|
| |
Services
Adaptive Technology Center
| |
The Adaptive Technology Center provides assessments, consultation, and training in augmentative and alternative communication, customized computer systems, special needs software, environmental controls, and equipment adaptations for school, home, and job. The Center houses a large inventory of loanable equipment. In addition, volunteers and staff create, modify, and repair adaptive equipment in the Center's workshop.
The Center provides services to individuals with disabilities from birth to age 22 who are residents of Sonoma County. Center staff work collaboratively with parents, care-providers, educators, and other professionals who serve these individuals. Eligible students are those who require adaptive technology in order to access education and inclusion activities in home, school, and community settings. The Center also provides limited services to school age individuals with disabilities outside of Sonoma County on a contracted basis. Services are prioritized according to student program placement and individual need based on IEP requirements.
Contact: Ellen Zebrowski, (707) 829-9526, ezebrowski@sonomaselpa.org |
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)
| |
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) involves providing alternative means of solving problems that arise between families and schools. The ADR program involves everything from training parents and educators in effective communication and negotiation skills to conducting formal mediations known as Solutions Teams. We have had a very strong success rate of preventing conflicts from going to fair hearing at the state level. The intent of this program is to maintain positive relationships between the student's family and the school as well as to save money for both parties. More information about ADR is available in our program brochures:
Special Education Compliance Assistance provides conflict resolution related to special education compliance and placement issues for LEAs and other agencies:
- Problem-solving student-specific disputes between parents and districts, including suggestions and options to avoid state mediations, due process hearings, and/or compliance complaints (see ADR above).
- Technical assistance in state mediations, due process hearings, and compliance complaints.
Contact: Kelly Brooks, (707) 524-2785, kbrooks@sonomaselpa.org |
Autism Support
| |
Support is available for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) enrolled in public schools throughout Sonoma County. The Sonoma County SELPA supports these students, their families, and school staff through observation, consultation, educational and behavioral strategies, program planning, and workshops. Assistance in differential diagnosis may also be provided.
Contact:
Nikarre Redcoff, (707) 524-2760, nredcoff@sonomaselpa.org
Kathy Bregder, (707) 524-2761, kbregder@sonomaselpa.org |
BEST Schoolwide Positive Behavior Support
| |
Initial training and ongoing support for BEST (Building Effective Schools Together) is coordinated and provided by Sonoma County SELPA in conjunction with CalStat. This program is designed to help schools facilitate the academic achievement and healthy social development of students in a safe environment that is conducive to learning. Introductory trainings take place annually, with follow-up trainings occurring regularly to support ongoing site-level success.
Contact: Nikarre Redcoff, (707) 524-2760, nredcoff@sonomaselpa.org
|
Community Advisory Committee
| |
California law directs that every SELPA have a community advisory committee, or CAC. The Sonoma County CAC is a group of parents, educators, and administrators who advise the SELPA in the development, review, and implementation of the county's local plan for special education. The SELPA provides technical assistance, resources, and staff to support the activities of the Community Advisory Committee (CAC).
Contact: Catherine Conrado, Ed.D., (707) 524-2752, cconrado@sonomaselpa.org |
Early Start Infant Program
| |
The Early Start Infant Program is a free, federally funded program that provides assessment and intervention services to children from birth through two years of age with vision, hearing, or orthopedic impairments. SELPA's philosophy is to provide quality, comprehensive, family-centered services that address the unique circumstances of each baby's special needs. A complete assessment and intake by a multi-disciplinary team begins the process of determining eligibility for services. An individual family service plan team made up of the parents and multidisciplinary team members helps to determine eligibility and recommend services. Services provided to the baby and family may include: vision services, audiological services, assistive technology, occupational therapy, physical therapy, service coordination, special instruction, home visits and developmental programs, transportation, speech therapy, and respite.
Contact: Judy Adams, (707) 524-2763, jadams@sonomaselpa.org |
Fiscal Management: Special Education Funds
| |
The SELPA is responsible for the management, distribution and accounting of all special education funds which are allocated to Local Education Agencies within Sonoma County. The SELPA Director coordinates ongoing review of the SELPA's funding allocation plan.
Contact: Deborah Malone-Larson, (707) 524-2755, dmalone@sonomaselpa.org |
Full Inclusion Support
| |
Students who have severe disabilities may attend their neighborhood schools and receive special education services in their schools. The Sonoma County SELPA supports these students, their families, and school staff through workshops, consultation, and program planning.
Contact: Susan Mark-Raymond, (707) 524-2758, smark-raymond@sonomaselpa.org |
IDEA Implementation
| |
IDEA has made significant changes which impact the way that parents, teachers, and administrators go about the important work of ensuring quality education and early intervention for children with disabilities. The SELPA provides support to schools and parents to assist them in implementing these changes in the law.
Contact: Kelly Brooks, (707) 524-2764, kbrooks@sonomaselpa.org |
Interagency Consultation Committee (ICC)
| |
Students in Sonoma County SELPA who demonstrate a need for primarily behavioral or therapeutic programs have access to a variety of classes, programs, and services. These programs and services are operated by Sonoma County Mental Health (and its contracted agencies), the Sonoma County Office of Education's Alternative Education or Special Education departments, or non-public schools (NPS).
Since there are a number of independent departments and agencies involved in providing services to eligible special education students with emotional-therapeutic or behavioral needs, the SELPA maintains an interagency working committee to provide professional consultation and assistance to districts in identifying appropriate service options. The committee may also suggest and expedite referrals to outside agencies that provide services and support to students and their families (e.g., Case Management Council, Wraparound Services, etc.) or offer other suggestions for management in the home school.
The committee is available to assist districts in consultation or considering options for those difficult-to-serve special education students for which the district has exhausted ideas, interventions, and/or programs. The ICC should be consulted after the district has tried local site/district remedies and worked with its geographical Mental Health team. The ICC is the conduit for discussing options such as day treatment or classes with a counseling or strong behavioral component.
Contact: Kathy Bregder, (707) 524-2761, kbregder@sonomaselpa.org |
Interagency Special Education Coordination
| |
The SELPA coordinates the development and implementation of interagency agreements to ensure that services are provided to special education students by other agencies. Agreements are developed with Mental Health, California Children's Services (CCS), North Bay Regional Center, Head Start, and Migrant Education.
Contact: Catherine Conrado, Ed.D., (707) 524-2752, cconrado@sonomaselpa.org |
Literacy Training and Consultation
| |
Professional Development, Curriculum Development
Instructional strategies and other technical assistance to ensure that all students have access to effective reading programs.
Curriculum-Based Measurement/Progress Monitoring
Professional development and technical assistance with the assessment and monitoring of student progress in basic skills.
Effective Accommodations for Diverse Learners
Professional development, technical assistance, and curriculum support for teachers and parents to ensure that students with disabilities have effective accommodations for their learning needs.
Contact: Susan Mark-Raymond, (707) 524-2758, smark-raymond@sonomaselpa.org |
Low Incidence Equipment and Services
| |
California provides funds to purchase specialized books, materials, and equipment as required under the individualized education program for each student with low incidence disabilities. Low incidence disabilities are defined as hearing impairments, vision impairments, severe orthopedic impairments, or a combination of these impairments. The Low Incidence Equipment Review Committee is responsible for managing these funds and equipment.
Contact: Susan Mark-Raymond, (707) 524-2758, smark-raymond@sonomaselpa.org |
Management Information System (MIS): Special Education
| |
The SELPA provides hands-on training for the SELPA-wide pupil count. The SELPA also provides technical assistance and support for district coordinators of special education MIS functions.
Contact: Carol Thornton, (707) 522-3102, cthornton@sonomaselpa.org |
Medi-Cal Administrative Activities (MAA)
| |
MAA activities are necessary for the proper and efficient administration of the Medi-Cal program. The federal government, through the Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA), will reimburse local programs for a share of the cost of performing allowable activities. These activities include:
- Outreach, bringing potential eligibles into the Medi-Cal system and assisting Medi-Cal recipients to obtain Medi-Cal services.
- Facilitating Medi-Cal applications.
- Arranging and/or providing non-emergency, non-medical transportation of Medi-Cal recipients to Medi-Cal covered services.
- Contracting for the provision of Medi-Cal services.
- Program Planning and Policy Development related to the Medi-Cal program.
- MAA Coordination and Claims Administration.
More information about MAA
Contact: Greg Englar, (707) 524-2765, genglar@sonomaselpa.org |
Non-Public Schools (NPS) and Agencies (NPA)
| |
The NPS/NPA master contract, tuition, and service rates are approved annually by the SELPA Superintendents' Council. Once approved, Sonoma County LEAs may develop Individual Service Agreements (ISA). This arrangement guarantees reimbursement access to the SELPA NPS and NPA funding pool that helps offset district costs. LEAs are not required to develop their own master contracts, but must complete an ISA for each student placed at an approved NPS or referred for NPA services prior to student participation with that NPS/A. Required forms are available for download as Word templates.
2009-10 NPS/NPA Information and Forms
2010-11 NPS/NPA Information and Forms
Contact: Greg Englar, (707) 524-2765, genglar@sonomaselpa.org |
Positive Behavior Support Program (PBSP)
| |
The Sonoma County SELPA established the Positive Behavior Support Program (PBSP) to assist districts in developing effective long-range interventions for students with challenging behaviors. The PBSP utilizes behavior specialists at the local school level, who assist in the analysis of the behavior, environment, skills, and reinforcement to develop a plan that may help students be more successful in the least restrictive environment. The specialists also provide comprehensive staff development in response to the needs of the district staff.
Behavior Planning Forms
Contact: Greg Englar, (707) 524-2765, genglar@sonomaselpa.org |
Special Education Local Plan and Policies Development
| |
The SELPA coordinates the development and implementation of the Local Plan and all policies relating to the provision of special education services within Sonoma County. Activities also include the development of procedures, guidelines and required forms and documents.
Contact: Catherine Conrado, Ed.D., (707) 524-2752, cconrado@sonomaselpa.org |
Staff Development: Special Education
| |
Staff development for regular and special education teachers, administrators, parents, paraprofessionals, and support staff is provided in a number of areas. Check our workshop schedule, which is available on the Sonoma County Office of Education website, to see the professional development opportunities that are currently scheduled.
Contact: Catherine Conrado, Ed.D., (707) 524-2752, cconrado@sonomaselpa.org> |
Surrogate Parent Program
| |
Surrogate parents are appointed by the SELPA to provide educational representation for students in special education whose parents have had their legal rights to represent their children removed. Surrogate parents truly act as parents, attending IEPs and developing relationships with the children to whom they are assigned.
Contact: Judy Adams, (707) 524-2763, jadams@sonomaselpa.org |
|
|
    |
