Servicios y Apoyo
Welcome to the Early Start Program!
The first three years of life are an important period of development for all children. As children grow, they learn certain skills such as smiling, waving, or taking their first steps. These abilities are called developmental milestones, and most children achieve them by a certain age. Some infants and toddlers may need additional support to help them reach their full potential. These services and supports are available via the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities.
Early Start Parent Orientation (Online)
This orientation is for parents/guardians of infants and toddlers (before the age of 3) who are new to Westside Regional Center. This orientation provides information necessary to help you navigate California’s Early Start Program and will cover: Early Intervention Services; how services are delivered; what the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is; what the role of the Service Coordinator is and what your role as a parent will be; how the Westside Family Resource and Empowerment Center (WFREC) can support you; and more. For more information please call the WFREC at (310) 258-4063 or email westsidefrec@gmail.com.
Cuando: Every 4th Wednesday of the month
Hora: 9:30AM – 10:30AM
Dónde: Zoom
Servicios y Apoyos
The following are services and supports provided by Westside Regional Center (WRC). These services are designed to meet each infant or toddler’s needs and the needs of the family. This is not a complete listing. Other needs identified by assessment may identify other services. You must use the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) process to request services. Please contact your Early Start SC to discuss access to these services.
Recursos para Padres y Caregivers
Parents’ Rights – Early Start
Parents have rights and access to procedural safeguards to assure that early intervention services are provided in a manner appropriate to the child’s needs and concerns of the family. Procedural safeguards include confidentiality, access to records, evaluation and assessment, individual family service plans, and periodic and annual individual family service plan review. We encourage families to read the booklet, Parents’ Rights: An Early Start Guide for Families, to learn about their rights under the Early Start Program. Additional information is provided by the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) by visiting www.dds.ca.gov/services/early-start/.
Centro de Recursos y Fortaleza para Familias de Westside
Westside Family Resource and Empowerment Center (WFREC) staff are experienced parents and family members of individuals with special needs who are trained to provide emotional and informational support to families who have a child or young adult with a disability, chronic illness or other special health care needs. WFREC also provides information and support for professionals and teachers working with people who have disabilities and offer a variety of support groups, trainings, community resources and referrals to valuable generic resources. For more information, please call (310) 258-4063 or visit linktr.ee/westsidefrec
Trainings, Events and Conferences
Westside Regional Center (WRC) sponsors trainings, conferences, workshops and events for parents, individuals we serve, service providers and other professionals within our community. The “Training and Events” bulletin is published in advance, on a bi-monthly basis and is available in English and Spanish. Printed copies are available in the reception area, the Family Resource and Empowerment Center or by clicking here.
Trainings and Conferences: In the Community
WRC encourages individuals with disabilities and family members to be empowered and informed through participation in trainings and conferences offered within the special needs community.
WRC may fund for tuition or conference registration fees up to a maximum of $300 for trainings and/or conferences per year. For adults receiving WRC services, funding may include lodging and/or transportation costs when authorized. Funding for parents or caregivers does not cover the cost of lodging or transportation. Check with your service coordinator or the WFREC to inquire about training and conference opportunities.
Exiting the Early Start Program
The process of exiting the Early Start Program and beginning new services or programs at age three is called “transition.” The process may start as early as a child’s 2Segundo birthday by providing families with information at the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) meeting. Transition services are intended to support and prepare a parent or caregiver and their child to exit the Early Start Program by the child’s 3rd birthday.
Transition Conference
When a child is 30 to 32 months of age, the parent or caregiver will participate in a Transition Conference (meeting) with representatives from their local school district and their Early Start Service Coordinator. This meeting is intended to address the necessary steps to support your child during the transition out of the Early Start Program into preschool services and other community programs. A transition plan is created during the Transition Conference explaining procedures, activities, timelines, and responsible parties. During this meeting, school representatives may provide a general overview of Special Education and related services. Your Early Start SC will also review the eligibility requirements for ongoing regional center services under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act.
Services After Age Three
If your family would like to pursue the continuation of services after your child exits the Early Start Program at age three, there are options:
- Regional Center services under the Lanterman Developmental Disabilities Services Act
- Special Education services under Part B of IDEA
- Community Programs
The eligibility requirements for these services are different for every agency or program. Your child may qualify for both programs (regional center and special education) should they meet the criteria.
For additional information, please contact your Early Start Service Coordinator.
Early Childhood Transitions
WRC, in partnership with WFREC, developed a webinar series for parents and guardians of children ages 2.5 to 3 who are transitioning out of the Early Start Program onto ongoing regional center services, Special Education services, and/or community resources. This webinar series originally took place in May 2020 but the recordings can be accessed below:
- English Training Guide
- Haga clic aquí para descargar
- Spanish Training Guide
- Haga clic aquí para descargar
Early Start Conference
This conference is for parents/ guardians of infants and toddlers (before the age of 3) whose children will be transitioning from Early Start services to Preschool services. This conference is intended to help families prepare for these changes by providing information from experts, professionals and partners regarding the transition process, important timelines to remember, changes in regional center services and supports, special education and the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process, planning for the future and more!
Contact your Service Coordinator or call the Community Education and Training Specialist at (310) 258-4209 to find out when the next one takes place.
Comprensión del Diagnóstico: Una Guía para Familias
Las discapacidades del desarrollo son un grupo de condiciones debido a un impedimento en áreas físicas, del aprendizaje, del lenguaje o del comportamiento. Estas condiciones comienzan durante el período del desarrollo, pueden afectar el funcionamiento diario y suelen durar durante toda la vida de la persona.
El recibir un diagnóstico de una discapacidad del desarrollo conlleva mucha información, papeleo, citas, cambios y sentimientos. Usted puede tener muchas preguntas con respecto a las discapacidades del desarrollo. A medida que usted busque respuestas, encontrará información sobre las varias condiciones, sus causas y posibles tratamientos. Toda esta información puede hacer que sea difícil organizar opciones y comenzar a escoger un plan de tratamiento que se adapte mejor a su familia.
Es natural que quiera identificar la única causa raíz del diagnóstico. Muchas familias pueden luchar con sentimientos de culpa y/o vergüenza. Entienda que estos diagnósticos son complejos y puede no haber un solo factor que se haya identificado como la causa. Sepa que las familias y cuidadores pueden ser fuertes defensores y tener altas expectativas de una persona/familiar con la discapacidad.
El Centro Regional de Westside (Westside Regional Center) anticipa apoyarle a usted y a su familia a medida que proceden desde el diagnóstico inicial hasta servicios de apoyo continuo. Ustedes no están solos en este proceso. Para mayor información adicional sobre el diagnóstico, puede comunicarse con su coordinador de servicios, con la Psicóloga Principal del WRC, Kaely Shilakes, Psy.D, al 310-258- 4157, o visite los siguientes documentos abajo.
| Título | ||
|---|---|---|
| Entendiendo el Autismo: Una Guia Para Familias | Inglés | Español |
| Entendiendo la Parálisis Cerebral - Una Guia para Familias | Inglés | Español |
| Entendiendo el Síndrome de Down: Una Guía para Familias | Inglés | Español |
| Entendiendo la Epilepsia: Una Guia para Familias | Inglés | Español |
| Entendiendo la Discapacidad Intelectual: Una Guia para Familias | Inglés | Español |