The Inclusion Collaborative is an amazing local resource within the Santa Clara County Department of Education with lots of information for parents.
Included in their services are:
Inclusion Warm Line – (408) 453-6651- is a telephone/email service for families, teachers, and community agencies. They offer help on specific inclusion challenges.
- They have e-packets with internet links on specific topics, such as specific disabilities, behavior, friendships, adaptations, language, social stories, ability awareness, community inclusion, camps, and more. If they don’t have a packet on a topic in which the caller is interested, they will make one. The Warm Line is staffed by former teachers who also have children with special needs, so they understand both sides of the issue. Teachers can call or email any concerns they have and trouble shoot or bounce ideas that they have about how to make inclusion work better. They can help them make visuals such as social stories and schedules. If teachers or parents can email pictures of a specific child, they can design a story specifically for that child.
- Their pinterest page has some examples of supports that are available for inclusion.
- Triple P parenting classes—is a highly organized parenting program that offers parents options for dealing with challenging behavior. They can do these at the SCCOE or over the phone. They can last 4-9 weeks depending on the child and parent. Currently, these classes are free for parents.
- Free Ages and Stages Screenings for children 0-5 and support and referrals for those children who may show a developmental delay.
- Help with referrals to school districts, the Early Start Program or inclusive preschools.
Professional Development—They offer a variety of trainings for parents and teachers. They have done some of our trainings on the calm down kit, sensory, and social stories for SELPAs and CACs.
Inclusion Collaborative State Conference—our annual conference addresses the inclusion of children birth to 12th grade.
Their youtube channel has archives of many of their previous conference sessions and other webinars.