Support groups, activities and events in Ventura County

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Click here Ventura County events on the Rainbow Connection web site.

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ON-GOING Support Groups, Trainings & Activities

We encourage you to attend a support group at least once. You will be surprised at how much it will help you and how much you can help others. As there might not always be a support group available for a specific diagnosis, we try to provide a parent match upon request.  To register to attend or for a copy of the current “What’s Happening at Rainbow?” schedule of activities, please call 805 -485-9643; 800-332-3679; E-mail: rainbow@tri-counties.org or go to our Website: www.rainbowconnectionfrc.weebly.com

Activities

Social Time for Adults Receiving Services from TCRC (Bilingual)

Meets 2nd Sunday of the month 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM at Teague Park in Santa Paula.

Come, bring a friend or just come meet new people, for conversation, playing games or for refreshments and some fresh air.

Autism Support

Autism Group (English)

Meets 2^nd Wednesday 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM in Oxnard. Location varies, please call for details. Parents meet to share the experiences they’ve had with their children with Autism as well as share and learn about resources.

Autismo Support Group (Spanish) Location varies, please call for details.
Meets 4th Thursday of the month 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM in Oxnard.
Parents meet to share their experiences, resources and information.
Down Syndrome Support

Down Syndrome Support Group (Spanish)
Meets first Tuesday of the month 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM in Oxnard.
Families have open discussions on issues related to raising children with Down syndrome.
Simi Friday Night Group (English)
Meets 1st Friday of the month 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM at Tri-Counties Regional Center in Simi.

Join other parents and caregivers. Share the joys, concerns, and sometimes unusual humor that come from raising a kid with special needs.  Parents are an amazing source for information, strategies, and resources.

Santa Paula Support Group (Spanish)
Meets 1st Monday of the month 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at Heritage Valley – ARC in Santa Paula. Parents of adults served by TCRC meet to share the experiences and resources.

Special Families Support Group (Spanish)
Meets first Tuesday of the month 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM in Oxnard.
Parents meet to share the experiences and resources.

Santa Clara Support Group (Spanish)
Meets 3rd Tuesday of the month 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM at Neighborhoods for Learning (NFL) in Fillmore. Parents of young children with special needs meet to share the experiences
they’ve had with their children with special needs and learn about resources.

“Familias Unidas” Support Group (Spanish)
Meets last Monday of the month 8:30 AM – 10:00 AM at Teague Park in Santa Paula.
Families of young children with special needs meet to share the experiences
they’ve had with their children with special needs and learn about resources.

Simi  Special Parents Network  (English)
Meets 3^rd Tuesday of the month 9:30 AM – 11:00 PM in Simi Valley.
Come and join us for a cup of coffee, learn about our resources and talk about issues related to raising children with special needs.

ePILEPSY Support
Epilepsy Support Group *New* Starting in May 2018  (English)
Meets first Thursday of the month from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM in Oxnard. Let’s meet to share our experiences, resources and information.

Informational
“One – Pager”
Create your child’s (or adult served by TCRC) One- Pager. This is a great way to share valuable information.  Simply give a copy of the One -Pager to the people who will be interacting and working with your child/ adult – the teacher, aides, therapists, etc.  Give us a call and we’ll help you put together your child’s/ adult’s very own One – Pager. For persons receiving services from TCRC. Individual Appointments can be scheduled upon request.

The IEP Basics (English or Spanish)
Special Education basic IEP information will be shared by a Rainbow parent. Knowing your rights and responsibilities can help you be a more effective advocate for your child.  Individual Appointments can be scheduled upon request.

Health Care Notebooks

Do you have a hard time keeping track of your health care information?  Create your own personal notebook with a Rainbow staff person and/or other parents; learn more about the transition process and get suggestions that might help with guidance from one of our staff and/or other parents. Individual Appointments can be scheduled upon request. For persons receiving services from TCRC.

What is Next After Early Start

A time of excitement, transition, and new challenges! Are you wondering how it all works? Are you confused? Want to know how to make a plan? Let’s have a cup of coffee and talk about this.  This is a good opportunity to talk with Early Start Managers, Rainbow staff and other parents who are going through transition! Call Rainbow Connection for next date.

OTHER COMMUNITY  SUPPORT GROUPS
(The following support groups can be contacted directly.)

The Aktion Club of San Buenaventura
The Aktion Club of San Buenaventura is a community service club sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Ventura and The Arc.  Club membership offers opportunities to form friendships and develop leadership skills through volunteer work and projects. For further information call Patty Schulz at 805-218-7807 or http://www.cnhaktion.org/about.html

Simi Aktion Club – Simi Valley

Meets 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month at 5:30 PM at The ARC at 5143 Cochran St, Simi Valley. Sponsored by the Kiwanis and The Arc.  Club membership offers opportunities to form friendships and develop leadership skills through volunteer work and projects. For more information call Sandra Blackwell (805) 583-2610 or sandba@aol.com

Fun Club through the City of Oxnard Special Populations Program
This program is designed to provide social and recreational opportunities for persons of all ages with disabilities. Activities offered include: Challenger Sports, Fun Club, Day at the Park, Arts & Jewelry Classes, Swim Lessons, Community Gardening and Braille Institute. For information call Maria Sandoval 805-385-8019/ or Direct Lin- 805 385-8020.

Conejo Recreation and Park District’s Therapeutic Recreation in Thousand Oaks
Children and adults from all over the County attend activities. It is a model program throughout the State. For information 805-381-2739 or http://www.crpd.org/programs/therapeuticrecreation/default.asp

Friendship Circle
Designed to foster relationships between community teenagers and children giving them a chance to develop social skills and the opportunity to experience a diverse array of activities. Programs offered are Sports Night, Friends at Home, Gymnastics Programs, Sunday Circle, and a Winter Camp that includes Rock Climbing and Sibling workshops. Agoura Hills 818-865-2233    www.FriendshipCircleCa.org

Brandon’s Buddies
A free play date for children of all abilities. 1st Saturday of the month 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM, at Brandon’s Village, 25801 Thousand Oaks Blvd. in Calabasas. Go to www.kenproject.com   to view calendar.

Special Olympics Ventura County
Special Olympics Ventura County offers training and competition opportunities in 10 different year-round sports at over 20 different training sites throughout Ventura County. The program not only provides people with intellectual disabilities with physical fitness and athletic competition, but also social interaction and community involvement. For information 805-650-7717 or  http://www.sosc.org/ventura

Running Group- Newbury Park
For all ages, exercise at your pace! Meets  every  Wednesday evening  at 6:30 PM at Peppertree Park near restrooms, please wear a blue shirt. For further information please contact Brian E. Thompson at brian_e_thompson@hotmail.com

Center4SpecialNeeds
Offers various types of supports for families, that have children ages 2-16 with developmental disabilities, Organizes Mom’s & Dad’s Night Out events and has a huge calendar of support groups on their website at  http://center4specialneeds.org

ASL Storytime
Meets every 3^rd Friday of the month at Barnes & Noble (4820 Telephone Rd, Ventura) from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM. Bring your Deaf, Hard of Hearing, and Hearing children to watch a Deaf Storyteller sign stories in American Sign Language!

Autism Support

Autism Society Ventura County (ASVC)

Supporting individuals with Autism and their families with resources and referrals in the Ventura County area of California. A chapter of the Autism Society of America. To speak with a parent mentor on the phone call 805-496-1632. For more information http://www.autismventura.org/events/

Ventura County Autism Talk on Facebook
Both for any parent or professional or interested community member in the Ventura County or nearby area.
Ventura County Autism Talk on Yahoo Groups

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/venturacountyautismtalk/info

Ventura County Autism Talk on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1636384583315658/

Fetal alcohol spectrum support

Southern California FASD Information & Support Network
Support group for Moms of children and adolescents ages 5-18 years old with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.
For more information please contact Joeli Gutfleisch
805-796-7683, joelig17@gmail.com   or https://sites.google.com/site/socalfasdnetwork/

Support for all special needS

PAUSE4Kids Inc.
PAUSE4kids provides information, support and services for residents of Ventura County and nearby areas. For more info go to http://pause4kids.org/  or call 805-497-9596.

The Special Education Advocacy Assistance designed to assist parents in advocating for their child’s needs. The meeting is held the first Wednesday of every month, September through June, from 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM. Contact Special Ed Law facilitator: Kathy Greco malibulaw@aol.com

AAC Parent Support Group

This is a great opportunity to meet other families with children using communication systems (e.g., picture systems, speech generating devices). Please contact Traci Peplinski with any questions, to RSVP and for directions. Space is limited. 805-844-3003   traci.peplinski@gmail.com

*Exceptional Family Member Network (EFMP) Support Group        
Meets 2^nd Wednesday of the month –Meeting location Varies
Support group for active and retired military families with children with special needs.
For information please Contact: Scott Council, Military Liaison for Special Needs, at
805-982-2646 or scott.council.ctr@navy.mil

The Transitions Support Group  
For parents of children and young adults aged 10 – 28 and young adults who have special needs aged 18-28. This group is designed to bring together families with representatives of local and state agencies, organizations, and groups to offer up to date information, insight and direction. Parents have direct access, the opportunity to ask questions and to be heard. For information on the next date and speaker, or if you would like to be added to the email list or if you have questions, please contact Susan at susan@baukus.net

United Parents 
A parent run non-profit that helps families raising children 4-18yrs with emotional, mental, and behavioral disorders.  For info call Hannah Abitia 805-384-1555.

Best Day Foundation 
Best Day Foundation enables children and young adults with special needs to build confidence and self-esteem through adventure activities that which stretch their limits, expand their true potential, reinforce their achievement, and connect them with diverse populations in their community.  Activities include surfing, body boarding, kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, outrigger canoe, and other types of beach activities.  Ages 4-24 – Registration required.
Surfer’s Point aka ‘C’ Street Dates:  June 10th, August 25th & 26th
Harbor Cove -South Jetty (Ventura Harbor) Dates:  July 21st& 22nd
For more details and general information, please visit www.bestdayfoundation.org or phone: 800-309-2815