Support. Advocacy. Inclusion. Belonging.

Welcome, my beautiful special needs community! At SharonKingWorldWide, we believe children and adults with disabilities deserve dignity, respect, opportunity, and meaningful inclusion. Parents and caregivers deserve reliable information and support throughout their journey.

Explore the national and California resources below for education, legal assistance, health care, financial support, and community connections.

1. Special Education, IEPs & School Support

Center for Parent Information and Resources — Nationwide

Find a Parent Training and Information Center or Community Parent Resource Center serving your area. These centers help families understand special education and participate in decisions about their children’s education.

Website: parentcenterhub.org/find-your-center

⁠. (parentcenterhub.org⁠)

Understood — Nationwide

Explore information about IEPs, Section 504 plans, ADHD, learning differences, assistive technology, and everyday school challenges.

Website: understood.org⁠. (understood.org⁠)

California Department of Education — California

Learn about parents’ special education rights, complaint procedures, mediation, and other ways to address disagreements with a school district.

Resources: Parents’ Rights⁠ | Dispute Resolution⁠. (cde.ca.gov⁠, cde.ca.gov⁠)

2. Legal Assistance, IEP Attorneys & Education Advocacy

Disability Rights California — California

Contact the organization about disability-related legal concerns, including special education. Its resources address assessments, IEPs, school discipline, bullying, and disputes over services. Contact intake to learn what assistance may be available for your situation.

Phone: 800-776-5746

Get help: disabilityrightsca.org/get-help⁠

Education guide: Special Education Rights and Responsibilities⁠. (disabilityrightsca.org⁠, serr.disabilityrightsca.org⁠, disabilityrightsca.org⁠)

Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy — California

OCRA, a program of Disability Rights California, provides free legal information, advice, and representation to regional center clients. Contact the program about your concern and available assistance.

Phone: 800-390-7032

Website: Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy⁠. (disabilityrightsca.org⁠)

Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates — Nationwide

COPAA offers a searchable directory of special education attorneys, advocates, and related professionals. Families can use it to find professionals who assist with education concerns. Listed professionals may charge fees; confirm costs before hiring.

Directory: Find an Attorney, Advocate, or Related Professional⁠. (copaa.org⁠, copaa.org⁠)

California Courts: Free or Low-Cost Legal Help — California

Explore options for legal aid and other assistance. Eligibility may depend on income, the type of legal problem, and the program’s requirements. Ask whether a provider handles special education cases.

Website: Find Free or Low-Cost Legal Help⁠. (selfhelp.courts.ca.gov⁠)

Before requesting legal help: Prepare a short description of your concern, relevant dates, school correspondence, evaluations, and the current IEP or 504 plan. Ask whether assistance includes advice, document review, meeting attendance, or representation. An attorney directory listing or referral does not guarantee free services.

3. Early Intervention & Developmental Services

California Early Start — California

Find information and referrals for early intervention services for eligible infants and toddlers under age three.

Early Start BabyLine: 800-515-2229

Website: dds.ca.gov/services/early-start⁠. (dds.ca.gov⁠, dds.ca.gov⁠)

California Regional Centers — California

Locate your regional center and learn about developmental disability eligibility, assessments, individual program planning, and available services.

Website: dds.ca.gov/rc⁠. (dds.ca.gov⁠)

4. ADHD, Autism & Learning Differences

CHADD — Nationwide

Find ADHD information and parent resources addressing school support, family concerns, and understanding ADHD.

Resource: ADHD and School: A Toolkit for Parents⁠. (chadd.org⁠)

Autism Society — Nationwide
Explore autism information, educational resources, and connections to local affiliates.
Website: autismsociety.org⁠. (autismsociety.org⁠)

Understood — Nationwide
Find resources about dyslexia, dyscalculia, language disorders, attention, organization, and learning support.
Website: understood.org⁠. (understood.org⁠)

5. Health Care & Care Coordination

Family Voices — Nationwide
Connect with family-led organizations and Family-to-Family Health Information Centers supporting children and youth with disabilities or special health care needs. Resources include navigating health systems and transitioning to adult health care.
Website: familyvoices.org⁠. (familyvoices.org⁠)

Medi-Cal — California
Find official information about California’s Medicaid program, health coverage, applications, and eligibility.
Website: Medi-Cal Resources⁠. (dhcs.ca.gov⁠)

6. Financial Assistance & In-Home Support

Supplemental Security Income — Nationwide
SSI provides monthly payments to eligible children and adults with disabilities who meet financial and other program requirements. A diagnosis alone does not establish eligibility.
Website: ssa.gov/ssi⁠. (ssa.gov⁠)

In-Home Supportive Services — California
IHSS may provide assistance to eligible people with disabilities who need support to remain safely at home. Children may qualify; services depend on assessed needs and program requirements.
Resources: IHSS for Children⁠ | County IHSS Offices⁠. (cdss.ca.gov⁠, cdss.ca.gov⁠)

7. Food, Housing & Everyday Assistance

211 — Nationwide
Find local referrals for food, housing, utility assistance, health care expenses, caregiver resources, and other community services.
Phone: 211
Website: 211.org⁠. (211.org⁠)

8. Parent, Caregiver & Emotional Support

Parent to Parent USA — Nationwide
Connect with parent-to-parent support for families raising children with disabilities or special health care needs.
Website: p2pusa.org⁠. (p2pusa.org⁠)

NAMI Family Support Groups — Nationwide
Find peer support for adults who have a loved one experiencing symptoms of a mental health condition.
Website: NAMI Family Support Groups⁠. (nami.org⁠)

Caregiver reminder: Ask your service coordinator or family support organization about respite options, caregiver support, and local programs. Your well-being matters, too.

9. Assistive Technology & Learning Tools

Understood — Nationwide
Explore assistive technology information related to reading, writing, learning, and school participation.
Website: understood.org⁠. (understood.org⁠)

California Department of Rehabilitation — California
Access the department’s link to California’s Assistive Technology Supplier Directory.
Website: dor.ca.gov⁠. (dor.ca.gov⁠)

When exploring tools, explain the activity the person wants to do and the barriers they encounter. Ask about an individualized assessment before purchasing equipment.

10. Transition to Adulthood, Employment & Independence

California Department of Rehabilitation — California
Explore employment and independent living services for Californians with disabilities. Ask about student services, vocational rehabilitation, and current program availability.
Website: dor.ca.gov⁠. (dor.ca.gov⁠)

Job Accommodation Network — Nationwide
Find free, confidential guidance about workplace accommodations for job seekers, employees, and employers.
Website: askjan.org⁠. (askjan.org⁠)

11. Recreation, Inclusion & Community Connection

Special Olympics
Explore sports training, competition, and community participation for people with intellectual disabilities. Contact your local program about eligibility and activities.
Website: specialolympics.org⁠. (specialolympics.org⁠)

Make Your First Connection

You do not need to contact every organization at once. Start with your most immediate concern and ask:

• Does your organization serve our age group and location?
• What are the eligibility requirements?
• Are services free, low-cost, or paid?
• Do we need a referral?
• Is there a waiting list?
• What documents should we provide?
• Are interpreters or accessibility accommodations available?

Keep copies of applications, records, and important communications. Share sensitive information through the organization’s appropriate, secure process.

A message from Sharon Mae King, Founder of SharonKingWorldWide:

“You do not have to figure everything

out in one day. Start with one question, one resourc, and one step forward. You and your loved one deserve to be heard, respected, and supported.”

This directory is a starting point, not an exhaustive list. Eligibility, service areas, costs, and availability vary. Free legal assistance depends on program requirements, case priorities, and capacity; representation is not guaranteed. Confirm details directly with each organization. This information is educational and does not replace individualized professional advice. Listings do not imply a partnership with SharonKingWorldWide.