CCU Monthly Newsletter
April 2026
4th Annual Wings of Kindness Halloween Safety Event!
We’re excited to invite you to our 4th Annual Wings of Kindness Halloween Safety Event!
This event is especially meaningful to us because this is where the dream of spreading Kindness began. Seeing the smiles and joy in our community four years ago inspired us to continue bringing families, resources, and partners together year after year. More than 200 families stop by throughout this fun Halloween evening for treats and community resources!
Event Details:
Saturday, October 31, 2026
5:00–7:00 p.m.
Mondragon Family Market
407 E North St, Anaheim, CA 92805
Exploitation & People with Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Tuesday, October 6th
Time: 11:00 AM- 1:00 PM
Format: Virtual Presentation (Zoom)
UCLA Tarjan Center Forum in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
EVENT DETAILS
Date: Friday, October 23rd
Time: 9:00 AM
Format: Webinar Presentation
Navigating the Transition to Employment: A Pathway to Independence
EVENT DETAILS
Date: October 15th
Time: 4:00 PM- 6:00 PM
Format: Thompson Autism & Neurodevelopmental Center
170 S. Main Street
Orange, CA 92868
Disability Chat
MEETING DATE & TIME
Date: October 8th
Time: 2:30 PM - 4:00 PM
The "Lead On" Initiative Series
Join DMC for an exciting hybrid education series. Gain advocacy skills, learn about the IL movement, and connect for change.
FALL WORKSHOPS
Dates: October 2nd & October 16th
Time: 2:00 PM- 3:30 PM
Format: Online or in-person
Empowered by AI: Independence with Safety in Mind
Learn practical ways to use AI while protecting mental health and keeping human relationships at the center.
EVENT DETAILS
Date: November 4th
Time: 12:00 PM- 1:30 PM
Format: Live on Zoom
College & Career Experience
EVENT DETAILS
Date: October 19th
Time: 5:00 PM- 7:30 PM
Location: Anaheim Convention Center/ Hall E- Lower Level
FREE ADMISSION AND PARKING!
DOR's Online Course Benefits to Independence 101: Learn About Work & Benefits
Date: October 6th
Time: 6:30 PM-7:15 PM
Location: Webinar
This self-paced program is designed for individuals receiving Social Security benefits who want to explore employment and improve their financial future. Whether you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), this program helps you to move from feeling unsure to making informed choices.
Knowing Your Rights in Special Education
Date: October 13th
Time: 6:30 PM-8:30 PM
Location: Webinar
This webinar explores learning about your rights and role in the special education process. Knowing your rights can help you make informed decisions for your child.
How to Apply for SSI For a Loved One with a Disability
Date: October 14th
Time: 4:00 PM- 5:00 PM
Location: Webinar
This Parents Helping Parents training is aimed at parents of children or adults with disabilities who want to apply for their loved one’s SSI and provide them with what they need to get ahead.
Moving from Expectations to Employment for People with Complex Needs
Please join Sara Murphy from TransCen Inc. as she explores how to
establish and nurture an employment mindset for loved ones with complex needs – whether still in school or navigating adult life.
Learn about how to share and implement strategies such as:
– Strength-based assessments
– Work-based learning
– Customized employment
– Assistive technology
EVENT DETAILS
Date: October 20th
Time: 6:30 PM- 7:30 PM
Format: Webinar
New Horizons
New Horizons is a program designed for adults ages 18 and up with developmental disabilities and special needs. Through a variety of enriching activities and community-based outings, the program provides participants with a safe, supportive environment to build social connections, develop life skills, and form meaningful, lifelong friendships.
Community Connect
Community Connect is a community-based behavior day program that is built around each individual's unique needs, goals, interest, and abilities.
Focus on developing:
- Vocational skills
- Financial awareness
- Social and communication
- Safety and daily living skills
Queer, Disabled, and Proud Peer Support Group
Digital Skills Training for People with Disabilities
The Arc and AT&T have joined forces on a nationwide program that is bringing digital skills training to people with disabilities and their families. Digital literacy is critical in today’s world to learn, apply for jobs, be socially connected, and more. Unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, people with disabilities are three times more likely to not go online than people without disabilities.
The Arc, The Arc San Francisco, and AT&T have collaborated to create safe and accessible digital skills trainings that accommodate the different learning styles of people with disabilities.
Free Digital Skills Training
Resources are available online nationwide, with in-person workshops offered in 14 regions, making it easy to access training in the way that works best for you or the people you support.
Participants will learn skills such as:
Getting started with computers, mobile devices, and video conferencing
Navigating websites and search engines
Online safety, passwords, fraud, and scams
And more
CalJOBS
CalJOBS is an online resource where you can find thousands of job listings and manage your career.
Benefits of CalJOBS include:
- Find education and training programs.
- Customize and perform job searches.
- Create different resumes and cover letters for specific jobs or career paths.
- Make certain resumes viewable to specific employers.
- Research employers and learn about the job market.
- Set up alerts for job openings.
- Apply for job openings.
- Find information about Unemployment Insurance and other services.
Career One Stop
- Staff who can help you with skills assessments, job plans, and career planning.
- Workshops on writing resumes, cover letters, job searching, and practicing interviews.
- Information about local jobs and in-demand careers.
- Access to training and work experience opportunities.
Youth Employment Services- Strive Teens
TGR Learning Labs
Peer Ambassador Program
YMCA Opportunities
Get Invovled! Special Olympics
Low Vision Optometry Clinic
Essential Resources
Building Financial Confidence Recording
The California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) and the California Achieving a Better Life Experience (CalABLE) program hosted a financial empowerment workshop that shared simple, practical tips on budgeting, saving, money management and setting financial goals. It's packed with real-life strategies you can start using right away.
Benefits to Independence 101
Coordinated Care Network
The Arc's Center for Future Planning
The website covers the planning priorities that matter most to people with disabilities and their families.
Making Decisions: Understand your options around supported decision-making, guardianship, and self-advocacy.
Financing the Future: From ABLE accounts to special needs trusts, get clear guidance on building financial security without jeopardizing benefits.
Deciding Where to Live: Explore housing options, from living independently to shared living and everything in between.
Work & Daily Activities: Find resources on employment, day programs, and building a meaningful daily routine.
Friends & Social Life: Because connection and community are just as important as finances and housing.
The resources are free, practical, and built for real life. No professional background required.
California Postsecondary Education Programs for Students with Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
A guide for helping families explore college, career, and transition programs across California.
North Orange Continuing Education (NOCE)
NOCE is the noncredit provider for the North Orange County Community College District (NOCCCD), offering unique program and service options that enable students with verified disabilities to achieve their educational, vocational, and personal goals.
Disability Support Services (DSS) is the campus resource that assists instructors in providing educational accommodations to students with verified disabilities.
DSS offers a wide variety of programs, each with a special focus!
Golden West's College Autism Program (CAP)
Coastline College COAST Vocational Program
Workforce Preparation for Adults with Disabilities
MHS Work Center: Get Help Landing Your 1st Job
We’re proud to partner with Youth Employment Services (YES) to provide one-on-one support and resources to help you find your 1st job!
What we do:
Help with applying for jobs
Resume building support
Interview practice & skill-building
Info on local job postings & job fairs
Thursdays after school at the MHS Family Center
The Special EDge Newsletter
Informing parents, educators, service providers, and policymakers of research-based and promising practices, state and federal laws and policies, and the successes and challenges of dedicated educational partners as they work to improve and strengthen special education services for students with disabilities in California
