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Special Education Departments Parent Resources

"Let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream which, fulfilled, can be translated into benefit for everyone and greater strength for our nation."

- John F. Kennedy

PARENT INVOLVEMENT STATEMENT

Parents are their child's first teacher. This critical role does not stop as children enter the school setting and begin to interact with students and teachers. Student achievement, both academic and social, is most effective when parents and teachers build strong, lasting partnerships that will promote continuous growth along the students' individualized learning path.

The VUSD Special Education Department Parent Involvement webpage was designed to cultivate partnerships with parents through parent education workshops, ongoing communication, participation in the IEP Team meeting process, classroom volunteering, and links to publications and resources that equip parents to play an active role in their child's success in school and career.

SPECIAL EDUCATION NEWSLETTER

To view our monthly family newsletter, click on the following links.

Tweets by VUSD SpEd

VUSD WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS AND GUARDIANS

Please click on hyperlink to view additional details. 

  • Tuesday, September 3, 2024 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, "IEP Process"

  • Tuesday, October 15, 2024 from 5:30 pm tp 6:30 pm, "Positive Behavioral Supports for the Home"
  • Tuesday, December 3, 2024 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, "Preschool -  Adult Transition"
  • Tuesday, January, 2025 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, "Inclusion"
  • Tuesday, April 15, 2025 from 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm, "Educationally Related Mental Health Services (ERMHS)"
  • Wednesday, April 23, 2025 from 5:30pm-6:30pm, Family Resource Night, Presented by the San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) and the Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC)

If you have any questions about the workshops or need assistance with registration, please contact our Special Education, Family & Community Liaison, Doris Cruz, at (760) 726-2170 extension 92914 or via email at doriscruz@vistausd.org. (Bilingual)

CALIFORNIA AVENUE SCHOOL 

California Avenue School first opened its doors in 1975 in downtown Vista.  The school serves approximately 400 preschool and elementary students.  The school prides itself on providing a rigorous, high-quality instructional program.  Both general education students and students with special needs attend fully-integrated classes at California Avenue School with a range of services including adapted physical education, speech-language therapy, nursing services, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and hard of hearing & vision services.  Other programs and services offered to meet our students’ individualized needs include a sensory room, autism program, intensive language & behavior clinic, canine companions, and classroom technology.  The outside playground equipment is specially designed to provide access to students using wheelchairs and other adapted mobility equipment.   

California Avenue website: https://ca.vistausd.org/

ADULT TRANSITION PROGRAM (ATP) 

Students may qualify for services through an Adult Transition Program (ATP) after high school until through their 21st birthday in their District of Residence if they:  1) have not yet received a regular high school diploma, 2) have a current IEP, and 3) have completed their 4th year of high school.

The purpose of adult transition programs is to prepare transition-age youth for adult life by providing meaningful and purposeful student-centered activities that maximize progress toward student potential in the community in which they reside.  Domains of instruction intended to address the areas of a student's life as they progress toward their adult living are: Post-Secondary Education, Independent Living, Vocational/Career Exploration/Experience, Community Connectivity, Social/Interpersonal, Recreation/Leisure. 

Vista Adult Transition Center (VATC) Website: https://vatc.vistausd.org/

Vista Adult Transition Center (VATC) Workability Website: https://vatc.vistausd.org/workability

PARENT EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES 

The North County Consortium for Special Education (NCCSE) is a Special Education Local Planning Area (SELPA) that is composed of 14 school districts in the North County. Vista Unified is a member of NCCSE. Through this partnership, Vista Unified students, parents, and staff have access to a comprehensive array of services and resources. One of the most useful aspects of the NCCSE services is the parent and community support and resources website.

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting  

CACCommunityAdvisoryCommitteeMeetingsInvitationEnglish1 (PDF)
 

CACCommunityAdvisoryCommitteeMeetingsInvitationSpanish1_1 (PDF)

 

North Coastal Consortium for Special Education SELPA is proud to partner with the California Autism Professional Training and Information Network, (CAPTAIN) to help students with Autism by using proven practices.

CAPTAIN is part of the California Department of Education Statewide System of Support in collaboration with Marin County SELPA.

What is CAPTAIN?

Que es CAPTAIN?

HOPE INFANT FAMILY SUPPORT PROGRAM 

The HOPE Infant Family Support Program partners with families of infants and toddlers, birth to 3 years old, with disabilities. We design individualized, innovative and responsive services that embrace each family's culture, strengths and priorities.

HOPE website: https://www.sdcoe.net/schools/hope