Special Needs Resource Fair Planned In Dublin

DUBLIN, CA — Families in the Tri-Valley and beyond who have loved ones with disabilities can interact with 45 vendors and learn more about supporting people with special needs at the third annual Tri-Valley Special Education Local Plan Area Resource and Transition Fair.

Vendors at the free Saturday, Feb. 29 event in Dublin are mostly nonprofits that offer no or low-cost services to the community, said Premjith Balakrishnan, an organizer of the event. The fair is also geared at helping adults with special needs transition to college or independent living.

There will be food trucks and panel discussions on Fitness, Fun and Friendship, and Student Stress: Understanding Symptoms, Contributors and Identifying Strategies for Managing Stress, he said. There will also be breakout groups.

The discussion topics were selected based on responses collected from a post-event survey last year, Balakrishnan said.

Tri-Valley SELPA is one of 135 SELPAs in the state, said Nanette Gray, senior director of the organization. SELPAs aim to ensure students with disabilities and individualized education plans have adequate programming, in compliance with state law.

Some parents aren't even aware that free resources spotlighted at the fair exist, she said. The fair aims to make special needs youth — who can feel isolated from their peers — feel included.

The event is an opportunity to "really celebrate our families and our students that we serve every day with some great organizations that are out there providing great services," Gray said.

Balakrishnan, who volunteers and serves on Tri-Valley SELPA's Community Advisory Council, said the idea for a resource fair came out of a council meeting three years ago. Members led a session where parents with special needs children — Balakrishnan included — shared their families' journeys, he said. Someone floated the idea of a resource fair.

The first year saw more than 20 vendors and more than 100 parents, far above their expectations of four vendors and 35 parents, he said. The event grew, joining forces with a transition fair held in Pleasanton.

Student volunteers made critical contributions to the resource fairs, Balakrishnan said. The Dublin High School photography club documented the event, Dublin High Culinary Arts program prepared snacks and Wells Middle School students managed the survey table, gave badges to parents and ensured guests found their sessions.

Balakrishnan said some 180 people have registered so far, but there's still room for more parents throughout the region to attend the event.

The event will run from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Feb. 29 at the Dublin High School multi-purpose room (8151 Village Parkway). Anyone with questions about the event may contact 925-426-9144.

Register here.

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