Local and Online Resources

Local Organizations Offering Family Support 

AbilityPath:  provides a lifespan of support services to individuals with special needs and developmental disabilities in the greater Bay Area. Their mission is to empower people with special needs to achieve their full potential through innovative, inclusive programs and community partnerships.  Their Family Resource Center (FRC), located in Burlingame, offers individualized referrals, support groups, lending library, and monthly online Autism Parent Support Group.  (650) 259-0189

Center for Children and Youth, (fka Parents Place), a division of Jewish Family and Children's Services, is located in San Mateo (additional sites in San Francisco, Marin and Palo Alto).  They offer parent coaching and workshops, social skills groups, drop-in play, advocacy and support groups, assessments, and intervention services.  Learn more on their services page, workshops page, or 1-888-927-0839.

Child Mind Institute is dedicated to transforming the lives of children and families struggling with mental health and learning disorders by giving them the help they need to thrive.  Browse their family resource center by topic for a wealth of free articles and parenting guides written by scientific experts.  Located in San Mateo.

Children's Health Council (CHC), located in Palo Alto, provides comprehensive and integrated services for learning differences and mental health.  Explore their resource library and events page for expert blogs, articles, and upcoming and archived webinars.

Parents Helping Parents (PHP), located in San Jose, offers consultations to identify resources and services to address your needs; IEP training and guidance; parent mentor program and education workshops; support groups and speaker series (conducted in English, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese); specialized book and video library with over 6,000 items; online resources and events guide; demonstration center for Assistive Technology (low and high-tech equipment, including the iPad); and a staff fluent in English, Spanish, Arabic, Cantonese, Japanese, ASL, Vietnamese, Hindi and Gujurati. Parent Information & Training Center for San Mateo County; assistance also available over the phone or by email. (408) 727-5775

Stanford Autism Parent Education and Support Program, offers monthly support groups for parents of children on the autism spectrum, a half-day annual conference, and the Early Start Program for Autism in conjunction with CHC

Support for Families, located in San Francisco, since 1982 has offered information, education, and parent-to-parent support free of charge to families of children with any kind of disability or special healthcare need.  Browse their free online resource library and check out their various support groups and peer groups.  With expertise on supporting families who are non-native English speakers, they offer most resources translated into Spanish, Mandarin, and Cantonese also, and have staff fluent in those languages.  Their information packets available in other languages can be especially helpful when trying to describe your child's diagnosis to a non-native English speaking grandparent or caregiver.  (415) 920-5040


Recreation

Hillsborough Recreation provides our community with sports and enrichment classes for both adults and children, including those with special needs.  See hillsboroughrecreation.com or contact Tony Giacomazzi at (650) 342-5439 / tgiacomazzi@hcsd.k8.org for more information. 

Hillsborough Little League offers a Challenger Division through the Recreation department. Email challenger@hllbaseball.org for more information.

Hillsborough AYSO also has a soccer team for children with learning differences; contact hillsboroughayso@gmail.com for more information.


Town Support

The Hillsborough Police Department (HPD) highly encourages families with special needs children to participate in their registry, the Special Needs Awareness Program.  The program is designed to increase the safety and security of our community members providing vital information to the Hillsborough First Responders.  If they are ever called to your house, this information will help first responders arrive at the scene knowing how to approach your child and interact with your child in ways to minimize your child's anxiety and distress, and increase successful communication. The information provided will be held in strict confidence and will be used solely by the Hillsborough Police and Fire Departments. Participation in the registry is completely voluntary and free, but has proven extremely helpful to assist first responders in helping families in emergency situations. Submit information and pictures of your child, including how your child communicates, his or her level of safety awareness, tips on communicating with them or calming strategies, likely reaction to law enforcement, etc.  Please email the completed registry form along with a recent photo of your child to Officer Karena Shum, School Resource Officer of HPD.


Special Education Info, Laws and Rights 

California Common Core Standards:  These are the content standards adopted by the California State Board of Education. Content standards define the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level.

CDC’s Developmental Milestones:  Learn the Signs.  Act Early.  Get complete listings/checklists of all developmental milestones (2 months - 5 years) and download the CDC's free Milestone Tracker App.  Also find resources on what to do if you are Concerned About Your Child's Development.

DisabilityRightsCA.orgThis site includes a comprehensive resource, Special Education Rights and Responsibilities which answers questions about Special Education and 504 Plans and is updated regularly to represent both Federal and California education law.

San Mateo SELPA siteThe San Mateo County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) provides for all special education service needs of children residing within the region boundaries.  This site shows all the districts in our SELPA, governance, resources such as the alternative dispute resolution process.  It also has a handy Glossary of Special Education Terms and Acronyms.

Understood.org:  Understood's mission is to help those who learn and think differently discover their potentials, take control, find community, and stay on positive paths along each stage of life’s journey so that the 1 in 5 Americans who learn and think differently can be broadly embraced, and everyone — regardless of difference — will finally be Understood. 

WrightsLaw.comParents, educators, advocates, and attorneys can find reliable information about special education law and advocacy for children with disabilities.


Service Providers 

AbilityPath (formerly Gatepath and Abilities United), providing services throughout San Mateo County, has a GGRC-funded Early Intervention program, on-site therapy clinics, and an inclusive preschool (Learning Links). (650) 259-8500; www.AbilityPath.org 

California Children’s Services (CCS) is a state program that assists children with certain physical limitations and chronic health conditions and diseases. CCS can authorize and pay for specific medical services and equipment. CCS is not a health insurance plan, however, and will not cover all of a child’s health care needs, only those related to eligible conditions. Call (650) 573-2755 to see if your child is eligible or view qualifying conditions online: www.dhcs.ca.gov/services/ccs 

Golden Gate Regional Center (GGRC) is a state-funded program that supports individuals with developmental disabilities by providing diagnosis and coordination of services and supports. Visit www.dds.ca.gov/RC to see all services offered. To find out if your child is eligible, call for an intake interview. (650) 574-9232; www.ggrc.org 


Respite Care 

Respite occurs when your child with special needs is well-supervised while you take a break to be with your other children or to rejuvenate. If your child lives at home with you, you may qualify for reimbursement of respite care costs; ask your GGRC social worker. You can use your respite hours with a provider of your choice (including relatives) or ask your social worker about programs such as: