![White, Bolded Text: "Celebrating Disability Pride Month" with the background image of the disability pride flag (black background with blue, yellow, white, red, and green zig zags)](/sites/default/files/styles/max_590/public/2024-06/Disability-Pride-600x300.jpg?itok=i4CLGWYW)
July is Disability Pride Month!
Disability Pride Month is celebrated each year in July! Disability Pride initially started as a day of celebration in 1990—the year that the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law, and celebrates disabled persons embracing their disabilities as integral parts of who they are, reclaiming visibility in public and interacting fully with their disabilities out in the open, and rejecting shame and internalized ableism.
![Summer reading](/sites/default/files/styles/max_590/public/Summer%20Reading_0.jpg?itok=bokujeRj)
Explore 2024 Summer Programming!
As the school year draws to a close, explore resources for summer programming opportunities! Linked below is more information about SFUSD ESY Programming, SF Therapeutic Rec & Park, and many more organizations in San Francisco on the Summer Landing Page!
Special Education Community Event Calendar
Summer Saturdays: Free Adaptive Biking in SF Golden Gate Park
San Francisco's Free Adaptive Bike Program is returning this summer. In partnership with the Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP) and the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, we're providing free reservations for adaptive bikes in Golden Gate Park during the summer and fall months, with the program serving people with disabilities.
The program will take place on Saturdays at the Music Concourse behind the Golden Gate Bandshell (75 Hagiwara Tea Garden Drive) next to the accessible parking lot.
Reservations are required to participate. For program dates and to reserve a bike, contact BORP Cycling Center at (510) 848-2930 or email cycling@borp.org. For more information, click the link below.
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
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
Wednesday, July 17 @ 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 (except 4th of July) and third Wednesday. Zoom.
Sunday, July 21 @ 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.
July Programs
Jueves, 11 de Julio a las 6:00 - 7:30p: Padres Como Aliados y Defensores (Español)
Programa enfocado en la salud mental de los jóvenes, la experiencia de padres/cuidadores latinos y cómo los cuidadores pueden apoyar a niños. Dirigida por nuestra encargada de Enlace para la Comunidad Latinx de NAMI SF, Aracely García. Zoom.
Thursday, July 11 @ 6:00 - 7:30p: Parents as Allies & Advocates (in Spanish, same as above)
Educational presentation focusing on youth mental health, the experience of Latinx parents/caregivers, and how caregivers can support their children. Delivered by NAMI SF Latinx Community Liaison, Aracely Garcia. Zoom.
Thursday, July 18 @ 6:00 - 7:00pm: Creating a Special Needs Trust
Learn the basics about establishing a special needs trust for a loved one. Featuring Baron L. Miller, NAMI SF member and author of Laws We Need to Know: Understanding Rules and Programs for Persons with Mental Illness. For family members / loved ones. Zoom.
Sat Jun 29 @ 10:00am-2:00pm: Free Wheelchair Tennis Clinic
When: Saturday, June 29th 10:00am-12:00pm (youth), 12:00pm-2:00pm (adults)
Where: Lisa & Douglas Goldman Tennis Center, 50 Bowling Green Drive, San Francisco, CA 94117
Join us on Saturday, June 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for a free wheelchair tennis clinic at the Goldman Tennis Center (50 Bowling Green Drive) conducted by USTA NorCal. The clinic is for beginners and advanced players alike. The youth portion of the clinic for ages 6 to 17 will take place from 10 a.m. to noon, while the adult portion (18+) will take place from noon to 2 p.m. A limited amount of sportschairs will be available for use during the clinic. For more information and to register, click the link below.
Tues Jul 30 @ 3:00-4:00pm: Tea with the DCC
Hosted by the Disability Cultural Center
At the end of each month, the DCC co-directors invite you to chat! Have a program idea or feedback you’d like to share? Want to learn about what’s underway as the hybrid DCC is being developed? Catch up with our leadership team. Come on by for a virtual cup of tea and open conversation.
For more information, register here
Thurs Aug 1 @ 6:00-7:30pm: What is the Department of Rehabilitation?
Hosted by Support for Families
What is the Department of Rehabilitation?
Thursday August 1st on Zoom @ 6-7:30pm
The California Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) can supply you with a wide variety of counseling, training, job skills, and job placement services. DOR can help you get the training or other services that you need to return to work, to enter a new line of work, or to enter the workforce for the first time.
Sat Aug 3 @ 10:00am-12:00pm: Support for Families Play, Learn, Connect!
Saturday August 3rd from 10am-12pm @ Yerba Buena Children's Playground
Come join other caregivers and their children in the community for a Play Date! Ages 0-6.
Play Learn Connect is a parent child interactive group where you as a parent/caregiver get to meet with other families, learn more about Support for Families’ services, and enjoy play time with your child while you learn together and practice Early Literacy and Socio/Emotional skills.
Address: Howard St and, 4th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Sat Aug 3 @ 4:30-8:00pm: SF Autism Society 50th Anniversary Festival of Fun
Come celebrate with us as we celebrate 50 years of SFASA family fun!
All proceeds go directly to SFASA programs and events.
Join us for an evening of family fun as we celebrate all our shared moments and plan for a future of autism-friendly events and support! More information here!
Come one, come all! Bring your family, bring your friends, bring your neighbors!
Sat Aug 10 @ 5:00-6:00pm: Superfest Family Movie Night
Hosted by the Disability Cultural Center
Join us for a Superfest Disability Film Festival’s Family Movie Night! Superfest is the longest-running disability film festival in the world. Since it first debuted in a small Los Angeles showcase in 1970, it has become an eagerly anticipated international event. While our core festival each October often features predominantly adult content, this event will bring Superfest to all ages with a look back at some of our family-friendly entertainment from recent years. In this short screening, we’ll see a range of cutting-edge cinema that portrays disability through a diverse, complex, unabashed, and engaging lens.
Thurs Aug 22 @ 6:00-8:00pm: August CAC Meeting- Back to School: Special Education Resources
CAC August Meeting- Back to School: Special Education Resources
Presented by the CAC
Date & Time: Thursday, August 22, 2024 from 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location (Hybrid): Support for Families, 832 Folsom St Suite #1001, San Francisco, CA 94107
- Virtual option available- Register here for Zoom or in-person participation
Please join us to kick off the 24-25 school year! The CAC is excited to introduce our new Assistant Superintendent of Special Education, Regina Piper! Please join the CAC for an overview of special education programs and services for the coming school year and learn about essential resources available for you and your child.
Please help us spread the word and share our flier!
Disability and Special Education in the News
Check out these articles about the disability and special education.
July 2024
- PBS Kids Announces CARL THE COLLECTOR, Its First Series Centering on Autistic Characters via PBS Publicity
- California Individualized Education Program (IEP) Expert Panel Report by the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence
June 2024
- 27 Eye-Opening Quotes From People with Disabilities by Beth Dreher via Good Housekeeping
- I Was 'Supermom.' When I Suddenly Became Disabled, I Expected Empathy- Not This by Yvette Pegues via HuffPost
- Summer Learning: “They Are Doing Math – And Don’t Even Know It!” via ADDitude Magazine
- Morning Cup of Calm: Mistaken Goals by Ed Center
- “Ezra”: A Heartfelt Exploration of Autism, Acceptance,Authentic Representation, and a Father’s Love via The Help Group
- Happy Father's Day to all the dads of special kids! via The Arc California
- Retention Is the Missing Ingredient in Special Education Staffing By Evie Blad via Education Week
- The Basics of Accommodations and Modifications from the National Center on Educational Outcomes
- The new movie 'Ezra' stars an actor with autism playing an autistic character heard on NPR's ALL THINGS CONSIDERED by Gus Contreras, Sarah Handel and Juana Summers
- Justice Department Releases Webinar with Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to Improve Accessibility of School Buildings
- Doctors Get Guidance On Supporting Teens With IDD by Michelle Diament via Disability Scoop
- Rising autism rates in California elementary schools demand evidence-based practices by Jenine Cutodio via EdSource
- Grammy-winning teacher Annie Ray on the importance of music education for all by Ali Rogan & Lorna Baldwin via PBS NewsHour
May 2024
- Another World Is Possible by Dom Kelly via Disability Visibility
- Sex Cells: A Scientific Argument for Equitable Research on Women by Phyllis E. Greenberger, MSW via ADDitude Magazine
- 'Breaking A Promise': State Deficit Could Halt Raises for DSPs by Vanessa G Sanchez via DisabilityScoop
- Nicole Bohn Appointed as New Executive Director of Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund
April 2024
- ADHD Symptoms in Women Aren't 'Hidden.' They are Misinterpreted by Lotta Borg Skoglund via ADDitude Magazine
- Autism Diagnosis Often Takes Longer for Girls via Disability Scoop
- PBS Looks to Make Kids Shows More Accessible via Disability Scoop
March 2024
- Self-Stigma: The Silent Battle and Our Commitment to Strike It Out by Delilah Steinmann
- Ad Campaign Challenges Assumptions About Down Syndrome by Shaun Heasley | March 20, 2024
- Nonspeaking autistic people show greater literacy skills than expected via University of Virginia College and Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
- Proposed Rule Would Expand Rights of Airline Passengers with Disabilities by Shaun Heasley via Disability Scoop
February 2024
- Why Black Disabled History Matters by Dikko Yusuf via World Institute on Disability
- Recognizing and honoring the significant contributions of African Americans to the disability justice movement by Marcus Soutra from Project Eye to Eye
- Teacher Who Created Orchestra For Students with IDD Wins Grammy by Shaun Heasley via Disability Scoop
- Schools Should Boost Inclusion of Students with Disabilities, Special Olympics Leader Says by Evie Blad via EdWeek
- Adult Children, Aging Out, & Self-Compassion by Autism Society SFBA
January 2024
- After Tackling ‘R-Word,’ Disability Group Seeks To Erase Stigma Associated With ‘Special’ by Disability Scoop
- New Federal Guidance Released Regarding Assistive Technology Devices and Services for Children with Disabilities Under IDEA
- Solving California's early literacy crisis is a social justice imperative by Megan Potente and Marshall Tuck via EdSource
- Spelling champion with Down Syndrome defies stereotypes by Esme M. Infante via Hawaii News
- Students' Reading Struggles Tied to Flawed Assessment. So Why Do Schools Use It? by Christopher Peak via APM Reports
- La Sopa de la Abuela: Using the telenovela as a tool to navigate Special Education via Immigrant Connections
- Book Reviews for Children and Teens via Learning for Justice Magazine
Archived Disability & Special Education Articles 2022-2023
December 2023
- Into the Brightness: Artists from Creativity Explored, Creative Growth & NIAD by Tony Bravo via SF Chronicle
- Autism in the Classroom: One Mother's Story by Alycia Chu via The Special EDge
- A Student Wrote a Book About Her Learning Disability. Now, She Has Advice for Teachers by Sarah Schwartz & Jaclyn Borowski via Education Week
- Biden Administration Works to Increase Preschool Inclusion by Michelle Diament via Disability Scoop
- Which Accommodations Are Available for My Child With ADHD? by Liz Nissim-Matheis Ph.D. via Psychology Today
- Unravelling the puzzle Ultimately, illuminating the science behind learning disabilities helps shift narratives. It reveals minds that simply learn differently, with insights we all may benefit from. Aditi Subramaniam
Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/features/unravelling-the-puzzle-2789206
November 2023
- Balboa Theater Hosts First Sensory-Friendly Movie in Partnership with SF Rec. and Park’s Therapeutic Rec. and Inclusion Services by Beth Lederer via Richmond Review/Sunset Beacon
- Turning 18: What Parents & Teachers Need to Know
- Inclusive College Opportunities for Students with Disabilities from DREDF
- Designers Work To Make Playgrounds More Inclusive via DisabilityScoop
- An Open Conversation with Temple Grandin by By Anni Layne Rodgers via ADDitude Magazine
- Museum Makes Major Acquisition of Works By Artists With IDD by Tony Bravo via Disability Scoop/San Francisco Chronicle
- Honda Sees An Inclusive Mobility Future, From Wheelchairs to Battery-Electric Airplanes by Raymond Tribdino via CleanTechnica
- "My Disability Roadmap" Impact Report, American Film Showcase
- Longmore Institute on Disability November Superfest Newsletter
October 2023
- California’s K-8 Students Guaranteed Outdoor Time with New Recess Law
- Lost in translation: Parents of special ed students who don’t speak English often left in the dark
- Museum Makes Major Acquisition Of Works By Artists With IDD by Tony Bravo, San Francisco Chronicle/TNS | October 27, 2023
- Non-Verbal Teen to 'Take on the World' With a Symphony Written in His Head by Sasha Khokha
- OSEP Releases New Fast Facts on Children Identified with Intellectual Disability
- 8 Dyslexia Resources for Educators: A Curated List from Lexia, October Dyslexia Awareness Month
- Celebrating World Down Syndrome Day with Special Olympics Athlete Ablaye Ndiaye from Special Olympics
- October is National Down Syndrome Awareness Month from The Arc California
- US Department of Education Awards More Than $35 Million to Develop Personnel in Support of Children with Disabilities
September 2023
- The Evolution of ADHD: Examining the Last 25 Years — and the Future by Dave Anderson PhD from Additude Magazine.
- Exploring College for Students with Intellectual Disability: Families Make it Happen from thinkhighered.net/
- How Families of Children With Disabilities Can Find Support By Claudia Boyd-Barrett from California Health Report
- What a Week Without Driving Can Teach by Anna Zivarts via Bloomberg
- Curiosity and Joy in Disability Advocacy by Meriah Hudson Nichols via DREDF The Blog
- RJ Peete isn't just a clubhouse attendant with autism. He's a central part of the Dodgers family by Steve Henson via the Los Angeles Times
- Developmental Dyscalculia: A New Understanding of Early Warning Signs by Daniel Ansari, Ph.D. via ADDitude Mag
- Practical Strategies & Tools to Help Kids with Dysgraphia by Lindsey Biel M.A., OTR/L via ADDitude Mag
- The Dyslexia-ADHD Overlap: Why Evaluators Confuse the Conditions by Cheryl Chase, Ph.D via ADDitude Mag
August 2023
- Managing Screen Time for Children with Autism from the National Autism Center at the May Institute.
- 10 Ways to Support Your Child’s Special Education Teacher from AmeriDisability
- The Autism Surge: Lies, Conspiracies, and My Own Kids by Jill Escher
- Behavior Problems at School: A Complete Problem-Solving Guide for Parents by Rachel Schwartz via ADDitude
- The IEP Process: Guiding Questions from East County SELPA
July 2023
- What is Disability Pride by Nancy DeVault from AmeriDisability
- Celebrating 33 Years of the Signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) from Disability Rights California
- Information is Power: California Now Requires Early Screening for Dyslexia a DREDF Special Education
- California Joins 40 States in Mandating Dyslexia Screening by Elizabeth Huebeck for Education Week
- [Video] Heumann nature: The life and legacy of disability activist Judy Heumann from the Ford Foundation
- Hope, What's the most important thing if your child is struggling with school or hasn't attended for months? by Dr. Naomi Fisher
June 2023
- Delta Developing Seat To Accommodate Wheelchairs In Flight by Shaun Heasley for Disability Scoop
- Dancing with the special stars: SF students show talents, art on and off stage by Lyanne Melendez for ABC 7 News
May 2023
- ‘Netflix For Neurodiverse’: World’s First TV Channel For Autistic Kids by John Jeffay, NoCamels
- Apple Previews iPhone, iPad and Mac Accessibility Features by Abrar Al-Heeti for CNet
- Why the ‘science of reading’ may be the next dyslexia battleground by Joe Hong | CalMatters
- Statement by U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Senate Confirmation of Glenna Wright-Gallo
- ‘Wings for All’ introduces flyers with special needs to Atlanta airport
- SMART IEP Pop-up Tool from Wright's Law
- Barbie’s Path to Inclusion - from the DREDF Blog
- How A First-Grader With Cerebral Palsy Helped Make His Playground More Inclusive by Zach Hammack,
April 2023
- "BART Has Local Kids with Autism Doing Station Announcements for Autism Acceptance Month" by Joe Kukura via SFist
- "I have an invisible disability myself: Edward Enninful and Sinéad Burke on their fashion revolution" via The Guardian
- Self-Advocacy Matters! Key Resources from DREDF
- "Special Education is Getting More Expensive, Forcing Schools to Make Cuts Elsewhere" by Mark Lieberman via EdWeek
- Autism in Girls & Women with Dr Donna Henderson by Dr Jeremy Sharp from the Testing Psychologist
- "Never Empty Nesters" Benefit From More Time to Love by Beth Lederer via The Guardsman
- What Does OCD Look Like in the Classroom? by Jerry Bubrick, PhD via the Child Mind Institute
- Autism now more common among Black, Hispanic kids in US by Mike Stobbe via AP News
- Thank You to Our Paraeducators! from SFUSD Communications
- ‘I thought I was dumb for not being able to pay attention…’: Cymeria Robshaw shares her experience as a neurodivergent young adult from Project Eye to Eye
- Marion Joseph's literacy crusade for teaching phonics in California is paying off by Dan Walters in CalMatters
- A Reading Teacher Makes a Case for Early Dyslexia Screening by Elizabeth Heubeck via Education Week
- A New Pathway to a High School Diploma for Students with Disabilities from California Department of Education
- It’s Time for a Transition IEP Meeting- What should I do next? by Erin Mahaffey
- Autism Now Affects 1 In 36 Kids, CDC Says from Disability Scoop
March 2023
- It’s time to screen all students for dyslexia risks by Carol Kocivar from Ed100
- Despite union opposition, many teachers support dyslexia screening for all students from Cal Matters
- Special Olympics Celebrates Women's History Month
- “Could I Be Autistic, Too?” Signs of Autism in Women with ADHD
- 20 Signs and Symptoms of ADHD in Girls from VeryWell Mind
- Teens Are Struggling Right Now. What Can Parents Do? from the NYTimes
- What are SMART IEP Goals? from Support for Families of Children with Disabilities
- Using the IEP Meeting to Create an IEP that Works from Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
- Summer Resource Fair Features Enrichment Opportunities from SAN FRANCISCO RICHMOND REVIEW on MARCH 2, 2023 By Kate Quach
February 2023
- U.S. based Legoland Parks to become certified Autism Centers by spring 2023 from Fox5 San Diego
- Celebrating Black History Month from National Center for Learning Disabilities
- Black, Brilliant, and Dyslexic: Neurodivergent Heroes Tell Their Stories edited by Marcia Brissett-Bailey
- Black Women Leaders and Disability Justice
- 'Love on the Spectrum' shows what dating can be like for people with autism from NPR
- Learning to read by third grade requires evidence-based instruction, panel says from EdSource
- Five Step Emergency Preparedness in ASL from the Listos California Resource Hub
- Emergency Preparedness from the Cal OES (Governor's Office of Emergency Services)
January 2023
- DSPS Accessible Theater Arts Teacher Sparks Creativity, Self-Confidence, and Self-Expression by Beth Lederer
- The Best Way to Explain Learning Disabilities to Your Child, by Rick Lavoie via ADDitude
- IEP Progress Reports: What Should be Reported vs What is Reported, by Callie Oettinger via Special Education Action
December 2022
- Should We Say 'with Autism' or 'Autistic'? Here's Why It Matters
- New documentary "In A Different Key" follows first person diagnosed with autism
- Office of Special Education Programs Update - A Newsletter for OSEP Grantees and Interested Stakeholders
- Disability Rights Advocate Justice Maria Araujo Kahn nomination approved by Senate Judiciary Committee from Daily Kos
- By Rethinking How Reading Is Taught, Bay Area Schools Hope To Boost Overall Literacy by Ida Mojadad, The San Francisco Standard
November 2022
- Meet the Special Ed Advocate Who Ousted Ann Hsu for a Spot on SF’s School Board by Ida Mojadad
- Confronting Ableism on the Way to Justice by Keith Jones from Learning for Justice
- Inclusive Education Benefits All Children by Mellanie Willingham-Jaggers and the Glsen Team from Learning for Justice
- Sold a Story: How Teaching Kids to Read Went So Wrong hosted by Emily Hanford
- Unified Sports Level the Playing Field for Students With Disabilities by Sarah D. Sparks from Education Week
- SFUSD pleads for drivers to obey traffic laws after car hits school bus, flees scene by Lyanne Melendez, ABC7 News
- How to Document and Resolve Issues With the IEP Team from Disability Rights Education & Defense Fund
October 2022
- “I am a Neurodivergent Black Woman — and I am Filled with Hope.” By Alyssa Tundidor
- Ensuring All Students with Disabilities have a Pathway to a High School Diploma in California from DREDF
- Roundup: Education policies passed, failed and vetoed in 2022 by Carol Kocivar
- New literacy standards for teacher candidates could be pivotal to improving student reading scores. by
Diana Lambert
September 2022
- **Year of the Tiger: Debut memoir by Alice Wong**
- NIH Awards $100 Million for Autism Centers of Excellence Program
- My Parents Are Hackers Out of Necessity: NY Times Opinion
- Office of Special Education Programs Seeking Input: Prioritizing Equity
- “Love on the Spectrum U.S.” Wins Multiple Emmy Awards
- Thomas the Tank Engine and Peppa Pig welcome friends with autism and 2 mommies
August 2022
- Dallas nonprofit aims to break down barriers that disabled people face
- Sonoma County teacher pens book celebrating her hearing-impaired students
- How to talk about disability sensitively and avoid ableist tropes
- Uber WAV provides affordable rides in wheelchair-accessible vehicles, where available
Past Articles
- Why “Special Needs” is Not Helpful | medium.com
- Creating trauma-informed individualized education programs | American Psychological Association
- Parent-Teacher Conferences - What to Ask for Kids with IEPs from A Day in Your Shoes
- Changing the Conversation Around ADHD with New Documentary The Disruptors
- 5 Reasons Why Disability Issues Should Be A Higher Priority, Even Now | Forbes
- Nancy Armstrong Is Changing the Conversation Around ADHD with New Documentary The Disruptors. By Jessica Migala
- At a Loss for Words: How a flawed idea is teaching millions of kids to be poor readers | APM ReportsU.S. Department of Education Announces Intent to Strengthen and Protect Rights for Students with Disabilities by Amending Regulations Implementing Section 504.
- Microsoft unveils new adaptive PC accessories with modular components.
- Watch My Disability Roadmap about Samuel Habib in the New York Times "Op-Docs".
- Self-Advocacy: Participating in Your IEP Meetings.
- 2 UC Berkeley students make history as 1st nonspeaking autistic graduates.
- Access SFUSD presents its Insider Guide
- 504 and Me By Meriah Nichols, from the Disability Rights and Education Defense Fund Blog
- AB 1663: The Probate Conservatorship Reform and Supported Decision-Making Act
- Slate.com: Why Are Special Education Teachers Quitting Across the Nation?
- Washington Post: Disability Community Pushes To keep Masks Aboard Mass Transit
Summer Opportunities
This page was last updated on July 26, 2024