Miscellaneous
Abilities Expo
Abilities Expo is the leading event for 54 million Americans with disabilities, their caregivers and healthcare professionals to receive education and view the latest life-altering technologies, products and services. Under new management in 2009, this three-day expo will now have even more to offer the community.
Email: info@abilitiesexpo.com
Web: www.abilitiesexpo.com
AMBUCS
AMBUCS™ is dedicated to creating mobility and independence for people with disabilities by performing community service, providing AmTryke® therapeutic tricycles to children with disabilities and providing scholarships for therapists.
Web: www.ambucs.com
Beach and Country Guild
The Beach and Country Guild is a non-profit organization whose sole purpose is to raise money in support of United Cerebral Palsy San Diego with a spectacular single annual fundraising event.
Contact: Terri Davis
Email: president@beachandcountry.org
Web: www.beachandcountry.org
Boundless Playgrounds, Inc.
Boundless Playgrounds, Inc. partners with local communities to build inclusive playgrounds where children of all abilities can learn and play together. On a Boundless Playground, ALL children, playing together, gain the proven intellectual, physical, and social developmental benefits of unstructured play. They also develop respect for, and acceptance of, individuals of all abilities, regardless of any perceived disability.
Web: www.boundlessplaygrounds.org
California State Parks
California State Parks offer 50 percent discounts or free entrance to disabled persons and their entire party. There is a $3.50 fee, but the card is a lifetime membership.
Web: http://www.parks.ca.gov/
Cecily's Closet
Cecily's Closet is a San Diego based non-profit created with the simple premise of spreading stories of hope, love and encouragement to children with special needs and their families. We strive to provide awareness for early intervention services, local and government programs, and access to equipment for children with disabilities. Through collaboration with local designers, agencies, businesses, friends and family, we provide children with special needs clothes, toys and sweet dream room makeovers.
Website: www.cecilyscloset.org
Chair-Scholars Foundation
Provides college scholarships for young people with conditions ranging from cerebral palsy to accident-related paralysis.
Phone: 813-920-1981
Web: www.chairscholars.org
Children's Disability Information
Articles and resources empowering parents of children with disabilities and special needs.
Web: www.childrensdisabilities.info
Compass Family Center
The COMPASS Family Center is a San Diego nonprofit organization that provides COMPrehensive Access to Services and Support for families caring for a child or adult with special needs. Because we believe that every family needs community, our mission is to promote and support the well-being and empowerment of the families we serve.
Email: services@compassfc.org
Web: www.compassfamilycenter.org
Disabled Discounts Website
A website with many existing, but hard-to-find (and in some cases unknown), discounts available to persons with a disability. These are discounts from local, state and federal entities as well as from private corporations, stores, organizations and other sources. This website carries a subscription fee of $25 per year covering one state.
Website: https://www.disableddiscounts.com
DMV/Disabled Parking Pass
You can download an application at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/reg/reg195.pdf or visit your DMV office for an application. NOTE: This requires a doctor's signature.
Expressive Arts
Expressive Arts is a discipline of helping and healing that uses the arts as its basis for discovery and change. All five disciplines of the arts: visual, dance/movement, music, drama/theater, and writing/poetry can give you a richer vocabulary to work, play and grow a life you love living.
Website: http://expressiveartssandiego.com
HIPP (Heath Insurance Premium Program)
A State of California reimbursement of dependant insurance coverage once your child is on MediCal. For instance, if you pay for dependant coverage through your employer, HIPP will reimburse you every month for that portion of your payment.
Phone: 800-952-5294
The LaChris Connection
To offer resources and opportunities to families of children with disabilities that make it easier to enjoy living life to the fullest! We believe that extraordinary activities, relaxation and adventures bring emotional and physical health to all families.
Website: www.lachrisconnection.org
Medical Waiver Program
Some children with medical issues will qualify for state medical assistance to help pay for prescriptions, medical bills, etc. Although you must report your income, income will not prevent your child from otherwise being eligible. Call Roy Carrol at San Diego Regional Center 858-576-2996. (He will start the Medical Waiver for your child and reclassify their status.) MediCal enables you to use this as a secondary insurance (or primary, if needed). You will not be charged any co-pay for prescriptions, office visits, therapies or hospital stays once you are on MediCal. MediCal starts the day of application.
Merlin’s Magic Wand
Merlin’s Magic Wand is a worldwide charity for children, aiming to provide magical experiences for those who are seriously ill, disabled or disadvantaged.
Website: www.merlinsmagicwand.org
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
Information and resources related to cerebral palsy.
Web:www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm
National Parks
America the Beautiful - Access Pass - Free.
This is a lifetime pass for U.S. citizens or permanent residents with permanent disabilities. The pass provides access to and use of Federal recreation sites that charge an entrance fee or standard amenity. Documentation is required to obtain the pass. Acceptable documentation includes a statement by a licensed physician; a document issued by a Federal agency, such as the Veteran's Administration, Social Security Disability Income or Supplemental Security Income; or a document issued by a state agency, such as a vocational rehabilitation agency. A local San Diego National Park is Cabrillo National Monument.
Web: http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/entrance-fees.htm
National Youth Leadership Network
NYLN is a youth-led organization. We work to build power among people with disabilities between the ages of 16- 28 years old. We want to support young people in their role as the next generation of leadership in the Disability Rights Movement. NYLN has been around since 1997. We are the only youth-led disability rights nonprofit organization in the country.
Contact Person: Betsy Valnes
Phone: (866) 480-6565
Website: www.nyln.org
North County Transit District (NCTD)
NCTD's SPRINTER light rail trains, fixed-route BREEZE & FAST buses, the ADA Paratransit LIFT buses, and the COASTER commuter train are all accessible to persons with disabilities. LIFT is the ADA paratransit service for passengers with disabilities in North County, who, because of their disability, are not able to access the fixed route services. NCTD contracts with Laidlaw Transit Services to operate LIFT. The law requires LIFT riders to be certified for ADA paratransit eligibility.
Email: info@nctd.org
Phone: 760-966-6500
Web: http://gonctd.com/accessibility_lift.htm
Office of Client Rights Advocacy (OCRA)
A statewide office run by Protection and Advocacy, Inc. through a contract with the California Department of Developmental Services. OCRA employs a client's right advocate at each regional center who is trained to help protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities. OCRA has excellent information book on rights and responsibilities for parents of children with special needs. This organization can help you with schools, social security, MediCal, neglect, discrimination, regional centers, in-home services, private insurance, daycare, criminal matters and other areas of the law.
Phone: 800-390-7032
Web: www.pai-ca.org/pubs/501501.htm
Paws'itive Teams
Paws'itive Teams, incorporated as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization in California, provides service dogs for persons with disabilities, enabling these persons to live more independent lives and to achieve an enhanced quality of life. We custom-train our service dogs to meet the specific needs of the individual and provide lifetime team support following placement. All placements are limited to San Diego County.
Phone: 858-279-7297
Email: paws@pawsteams.org
Web: http://www.pawsteams.org
SDG&E (San Diego Gas & Electric Company)
SDG&E offers a medical base line for energy usage for qualifying consumers. Qualifying consumers must have a medical condition requiring energy usage, such as nebulizer for asthma, air filters for allergies, and air conditioning for heart problems or heat exhaustion. There is also a part on the application that offers a discount of gas for medical conditions.
Phone: 800-411-SDGE (7343)
Web: www.sdge.com
Sharp Healthcare Rehabilitation Services
Sharp Healthcare Rehabilitation Services has a number of resources available in support of a active lifestyles, including support groups, exercise programs, field trips, a newsletter, adaptive driving program and community resources.
Contact: Debbie Moore, MR, RTC
Phone: 858-939-3048
Web: www.sharp.com/rehab
Stephen Wamplers Blog Spot
I know a lot of you out there are living with or know someone with cerebral palsy. I'm opening up my life to you in two different ways. For all those people who just have really inquisitive questions but are just too scared to ask your friend, classmate or colleague. And for parents and kids I'll answer questions about raising your children or how to ask your parents for privacy when you want and so on. So I'm here to answer those questions and more, so fire away! If you want to look me up and find out more about me and my mission just go to the Stephen J. Wampler anywhere on the net and you'll find out. I'll be posting at least three times a week and I'll try to answer all your questions. To learn more about Stephen Wampler please visit: rockonsteve.org
Website: http://stephenwampler.blogspot.com/
Stephen J. Wampler Foundation
The Stephen J. Wampler Foundation was established by Steve Wampler to give children with physical disabilities the kinds of outdoor wilderness experiences Steve was fortunate to have as a child at at Camp Nejedly located at Hawley Lake.
Phone Number: 800-381-6891
E-mail: wampler@schwartzcomm.com
Website: www.wamplerfoundation.org
TACA
Talk About Curing Autism (TACA) provides information, resources and support to families affected by autism. This website has a number of resources for families/patients not only with autism, but with any special needs.
Website: www.tacanow.org
TASH
TASH is an organization of members concerned with human dignity, civil rights, education and independence for all individuals with disabilities.
Phone: 310-258-4024 (California Office)
Web: www.tash.org
tHAIRapy Hair Salon
tHAIRapy Hair Salon is a family salon specializing in and catering to our clientele with AUTISM and SPECIAL NEEDS. From our sensory wall, to our wheelchair accessible shampoo bowl & station, to our specially trained therapy dog arriving in December. We are continuously striving to offer the best of the best to each and every one of our clients. tHAIRapy Hair Salon is here to change the way parents and kids feel about haircut day.
Phone number: (619) 241-2273
Website: http://www.thairapyhairsalon.com/
TOT
The Pioneers TOT (Therapy Oriented Tricycle) Trike is a modified safe tricycle designed for children with special needs (ages 2½ to 7 years) to help improve their strength and enhance their physical therapies while allowing them the thrill of playing and interacting with other children. The TOT Trike is specially designed for children who have weak leg muscles, but are able to use the pedals.
Contact Person: Gordon & Connie Hankins
Phone: (630) 355-7211
Fax: (630) 355-7211
Cell: (630) 841-4542
Email: ghankins99@aol.com
Website: http://www.pioneersvolunteer.org/volunteer/pioneersprojects/spotlightedprojects/default.aspx
