for individuals with disabilities.
At Early State Family Resource Centers across California, parents and caregivers can get connected to one-on-one assistance, coaching, mentoring, and other early start services so they can make sure their child has what they need to grow and thrive. The Family Resource Centers Network of California (FRCNCA) is the coalition that ensures staff at Early Start Family Resource Centers statewide are given opportunities to access cutting-edge professional development and enhanced connections with professionals in the field. These opportunities help Early Start Family Resource Center staff continue to provide high-quality assistance to parents and caregivers across the state.
Family Resource Centers Network of CA
The State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD) is 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.
Consumers know best what supports and services they need to live independently and to actively participate in their communities. Through advocacy, capacity building, and system change, SCDD works to achieve a consumer and family-based system of individualized services, supports, and other assistance.
State Council on Developmental Disabilities
Parents Helping Parents (PHP) supports, educates, and inspires families and the community to build bright futures for youth and adults with special needs.
Families confront enormous challenges in raising a child with special needs.
In 1985 a group of Santa Cruz County parents of children with special needs began meeting together for support. Through the years, parents have continued to maintain the organization that , in 1996, became known as SPIN (Special Parents Information Network). SPIN continues to support and provide information about resources to strengthen families.