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Anywhere in California—we are here for you

CA H&V Newsletter

 

California Hands & Voices

Non-Judgmental Parent to Parent Support that Honors Each Family’s Unique Journey

 


FALL IS HERE! 🍂


As we welcome fall, we’re taking a moment to celebrate our families, our community, and all the ways we continue to learn, grow, and build our village together. If California Hands & Voices can support you in any way, please reach out. We’re here to help connect you with support, resources, events, and information for your family.

Join Our Biggest Fundraiser of the Year

The Hands & Voices 5K is underway, and Alabama currently has TWICE as many participants as California! We can do this! Your participation helps provide stipends for our CA H&V team to attend Leadership each year, building their skills, strengthening connections, and bringing new ideas back to our California families. Want to maximize your impact? When you register, you can opt out of the T-shirt and medal so 100% of your registration goes directly to California Hands & Voices. More info about the fundraiser.


Leadership Conference Recap

Last month, 12 members of the CA H&V team traveled to Colorado for the Hands & Voices Leadership Conference. We came home inspired, connected, and ready to keep growing together. We’re grateful for the opportunity to invest in our team and bring that learning back to California families.


Has Your Annual CA H&V Membership Expired?

If your membership has expired, now is a great time to renew and stay connected with California Hands & Voices. Our next newspaper will be mailed soon, and your membership helps support our work while keeping you connected to resources, events, and our growing community.


We hope you had an opportunity to learn, connect, and celebrate during Deaf Awareness Month last month. We’re excited to carry that spirit of learning and connection into the months ahead!


💙 With gratitude,

California Hands & Voices

📢 Be Part of the Discussion

💬 Transitioning to High School

💬 Insights from deaf/HOH CI users

💬 CA H&V Community Events Calendar


In Case You Missed It —
⭐
H&V HQ DHH Advisory Counci

⭐ Opening Keynote: Kasey Cain

This Month’s Toolbox Highlight


Disability Rights California
Special Education Rights & Responsibilities (SERR). A comprehensive California guide to special education rights, evaluations, IEPs, services, discipline, dispute resolution, and parent protections. Available in multiple languages.

Read SERR →

California Department of Education – Special Education

State-level information on special education, IEPs, procedural safeguards, parent rights, assessments, services, and more.

Visit CDE Special Education →

SELPAs – Local Special Education Support

Find your local Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) and learn about parent rights, workshops, dispute resolution, and special education services in your area.

Find your SELPA →

Hands & Voices HQ has a great collection of 
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Perspective Articles.




Knowledge Is Power: Understanding My Deafness Through Genetic Testing, By Heidy Liz Nazario, Minnesota H&V



Light the Campfire! By Emily Burke, DHH Infusion Co-Coordinator, Hands & Voices



Leala Holcomb: Appreciating the Deaf Experience


Voc Rehab: Unexpected Support into Work and College By Shelby Geldon, Minnesota H&V


Explore all articles and Contribute Content

H&V Advisory Council for Latino Family Support is an important group of experts who bring a wide range of participants committed to sharing ideas and strategies to support efforts to serve Latino families.


Manos Y Voces:
Facebook in Spanish for Spanish Speaking families with DHH Chidlren Join


Consejos Cortos de Abogacía para Padres de niños Sordos y Pérdida Auditiva (D/HH) 
(English:
Parent Advocacy Quick Tips for Parents of Children who are D/HH: A Short Video Series )


For more information 

En California: Contacto en Español

TWO NEW LAWS THAT APPLY TO OUR COMMUNITY
CA H&V Facebook Announcements:
SB 331 and SB 1381


SB 331: Let California Kids Hear Act

Governor Gavin Newsom has signed SB 331, the Let California Kids Hear Act, into law.

Beginning January 1, 2028, large-group health insurance policies and health care service plans must cover medically necessary hearing aids and related services for children under age 21 when policies are issued, amended, or renewed.


The law:

  • Provides coverage of up to $3,000 per hearing aid—or up to $6,000 for a pair.
  • Includes bone-anchored hearing aids (BAHA) and necessary earmolds.
  • Allows families to choose hearing aids costing more than the covered amount and pay the difference.
  • Hearing aids cannot be subject to a deductible.
  • Coinsurance is capped at 10%.
  • Applies to large-group health insurance policies and health care service plans.
    

Learn more: California Legislative Information – SB 331


SB 1381: Information About California’s State Special Schools

SB 1381 (Cervantes) requires local educational agencies to provide parents and guardians of students with sensory disabilities information about California’s state special schools. This includes children who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, blind, visually impaired, or DeafBlind. For families of Deaf and Hard of Hearing children, this includes information about the California Schools for the Deaf in Fremont and Riverside.

Curious about what the schools offer? Reach out to ask questions, learn more, or schedule a tour.


California School for the Deaf, Fremont

https://www.csdeagles.com/


California School for the Deaf, Riverside

https://www.csdr-cde.ca.gov/


California School for the Blind

https://www.csb-cde.ca.gov/


Read the law:
California Legislative Information – SB 1381


Upcoming Hands & Voices Webinars


Building a Culture of Safety: 
O.U.R. Children's Safety Project

📅 October 13, 2026

🕙 10:00–11:00 AM MT

Register


ASTra Webinar: 
From Parent Records to Student Voice: The Power of Documentation

📅 November 17, 2026

🕚 11:00 AM–12:00 PM MT

Register for the ASTra Webinar


For California, 
those are 9:00–10:00 AM PT on October 13 and 
10:00–11:00 AM PT on November 17.

Upcoming California Hands & Voices Events - flyers below


Behavior Strategies for Home & School — Virtual Training
October 13 | 6:00 PM

ASL and Spanish interpreters provided

Zoom auto-captions enabled

Register for free: Register Here


Ice Cream Halloween Beach Party — San Diego

Saturday, October 24, 2026

South Ponto Beach Encinitas, California



Upcoming CARES CPRC Training 
Register
here



October 8 | 10:00 AM

¡Tengo casi 3 años! Preparación para la transición de Early Start a un IEP, Español


October 14 | 10:00–11:00 AM

Becoming My Child’s Most Effective Advocate!, English


October 22 | 6:00–7:00 PM

Section 504 & the ADA: Throughout the Lifespan, English


📊 Monthly Poll

We love hearing from our families and community!

Fall is here! What do you enjoy most about this time of year?

Event Flyers

🌟 Invite a Family or a Friend—Expand the Reach of California Hands & Voices


Invite your friends, family, and colleagues to become members—or refer a family who could benefit from Family Engagement Events, Parent-to-Parent Support, or Educational Advocacy. Together, we can expand our reach and support even more families across California—regardless of language, communication tools, or educational approaches.


💙 We are here for you, every step of the way!

ASTra is a program within Hands & Voices that offers guidance and resources related to special education law, IEP development, and other educational support.


Request 1:1 Support in CA

website


O.U.R. Children's Safety Project


Dedicated to promoting the safety and well-being of children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing including signs of abuse and neglect.


website

FL3 offers support in areas such as family-to-family connections, language, literacy and social development, and practical Parent Tip Sheets.



website

H&V Projects & Programs

H&V HQ has a multitude of methods and platforms to provide support to families through our programs, projects, and communities.
 




website


Off to a Great Start


Resources like “8 Reasons to Say YES to Early Intervention,” “5 Reasons to Say YES to Assessments,” parent tip sheets, developmental milestone checklists, and guidance for creating a plan tailored to your child’s needs.


website

Virtual Waiting Room


This resource provides guidance for families after a hearing screening referral, a parent guide on audiology and telehealth, tips.


website

💙 Support California Hands & Voices


Together, we create meaningful connections, resources, and joy for families raising children who are 
Deaf or Hard of Hearing across California.


Your donation—one-time, monthly, or yearly—helps us continue this vital work.


Give securely with PayPal

or visit the Donate tab on our website here for Zelle or check options.

Your generosity makes a lasting impact. Thank you 💙