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Volume 40

August 2025

South County SELPA Insights is a monthly newsletter full of information and resources brought to you by the South County Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) team. In August the South County SELPA hosted a resource fair featuring several agencies who provide support to families with students with special needs. This month we will be sharing the organizations that were present. Keep reading to find resources and ways the South County SELPA can assist you and your family.

Visit the SELPA website

SELPA Highlights

South County SELPA Special Education Resource Fair

We are pleased to share the success of our recent Special Education Resource Fair! This year we hosted 47 local organizations and over 200 participants. Thank you to all of our contributors and attendees that helped us make our event wonderful. We can't wait to see you back next year! If you were unable to attend this event and would like to access information about the organizations that were present, please see our list below.

Participating organizations included:

A Better Life Together, Inc.

Autism Society San Diego

Behavioral Health Services — SDC Health & Human Services Agency

Braille Institute of America

CalABLE

Casa Familiar

Child Development Associates (CDA)

Chula Vista Elementary School District

Blue Envelope Program | San Diego County Sheriff

Community Advisory Committee (CAC) — San Diego County Office of Education

Connections for Adults Living Independently (CALI)

Coronado Unified School District

Davila Day School

Deaf Community Services of San Diego (DCS)

Department of Rehabilitation (DOR)

Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC)

Equitable Communities — SDC Health & Human Services Agency

FERIA Partnership

Family Health Centers of San Diego

Friendship School — San Diego County Office of Education

Goodwill Industries of San Diego County

Home of Guiding Hands (HGH)

HOPE Infant Family Support Program — San Diego County Office of Education

HOPE Inc.

Imperial Beach Community Clinic (IB Clinic)

James Cerebral Palsy Foundation

Miracle League of San Diego

National City Fire Department

National School District

Navy Child and Youth Programs

National Foundation for Autism Research (NFAR)

Options For All

Outside The Lens

San Diego County Library

San Diego Gas & Electric (SDGE)

San Diego Regional Center (SDRC)

SDSU | PUENTE

South Bay Union School District

Southwestern College

Special Olympics Southern California

State Council on Developmental Disabilities (SCDD)

Sweetwater Union High School District

San Ysidro School District

TASK | Special Needs Resource Foundation of San Diego

Unified Esports League

Image of SELPA staff with family holding a certificate next to a bicycle

Staff Highlight

Each year at our Annual Art Exhibition and District Awards Recognition, we celebrate exceptional staff members who go above and beyond. This is our opportunity to showcase their incredible work and share their stories — including what inspired them to work with students with disabilities.

This month we will share some of the great work that Dr. Sergio Campos does at Sweetwater Union High School District.

Dr. Sergio Campos has dedicated over three decades to championing students with special needs and their families. With deep expertise and a compassionate approach, he has been a driving force in leading our district through the Alternative Pathway to Diploma process — transforming a complex initiative into a life-changing opportunity for students. His work goes far beyond policies and procedures; he invests his time in creating meaningful resources, building bridges across disciplines, and bringing people together with a shared vision of student success. Dr. Campos also walks alongside families during challenging moments, offering guidance, empathy, and solutions that foster collaboration over conflict. His leadership is rooted in the belief that every student deserves not just access, but the chance to thrive — and he has made that belief a reality for countless students and families.

Chula Vista Elementary School District (CVESD) Community Expo

The 4th annual CVESD Community Expo was full of fun and great resources for families! There was music, emergency vehicles to tour, and tons of interactive games to play. We are thankful for the opportunity to connect with so many local families and offer our resources. We look forward to being a part of the event again next year.

South Bay Union School District (SBUSD) Community Kick-Off Event

Our SELPA team had a wonderful time at the SBUSD Community Kick-Off Event. Not only were there plenty of reliable resources available to connect with, but there were also informational sessions for parents, free haircuts, and school supplies offered to all students. We thank SBUSD for the chance to participate in this event and connect with more South County families.

Our team and table at the CUSD ice cream social

Coronado Ice Cream Social

We had a great time participating in the Coronado Unified School District's Ice Cream Social where we connected with many new families. We wish all CUSD teachers, parents and students a fantastic start to their 2025-26 school year!

Miracle League San Diego

Get ready! Opening Day is Saturday, Sept. 6.

The fall season runs from Sept. 6 to Nov. 16.

Player registration for this season has closed, but Miracle League is always searching for more volunteer buddies and coaches. Register as a buddy or coach or view available locations.

What is the Community Advisory Committee (CAC)?

The CAC is a team of parents and other individuals with a personal or professional interest in securing appropriate services for students with special needs. Their mission is to involve interested parents, students, teachers, and education specialists in establishing a networking system between the school and the community. Their vision is to encourage parents to actively participate in becoming knowledgeable, empowered, and effective partners in the development and implementation of learning experiences for students with exceptional needs.

For more information or to join the CAC please see this link.

Upcoming CAC Meetings

Aug. 19, 2025

9:30 a.m. (in-person)

Nov. 18, 2025

6 p.m. (virtual)

Feb. 17, 2026

9:30 a.m. (in-person)

April 21, 2026

9:30 a.m. (in-person)

In-person meetings are located at the SCREC:

800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950

Free American Sign Language (ASL) Classes at Davila Day School

Davila Day school is offering a free ASL class on their campus every Wednesday from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Parents, siblings, and community members interested in learning to sign are welcomed! They also have childcare available during class meetings.

2025-26 Schedule:

Q1 Aug. 6 to Sept. 10
Q2 Oct. 8 to Dec. 10
Q3 Jan. 14 to March 11
Q4 April 8 to May 27

Davila Day School campus:

415 Smith Ave., Chula Vista, CA 91910

For more information, click here.

Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Corner

Mediation can sometimes be an emotional, tiring, and frustrating process. Be sure to give yourself breaks as needed during meetings or suggest scheduling another session if you become overwhelmed.

Keep asking questions and wait for responses until you do fully understand. Resist any temptation to answer your own questions or make assumptions.

“Please and thank you” also go a long way in keeping conversations civil, and not surprisingly, helps everyone say “yes."

Source: CADRE (The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education)

Communication Tips

When attending meetings sometimes emotions and stressors can take over. Preparing beforehand can take some pressure off and help make sure you remember to discuss all of your questions and concerns.

Make a list of the issues, questions, and possible solutions you have. Rank them. Decide if there are any you can pass on and which one(s) must be addressed. Plan how you are willing to give and take in order to achieve the higher goal. Map out what you need to say and practice, if that helps.

Source: CADRE (The Center for Appropriate Dispute Resolution in Special Education)

Upcoming Events

Aug. 19 — Community Advisory Committee (CAC) Meeting

Meeting will be at the South County Regional Education Center located at 800 National City Blvd., National City, CA 91950 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. For more information visit the South County SELPA website.

Aug. 27 — SDCOE Blood Drive

Event will be at the SDCOE Main Campus at 6401 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the West Parking Lot. If you would like to participate, please schedule an appointment here.

Sept. 3 — Coronado Naval Base Suicide Awareness Month 5k Run/Walk

Event will be at the VADM Martin Softball Field beginning at 8 a.m. Come together, get moving, and help us spread strength, support, and solidarity with every step. This event is free but does require registration. To register or see more information visit this page.

Sept. 4 to Sept. 25 — Learning to Relax Through Mindfulness Free Online Class Series

This 4-part virtual series will be meeting every Thursday throughout September from 6 to 7 p.m. Meetings are designed to help participants explore stress management, relaxation techniques, and ways to cultivate emotional awareness for a happier, healthier life. Please see below for more information and registration for all dates.

Sept. 4 — What the Body Can Teach Us - Register

Sept. 11 — Mindfulness of Emotion - Register

Sept. 18 — Attending to Thoughts - Register

Sept. 25 — Awareness: Your Brain's Superpower - Register

Sept. 23 — Educational Technology Parent Series Begins

All meetings will be virtual from 4 to 5 p.m. Zoom links will be provided the day of each meeting, and Spanish subtitles are available.

This series is designed to help parents become confident digital partners in their children's learning journey. Topics include artificial intelligence (AI) in education, apps popular with students, deepfakes, recognizing and avoiding scams, and more.

For more information and to register click here.

Sept. 26 — End of Summer OAC Gear Sale

The Outdoor Adventure Center (OAC) at the Coronado Naval Base will be hosting a used gear sale on Sept. 26 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. There you can find used inflatable paddle boards, kayaks, surf boards, coolers, chairs and more. No registration is required to attend this event.

Oct. 15 to Nov. 5 — Fall Parent IEP Academy

Meetings will be virtual on Zoom every Tuesday from 10 to 11 a.m.

Registration

If you have any questions or comments on the SELPA Insights newsletter, please contact our team at scselpaadr@sdcoe.net.

Get up-to-the-minute information about what's happening at South County SELPA.