Conferences provide valuable opportunities for parents, educators, and providers in the disability community to share resources and support.

Disability Conferences for California Parents

Join Lisa Carey, non-attorney education advocate, as she share how to make sure your child's IEP is being implemented correctly (or at all).

How Do You Find Out Whether Your Child's Teacher is Implementing the IEP? Ask Open-Ended Questions

Don't miss this one vital question from Non-attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey! 


Is Your Child's Behavior Plan Working? Ask for the Data.

Lisa Carey, non-attorney education advocate, shares why she doesn't always recommend requesting specific assessments from your school.

Here's Why Parents Should Trust School Experts on Assessments

Lydia Sussman, retired Lead Teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, explains the role of itinerant teachers—especially for students who are Deaf or hard of hearing—and how they help bridge the gap between general education and specialized support. 


What is an Itinerant Teacher?

Dr. Janice Myck-Wayne shares what families can expect after a newborn doesn't pass their hearing screening. She walks through the next steps—from follow-up testing to preparing an IFSP plan—and explains how early support services can make a big difference in your child’s development.


What Happens When My Newborn Fails their Hearing Test

Lydia Sussman explains how an individualized family service plan (IFSP) are centered on exploration and flexibility — designed to meet the unique needs of both the child and their family.

Personalizing IFSP Plans for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

Dr. Janice Myck-Wayne explains the different placement options available for students with hearing loss and how families can work with their IEP (individualized education plan) teams to determine the best fit. From mainstream settings to specialized programs, she shares what to consider to make sure your child receives the support they need to thrive.

Determining Placement Options for Students with Hearing loss

Dr. Janice Myck-Wayne breaks down what an IFSP is, who qualifies, and how it helps families create personalized goals and services for their child—especially during those critical early years. Whether you're just starting the process or looking to better understand your rights, this is a must-watch for families navigating early intervention.

What is an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan)?

Retired Lead Teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, Lydia Sussman, shares how a sign language interpreter transformed one child’s classroom experience — when nothing else seemed to work.


How a Sign Language Interpreter Changed a Child's Classroom Experience

Lydia Sussman, retired lead teacher for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Infants, shares some helpful tips to help parents navigate the transition from an IFSP (Individualized Family Service Plan) to an IEP (Individualized Education Program). She highlights the importance of asking the right questions, visiting potential schools, and ensuring teachers have proper training to support your child’s needs.

Tips for Parents Moving from an IFSP to an IEP

Join Dr. Janice Myck-Wayne, professor of special education at California State University, as she discusses the importance of fostering language-rich environments to support the development of children with hearing loss. 

How Language-Rich Environments Help Kids with Hearing Loss

Special Education Services and Individualized Education Programs

Learn about special education services, everything you need to know about IEPs, and how to advocate for the services and supports your child needs.

Education and IEPs

Insurance Options for Parents of Kids with Disabilities

Whether you’re using private insurance or public benefits like Medi-Cal or a combination of the two, get tips on how to fund the supports and services your child needs.

Insurance

What to Do When Your Child Has Received a New Diagnosis

Has your child received a new diagnosis? Are you concerned about a developmental delay? Check out these resources to help you navigate medical services, funding, and more.

New Diagnosis

Public Benefits - Government Programs for Children with Disabilities

Depending on your income, your child’s age and diagnosis, and other factors, there are a variety of government programs available to you.

Public Benefits

Mental Health

Learn how to help your child manage stress, anxiety, and other mental health challenges with these resources from therapists and other experts.

Financially Supporting Your Child With Disabilities into Adulthood

Check out our resources to help plan your child's transition into adulthood and set them up for success.

Future and Financial Planning

Family Life - Advice for Parenting Children with Disabilities

Parenting a child with disabilities comes with unique joys and challenges. Learn how to meet your family's diverse needs and how to talk about disability together.

Family Life

Self-Care for Parents Raising Children With Disabilities

Raising a child with disabilities can place a lot of demands on parents. Check in with your own mental and physical health needs through these resources.

Self-Care for Parents

Use this step-by-step guidance to request network-level reimbursement when you see an out-of-network provider due to the fact that your Blue Shield CA health plan does not have an appropriate in-network provider.

File out-of-network claims

Review insurance coverage

Use Medi-Cal and private insurance together

Increase Blue Shield CA health plan reimbursement for out-of-network services

Learn how to obtain IHSS for your child, and apply for paramedical and protective supervision services. You'll also learn how to become a parent provider of IHSS for your child.

Submit In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) sick hours as a parent provider

Receive IHSS training in the Career Pathways program

Apply for IHSS, paramedical services, protective supervision, and parent provider after enrolling in Medi-Cal

The Notice of Action (NOA) you receive from IHSS will detail the hours your child has been approved for in each category. Use this step-by-step guide to understand your NOA document.

Appeal my In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) decision

Apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) paramedical services

Apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) protective supervision

Review my NOA from IHSS

If you’re not sure whether you want to enroll in the Self-Determination Program or keep using traditional Regional Center services, this guide will walk you through what you need to know.

Include Undivided membership in a Self-Determination Program plan

Find an Independent Facilitator

Create a person-centered plan (PCP) with my child

Enroll in the Self-Determination Program

Explore if the Self-Determination Program is right for my child.

Once your child turns 13, they may be eligible for more Regional Center specialized supervision hours than previously. Follow this guide to submit your request.

Find specialized childcare

Learn what public benefits are available in California

Update my child's Individualized Program Plan (IPP)

Request more specialized supervision hours at age 13.

Regional Center will only fund child care in certain circumstances, so follow this guide to understand the criteria and get expert tips for submitting your request.

Find a respite provider

Request specialized supervision/daycare from Regional Center

Regional Center

Regional Center Early Intervention (Ages 0–3)

Self-Determination Program

Medi-Cal

IHSS: In-Home Supportive Services

Other Public Funding Sources

IEP: Individualized Education Program

IEP Meeting Preparation

Preschool IEP

IEP Assessments

Strength-Based IEP Goals

Educational Accommodations, Modifications, and Curriculum

Educational Transitions

Learning At Home

Educational Placement

Educational Inclusion

Parenting

Camps and Travel

Supporting Therapies and Education at Home

Disability Culture and Advocacy

Private Insurance

Public Insurance Programs

Mental Health In Children with Disabilities

Therapies

Education-Based Therapies

Behavioral Intervention Therapies

Funding Sources For Therapies

AAC: Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Therapy at Home

504 Educational Plans

Medical

Therapies (Ages 0-3)

IEP-Related Services

After the IEP

How do you know what you don't know? Hear an education advocate's tips for seeing if your child's IEP supports and services are helping them at school.

How to Tell If Your Child’s IEP Is Working as It Should

How is Congress posing to cut Medicaid, and how can we advocate to protect federal Medicaid funding? Learn from the executive director of the SCDD.

Understanding Proposed Cuts to Medicaid and How You Can Make a Difference

How does private insurance work with public benefits like Medi-Cal, Regional Center, and California Children’s Services? Learn how to use all of the resources your child is eligible for.

Troubleshooting Common Issues with Public and Private Health Plans

The district does not have an obligation to write an IEP and provide what the child needs like it would at a public school.

Will the school district provide IEP services for my child in private school?

The school might get the assessment done before the end of the school year. Then, the report can be presented to next year's teacher at the start of the new year.

Should I wait until the new school year to request assessments?

Regional Center clients who are receiving early intervention services under age 3 are not typically eligible for the Medi-Cal waiver, unless they are Status 2.

What is Regional Center Status 2?

If you have concerns that your child's IEP accommodations, services, or other supports aren't working as they're supposed to, what are your options?

What to Do When It’s Not Working: Troubleshooting IEP Supports, Services, and More

Non-attorney education advocate Mary Petiso breaks down when parents of children with low incidence disabilities should push for an IEP instead of a 504 Plan. Learn how to determine what your child truly needs and how to advocate for the right support in school.

IEP or 504? What to Choose for Students Low Incidence Disabilities

Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided's Public Benefits Specialist, shares key tips for accessing public benefits to support children with low incidence disabilities. Learn how to navigate programs like Medi-Cal, IHSS, and more to ensure your child gets the services they need.

Public Benefits Tips for Kids with Low Incidence Disabilities

The right assistive technology and apps can make a meaningful difference for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, and dyscalculia to work on reading, writing, and math.

Top Tech, Apps, and More for Specific Learning Disabilities

When a child is d/Deaf or hard of hearing, the right tools can make a big difference in how they access learning, participate in class, and connect with peers.