Special Education Community Events and News

Special Education Community Event Calendar

Weekly on Thursdays 6:00-7:00pm: Beginner Level Virtual ASL Classes

SFUSD Family & Staff Virtual ASL Classes

For families and staff virtually on Zoom, every Thursday 6:00-7:00pm until May 30, 2024

(No class on April 11, 2024)

Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8999961619

Meeting ID: 899 996 1619

Monthly: FREE Support for Families Workshops & Clinics

Monthly on Thursday's: Individualized Education Program (IEP) Clinics

Presented by SFCD. Offered in English, Spanish and Cantonese. Learn about Special Education law, the IEP process, what to do when things aren’t working, and how to become a more active and effective team member.

To register, please call our Warmline at 415-920-5040, email info@supportforfamilies.org,
or click the registration link below.

Presented in Cantonese: 1st Thursdays; 6-7:00pm
Presented in English: 2nd Thursdays; 4-6:00pm
Presented in Spanish: 3rd Thursdays; 4-6:00pm

點擊這裡登記粵語IEP講座

Click here to register for the English IEP Clinic

Haga clic aquí para registrarse a la Clínica de IEP en español

Monthly: National Alliance Mental Illness SF - FREE Public Programming

Monthly Programs

Thursday, March 7 @ 6:00 - 7:00p | Wednesday, March 20 @ 12:00 - 1:00p: Volunteer Open House
Want to learn about ways to get involved and give back? Check out the Open House! Volunteers are at the heart of the NAMI SF mission and there are tons of ways to get involved. The Open House is a great space to meet staff and explore available positions. Monthly on the first Thursday and third Wednesday. Zoom

 

Thursday, March 14 @ 6:00 - 7:00p: In Our Own Voice (Featuring Male Voices!)

Signature NAMI program highlighting community member voices. Male-identifying volunteers will share about their experience living with mental health conditions, discussing in a candid manner when they first developed symptoms, how their symptoms evolved, the self-care practices they employ, and overall reflections on their journey. Male voices and experiences are less represented in mental health spaces - this program is an excellent opportunity to learn about diverse perspectives. For all community members! Monthly on the second ThursdayZoom

 

Sunday, March 17 @ 10:00 - 10:45a: Community Art Class

NAMI SF is hosting free monthly art classes on the third Sunday of every month! Creating art can help focus, reduce stress and anxiety, boost creativity and expression, and is a great way to engage in community. Open to folks of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Monthly on the third Sunday. Zoom

 

March Programs

Saturday, March 2 @ 11:00a - 1:00p: Youth Mental Health Peer Picnic

Are you passionate about mental health, either because you live with a mental health condition or have a loved one who does? Perhaps you're also looking for the opportunity to engage in community building. If any of this resonates with you, we extend a warm invitation to join us for a heartening and enriching experience at our upcoming Youth Peer Picnic. In Person
 

Saturday, March 9 @ 10:30a - 12:30p: Saturday Social @ Fort Mason

NAMI SF is hosting quarterly in-person events in 2024! Saturday Socials are a great opportunity to get some fresh air and socialize at a number of locations around San Francisco. In March, our team is hosting the first Saturday Social on the main lawn at Fort Mason, adjacent to the Marina neighborhood. There will be strolling, food, games, and opportunities to meet NAMI staff and board members. Join us next week! In Person.
 

星期四,3月28日 6:00 - 7:00p: 廣東話教育晚會 (粤语) 想了解⼼理健康基礎知識吗?想了解粵語 NAMI SF的 計劃以及有關於華⼈ 社區的本地資源吗? NAMI SF 華⼈社區聯絡員 Kelly Ma 將主持⼀個 簡短的演講,並討論圍繞⼼理健康的污名、⼈們如何患上⼼理健康 疾病,以及尋找在他們⾃⼰和其他⼈⾝上的警告信號。最後將有時 間進⾏問答——這是與Kelly聯繫並就華⼈社區的⼼理健康進⾏對話 的絕佳機會。這次還會邀請到兩位已完成家連家課程的學員分享他們的故事.該活動是以輕鬆對話的形式舉⾏ - 我們誠意邀請您加 ⼊!
 

Thursday, March 28 @ 6:00 - 7:00p: Cantonese Educational Evening (In Cantonese!) (Same as event list immediately above) Do you want to learn about the fundamentals of mental health? Do you want to know more about NAMI SF programs offered in Cantonese and local resources specific to the Chinese/Cantonese community? Kelly Ma, NAMI SF Community Cantonese Liaison, will lead a short presentation and discuss stigma, how people develop mental health conditions, and warning signs to look for. Also, trainees who have finished the NAMI SF Cantonese family to family program will share their unique stories. This program is conversational and casual. Zoom.


 

 

 

Winter 2024: Therapeutic Rec Programming

Registration Information

Everybody Plays Day! @ Eureka Valley Recreation Center

Saturday, January 20th- 10:00am-1:00pm, Ages 6-12

For children with Autism or other developmental disabilities, ages 6 -12. Everybody Plays Day is an opportunity for parents to drop off their children for a play day with our trained staff. Then, parents can go have a play day themselves! Sports skills, cooperative games, and more! You provide snack and lunch for your child and we provide the rest.

Teen Time! @ Eureka Valley Recreation Center

Saturday, January 27th- 10:00am-1:00pm, Ages 13-18

For teens with Autism or other developmental disabilities. We focus on social skills, life skills, cooperative games, community field trips and more! This is an opportunity for parents to drop off their teens for some Teen Time with our trained staff. Then, parents can go have some time for themselves! You provide snack and lunch for your teen and we provide the rest.

TR Afternoon Social Club @ Eureka Valley Recreation Center

Tuesdays, January 23th - February 20th, 3:00pm-5:30pm, Ages 14-22

For teens and transition-aged youth with Autism or other developmental disabilities, ages 14-22. Come join us for a 5-week pilot program! This is an opportunity for young adults to have time with peers- without parents! Designed for the young adult in mind, we focus on social skills, life skills, team building activities, and community field trips. We strive to develop social and life skills while fostering community integration and encouraging independence in a safe and nurturing environment. Due to the low staff ratio, participants should be independent with personal care and stay with the group with verbal prompting on field trips.

Access to Health and Fitness @ Mission Recreation Center

Wednesdays, January 10th - March 6th, 10:00am-11:30am, Ages 18+

Come get healthy and fit! This is a specialized Therapeutic Recreation Program, serving transition aged youth with disabilities. We strive to develop social and life skills while fostering community integration and encouraging independence in a safe and nurturing environment. We, will work directly with the ACCESS students, to help them develop healthy lifestyle and fitness skills. We recommend bringing comfortable clothes and shoes as well as water.

TR Family Days @ Location TBD

Saturdays to March 9th, 10:00am-1:00pm, All Ages

This program is for families and friends of our Therapeutic Recreation programs. Open to siblings, caregivers, and others, our TR Family Days program provides the opportunity for families of children with disabilities to connect with one another, create friendships, experience new recreation activities, and build community. Come join us for our family outings this season! Note: that at least one caregiver must accompany your child for this program. All family members attending must be registered and must plan to meet us at the designated location/outing.

 

Mon Mar 11 @ 7:00 - 8:30pm: DREDF - Special Education Conflict Resolution

Learn the benefits of dispute resolution, including IEP Resolution Sessions, mediation as well as how to file complaints when necessary.

Interpretation/Accommodations: If you need accommodations to participate in any of our training or presentations, please contact hmin@dredf.org or call 510 644-2555 as soon as possible. We generally need 10 days to arrange these, and we want to make sure you are included!

Note: We offer all our DREDF Special Education training in Spanish and post other training that may be of interest where we are participating but not hosting on our website as well. Visit DREDF's Special Education Trainings page for more information.

You must register in advance for this meeting, which can be done using this registration link.

Sun March 17 @ 10:30am-1:30pm: SF Ballet Dance Alongs

Dance-Along with us to  A Midsummer Night's Dream!

Tickets Here

San Francisco Ballet invites you to join our upcoming Dance-Along workshops. Our Family and Sensory Friendly Dance-Alongs are sure to delight all ages and abilities. 

 

Move to the choreography, discover the music, learn about costumes and pointe shoes, and enjoy hands-on arts and craft activities.

 

A quiet room and family restrooms will be available and accessible at all times. 


Who: The Dance-Alongs at 10:30 and 11:45 am are recommended for families with children ages 4–7. The Sensory Friendly Dance-Along at 1:30 pm is designed for neurodiverse individuals of all ages, plus their families and caretakers.

 

When: 

  • A Midsummer Night's Dream Dance-Along on Sunday, March 17, 2024

Where: SF Ballet, 455 Franklin Street, San Francisco
The Dance-Along is in the SF Ballet building across the street from the Opera House.

 

Cost: Tickets are $25 per person, adult and child. All children must be accompanied by an adult; all attendees must have a ticket.


Participants should wear comfortable clothes that allow for movement and are welcome to wear their favorite costume. Ballet shoes are not required. No prior dance experience is needed; all bodies and physical abilities welcome.

Learn more and purchase tickets

Please email your questions to education@sfballet.org. We look forward to welcoming you at San Francisco Ballet!

Lunes Mar 25 @ 7:00-8:30pm: DREDF- Educación Especial: Resolución de Conflictos

Aprender los beneficios de la resolución de disputas, incluyendo las sesiones de resolución del IEP, mediación y como presentar una queja cuando es necesario

Debe registrarse con anticipación para esta capacitación:

Enlace de registro

Thurs Mar 28 @ 6:00-8:00pm: March CAC Meeting- Advocates Worthy of Excellence "AWE" Award Celebration

CAC MARCH MEETING 

MAIN TOPIC: Advocates Worthy of Excellence "AWE" Award Celebration

Date & Time: THURSDAY, March 28, 2024 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Location: SFUSD Central Office, 555 Franklin St, Irving G Breyer Board Room

Please join us as we celebrate the amazing people in SFUSD who go above and beyond to support students who receive special education services. We can’t wait to share this special evening with you.

Register Here

Please help us spread the word and share our flier!

Printable translations: English I Spanish I Cantonese I Arabic I Tagalog I Vietnamese

Celebración de Premiación a Defensores Dignos de Excelencia “AWE”

追求卓越的倡導者(簡稱 AWE)

Register for Zoom

Register for in-person

ASL and interpretation services are available with advance notice. To reserve, please send an email to cacspedsf@gmail.com or call 415-447-7802.

Sat Mar 23 @ 8:45am-4:30pm: Stanford Medicine 17th Annual Autism Update

Stanford Medicine Children's Health, 17th Annual Autism Update: "Autism Through the Lifespan"

Register Now

A one-day in-person conference at Stanford on Saturday, March 23, 2024 for parents, educators, and care providers of children and adults with autism spectrum disorders. Our annual update focuses on new research and services for individuals with autism to optimize their long-term functioning. Presentations in English with the option of listening to a live Spanish interpreter.

Scholarships

Limited scholarships are available for $25.00 for those who have a financial need and cannot receive reimbursement from their regional center. Please click here to provide your name and email address so that you will be notified of next steps.

Parking Information

Parking is free and available at the Galvez lot. The Alumni Center is on the corner of Galvez and Campus Drive and the entrance is on Galvez Street. We will have volunteers and signs indicating where to cross and enter the building. Please allow 10 minutes to park and cross the street to the Alumni Center.

Note: Parking is free in most spots at Stanford on Saturdays. There are a few disabled parking spots near the entrance of the building where the Alumni Center is located on Galvez Street.

For more info, please go the Stanford Transportation website: https://transportation.stanford.edu/maps-resources-and-access

Disability Accommodations

For more information or to request disability accommodations, please fill out this form: Request Disability Accommodations & Accessibility Information 

Learn more

Sat Mar 30 @ 11:00am: SFASA El Polin Springs Presidio National Park Ranger Walk

Join the San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society on March 30!

When:  Saturday, March 30, 2024 - 11 AM (Note this is 11 AM rather than the usual 10 AM) (Canceled if raining)
 
Where:  El Polin Springs at the Presidio, SF - Exact Location:  Meet outside the public bathrooms located between the Outpost and the Field Station next to Building 603, the Crissy Field Center. 603 Mason (along Crissy Field). There is paid Presidio parking, including some disability parking spaces in this area, and free parking at Crissy Field East Beach parking, a short walk to the Crissy Field Center.
 
Additional Info:   Please arrive a few minutes before 11 AM for a prompt start.
 
Enjoy a National Park Ranger-guided tour that starts at the Crissy Field Center at Tunnel Tops,and leads us through the historic El Polin Spring area. Our National Park Ranger friend Fatima Colindres will lead us on the walk while providing information on history and nature highlights through entertaining stories.         
(Note: This walk includes some pavement and some dirt trails, probably some stairs.)
 
• RSVP by e-mail to Lisa (of HikingAutism.com at llouis@sonic.net
 
For more info on hikes in this area, visit:
https://www.hikingautism.com/tunnel-tops-the-presidio.html
https://www.hikingautism.com/el-polin-spring---presidio-walk.html
https://www.hikingautism.com/crissy-field-east-beach-and-crissy-marsh.html

Sun Apr 7 @ 3:00-5:00pm: SFASA Autism on Tap

The San Francisco Bay Area Autism Society invites you to join them @ Pier 23 for a friendly gathering for autism and special education families overlooking the Bay. 

When:  Sunday, April 7, 2024, 3pm to 6pm

Where:  Pier 23, San Francisco

What: A fun gathering for everyone in your family to relax, eat, drink, and mingle!

This event is free for SFASA families, but registration is required at SFAutismSociety.org

Register Here

Disability and Special Education in the News

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This page was last updated on March 28, 2024