Children need caring adults in their life to help make decisions about their future. Those adults include parents, grandparents, child care providers, teachers, education administrators, business owners and the community at large. Each group has a stake in our future generation and can be a strong voice for children. By getting involved you can influence public policies that support children in a variety of ways.
 Learning about the Bill Draft Requests (BDR) can help you become informed about what is being proposed. Your input can and should shape legislation for Nevada. Make your voice heard by contacting your legislator and possibly testifying at a hearing. Your testimony can make a difference in whether a bill is passed or put to rest. You can also provide information to the legislator about the needs of persons with disabilities and how particular legislation may impact or improve services. There is power in speaking out and telling your story.

Does your child or youth struggle with anxiety? If so, your family is not alone. Anxiety disorders are some of the most common mental health concerns in the US.In fact, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA), a national nonprofit organization, estimates that 32% of youth ages 13-18 have an anxiety disorder. There are resources available to support your child or youth and family. If you are in Southern Nevada, you may reach out to the UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Clinic, which offers outpatient services on a sliding fee scale. In Northern Nevada, UNR offers outpatient services on a sliding fee scale at its Downing Counseling Clinic.

• Anxiety and Depression Association of America
• UNLV Child School Refusal and Anxiety Clinic
• Downing Counseling Clinic

Nationally, since 1965, the Autism Society in partnership with our over 100 local and state affiliates has supported millions of individuals and families impacted by autism. The Autism Society envisions individuals and families living with autism are able to maximize their quality of life, are treated with the highest level of dignity, and live in a society in which their talents and skills are appreciated and valued.

Northern NV

The Northern NV chapter, of the Autism Society has been in operation since 1993. The local chapter helps support regional groups who assist Northern Nevada Autism families, by distributing donation funds and information. Another northern NV resource is the JUSTin HOPE Foundation that provides information and support to families who have a child with autism.

Click here to visit the JUSTin HOPE Foundation

Southern NV

Families for Effective Autism Treatment. (FEAT) is a non-profit organization of parents and professionals, designed to help families with children who have received the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). They provide support, encouragement, and guidance to parents and create an opportunity for them to benefit from contact with other parents with similar needs and concerns. Another resource, Grant a Gift Autism Foundation is a non-profit organization helping children, youth and their families fight Autism by providing diagnostic and treatment funding, support services, vocational training, planning for the future and education.

Click here to visit Families for Effective Autism Treatment

Click here to visit the Grant a Gift Autism Foundation

Elko NV

Northern Nevada Autism Network was established in 2005 to help families in Elko County affected by autism. The goal of Northern Nevada Autism Network is to increase autism awareness and access to treatment.

Click here to visit the Northern Nevada Autism Network

Founded in 1989 by Anthony K. Shriver, Best Buddies is a vibrant, international organization that has grown from one original chapter to almost 1,700 middle school, high school, and college chapters worldwide. Best Buddies programs engage participants in each of the 50 United States, and in 50 countries around the world.

In five short years, Best Buddies Nevada has educated and informed thousands of school-age children through assemblies and one-to-one meetings with educators and families about the Best Buddies movement. There are untold numbers of youth poised to befriend their peers with disabilities. Beyond school-based programs, our participants are supported in developing friendships through our adult friendship program. The mission of Best Buddies is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership development for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Click here to learn about their statewide programs for Nevada

Click here to learn more about the Best Buddies national program

Centers for independent living (CILs) are private, nonprofit corporations that provide services to maximize the independence of individuals with disabilities and the accessibility of the communities they live in. According to the National Center On Independent Living, CIL’s serve all ages. Centers are funded in part by the Department of Education, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Independent Living Branch, to provide, among other things, several core services:

• Independent living skills training
• Information and referral
• Peer counseling

Southern Nevada Centers for Independent Living
2950 S. Rainbow Blvd. Suite # 220 Las Vegas, NV, 89146
Las Vegas, NV 89146
Phone: 702-889-4216
Toll Free: (800) 870-7003
Fax: (702) 889-4574

Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living
999 Pyramid Way
Sparks, NV 89431
Phone: 775-353-3599
Fax: 775-353-3588

Northern Nevada Centers for Independent Living – Elko Office
331 N 7th Street
Elko, NV 89801
Phone 775-753-4300
Fax 775-753-4366

Click here to learn more about the Northern Nevada Center for Independent Living

Click here to learn more about the Southern Nevada Centers for Independent Living

A majority of Nevada’s public-school students will start the school year distance learning, but not all Nevada students have access to the equipment they need to succeed in a virtual classroom. Connecting Kids wants to connect every student with reliable internet and devices. Families who do not have internet connection or a device, can call the Family Support Center at 888-616-2476. Connecting Kids wants to ensure that all children are set up for success by the first day of school. For more information go to the FAQ.

U. S. Department of Education – Early Learning Initiatives
The goal for early learning is to improve the health, social-emotional, and cognitive outcomes for all children from birth through 3rd grade, so that all children, particularly those with high needs and or disabilities, are on track for graduating from high school college- and career-ready. ED is engaged in many efforts to strengthen the quality and availability of early learning programs, here are a few of the key early learning initiatives.
Click here to visit the U.S. Department’s Early Learning Web Site

Nevada Department of Education – The Office of Early Learning and Development
The focus of the Office of Early Learning and Development is to coordinate birth-3rd grade state level work in collaboration with the Nevada Early Childhood Advisory Council and to improve access and quality of early childhood programs across a variety of settings. The office coordinates state level P-3 reform efforts, which are part of a national initiative to transform how children ages 0 to 8 learn.
Click here to learn more about the Nevada Department of Education Office of Early Learning and Development
Click here to learn more about the Nevada Early Childhood Advisory Council

Many families struggle to keep food on the table. This is where Food Banks in our local communities shine the brightest in a time of need.

Southern Nevada and Rural Southern Nevada:
Three Square

Northern Nevada and Rural Northern Nevada:
Food Bank of Northern Nevada

In early November, Nevada PEP participated in the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes and Owyhee Community Health Facility 2019 Health Fair. This health fair was particularly important because Native American youth experience physical health, mental health, and substance abuse challenges at much higher rates than non-Native American youth. To help address this, the Indian Health Service funds 12 Youth Regional Treatment Centers (YRTCs) around the country to provide Native American youth with culturally competent services. The YRTC located in Nevada is called Nevada Skies Youth Wellness Center, about 30 miles east of Reno. Although Nevada Skies is only for male youth in need of residential treatment, there are many other federal and community resources available for Native American Youth with mental health concerns. Visit the SAMHSA website to learn more.

• Youth Regional Treatment Centers
• Nevada Skies Youth Wellness Center

The P&A System and Client Assistance Program (CAP) is part of a nationwide network of congressionally mandated, legally based disability rights agencies. A P&A/CAP agency exists in every U.S. state and territory. This statewide center is a private non-profit organization that serves as Nevada’s federally-mandated protection system for human, legal, and service rights for individuals with disabilities.

Click here to visit the NDALC

The national Legal Services Corporation (LSC) is an independent nonprofit established by Congress in 1974 to provide financial support for civil legal aid to low-income Americans. LSC promotes equal access to justice by providing funding to 133 independent non-profit legal aid programs in every state, the District of Columbia, and U.S. Territories. LSC grantees serve thousands of low-income individuals, children, families, seniors, and veterans in 813 offices in every congressional district. Nevada Legal Services (NLS) is the Nevada designee of the Legal Services Corporation. NLS provides free civil law legal assistance to eligible clients. NLS is a statewide, nonprofit public interest law firm funded by grants from the Legal Services Corporation, the Nevada Bar Foundation, and other state, federal, and private grants. Eligibility usually depends on income level.

National Legal Services Corporation

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires that each State establish and maintain an advisory panel for the purpose of advising the State special education staff regarding the education of eligible children with disabilities. Federal regulations define the responsibilities of State Advisory Panels as follows:

• Advise the State of unmet needs in the education of children with disabilities.
• Comment publicly on any rules or regulations proposed by the State regarding the education of children with disabilities.
• Provide advice to the State staff in developing evaluations and reporting on data to the Secretary of Education.
• Advise the State in developing corrective action plans to address findings identified in Federal monitoring.
• Advise the State in developing and implementing policies relating to the coordination of services for children with disabilities.
• Review all final due process officer findings and decisions

Nevada’s State Advisory Panel is called Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC). Parents and professionals are among the required members.

Click here to learn more about the committee’s work.

What do parents, grandparents, friends, classmates, coaches, and faith leaders all have in common? Experts call them natural supports or people in your life who can offer collaboration, dignity and respect, and care. Together, they form your Circle of Support. One way to expand your youth’s circle of support is through mentoring. January is National Mentoring Month, and the National Mentoring Partnership has resources with information about mentoring, which as many benefits for youth in general and specifically for youth with mental health concerns. You can even search for a mentor in your local community. In Nevada, there are opportunities to develop mentor relationships and expand your youth’s Circle of Support across the state such as: the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada, the Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows, and 4-H Youth Development in both urban and rural counties.

Nevada’s Care Connection Aging and Disability Resource Centers are a “no wrong door”, single point of entry into the long term services and supports system. The philosophy of the ADRC program is to make sure consumers and their families have accurate information about their choices in their communities, and can easily access programs and benefits for which they qualify.

Nationally, ADRC programs have taken important steps towards meeting Administration on Aging and Center for Medicare and Medicaid’s vision by:

• Creating a person-centered, community-based environment that promotes independence and dignity for individuals
• Providing easy access to information and one-on-one counseling to assist consumers in exploring a full range of long-term support options
• Providing resources and services that support the needs of family caregivers.

Click here to Visit Nevada’s Care Connection Aging and Disability Resource Center

National Assistive Technology Technical Assistance Partnership’s (NATTAP) 56 state and territory programs are funded under the Assistive Technology Act of 1998, as amended. State Assistive Technology Act programs work to improve the provision of assistive technology to individuals with disabilities of all ages through comprehensive statewide programs of technology-related assistance. Additionally, the programs support activities designed to maximize the ability of individuals with disabilities and their family members, and guardians to access and obtain assistive technology. Key Activities of Assistive Technology Projects are:

• Device Loan Programs
• Device Reutilization Programs
• Device Demonstration Program
• State Financing Activities

Nevada’s assistive technology project is called The Nevada Special Education Technology Assistance Project (NSETAP) and was established by the Special Education Branch of the Nevada Department of Education. The Project’s purpose is to provide resources to school districts for making informed decisions regarding assistive technology devices and/or services which meet state and federal mandates.

The Project provides a range of services to education agencies, parents, and the professionals that serve students with disabilities.

Click here to learn more about the services the project provides.

As a parent, it can be a challenge to figure out whether your child has a mental health condition or is experiencing typical behavioral changes. However, early identification of a mental illness can have a positive impact on the health of your child and your family. One way to increase early identification and overall access to services is through Behavioral Health Integration (BHI). BHI happens when pediatricians look for signs of a mental illness and refer families to children’s mental health resources. If your child has Medicaid, he/she should be getting one form of BHI – Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT). The EPSDT includes a Developmental and Behavioral Screening. Your child may receive this Medicaid benefit through:

Southern Nevada
Anthem BlueCross BlueShield
Health Plan of Nevada
Silver Summit Health Plan

Northern or Rural Nevada
Nevada Medicaid

Information Links
Behavioral Health Integration Factsheet
Medicaid EPSDT Benefit Fact Sheet
Birth to 5: Watch Me Thrive!

Bookshare® provides the world’s largest online library of accessible reading materials for people with print disabilities. Individuals can sign up for membership and access the library on their own. Organizations that serve individuals with print disabilities (schools, libraries, community centers, etc.) can sign up and provide access to their students or clients. A Bookshare membership offers unlimited access to accessible books, textbooks, newspapers and magazines. Additionally, free access to technology makes it easy to read books with a computer.

Through an award from the U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), Bookshare offers free memberships to U.S. schools and qualifying U.S. students. Contact your child’s school for more information on how to get started or click here for more information!

Nevada Charter Schools are public schools funded by the state. As public schools, charter schools have the opportunity and obligation to serve students with disabilities. The responsibility to make a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) available to all students with disabilities applies to all public schools including charter schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Click here to visit the Nevada Department of Education charter school page
Click here for The Facts on Charter Schools and Students with Disabilities
Click here to visit the Nevada State Public Charter School Authority

More and more high school students with disabilities are planning to continue their education in postsecondary schools, including vocational and career schools, two- and four- year colleges, and universities. Both students and parents will find it important to be well informed about students’ rights and responsibilities as well as the postsecondary schools responsibilities. Often they are called Disability Resource Centers. To learn more about these rights and responsibilities Click Here . . . All colleges that receive federal funds are required to have a office that responds to requests for accommodations.

In Nevada, the following colleges have Disability Resource Centers and they encourage students to visit their center during their admissions, or school visit, to find out more about their services. Please Click the links below to visit their websites.

University of Nevada Las Vegas Disability Resource Center

University of Nevada Reno Disability Resource Center

Nevada State College Disability Resource Center

Truckee Meadows College Disability Resource Center

College of Southern Nevada Disability Resource Center

Great Basin College Office of Services for Students with Disabilities Disability Resource Center

Western Nevada College Disability Support Services

What do parents, grandparents, friends, classmates, coaches, and faith leaders all have in common? Experts call them natural supports and they are people in your life who can offer collaboration, dignity and respect, and care. Together, they form your Circle of Support. One way to expand your youth’s circle of support is through mentoring. January is National Mentoring Month, and the National Mentoring Partnership has resources with information about mentoring, which as many benefits for youth in general and specifically for youth with mental health concerns. You can even search for a mentor in your local community.

• National Mentoring Partnership
• Search For a Mentor

In Nevada, there are many opportunities to develop mentor relationships and expand your youth’s Circle of Support across the state such as:

• The Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada
• The Boys & Girls Club of Truckee Meadows
• 4-H Youth Development in Both Urban and Rural Counties

Head Start and Early Head Start programs promote school readiness for economically disadvantaged children by enhancing their social and cognitive development through the provision of educational, health, nutritional, social and other services. Head Start programs serve children ages 3-5 and their families. Early Head Start programs serve pregnant women and children birth to 3 and their families. The federal Office of Head Start (OHS) provides grants to operate both Head Start and Early Head Start programs directly to public and private agencies in Nevada. Programs engage parents in their children’s learning and help them in making progress toward their educational, literacy and employment goals. Significant emphasis is placed on the involvement of parents in the administration of local Head Start programs.
Click here to find a Head Start near you

Head Start regulations require that at least 10 percent of enrolled children are children with disabilities. Each Head Start program is responsible for establishing selection criteria and may include children with disabilities from families that have incomes above the Poverty Guidelines, in addition to enrolling children from families with incomes below the Poverty Guidelines.

The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) is the oldest, largest, and most influential nationwide membership organization of blind people in the United States. Founded in 1940, the NFB speaks up for the civil rights and equality of blind Americans, and develops innovative education, technology, and training programs to provide the blind and those who are losing vision with the tools they need to become independent and successful. The National Federation of the Blind is doing this by providing public education about blindness, information and referral services, scholarships, literature and publications about blindness, aids and appliances and other adaptive equipment for the blind, support services and protection of civil rights, employment assistance and support services, development and evaluation of technology, and support for blind persons and their families. Nevada has statewide affiliates in Henderson, Las Vegas and Reno that help families find resources and information.

Click here to visit the National Federation for the Blind

Click here to visit theNevada chapter of the National Federation of the Blind

The National Center on Deaf-Blindness (NCDB) launched a new website in March. It contains extensive information about deaf-blindness and educational practices for children and youth who are deaf-blind. To learn more click here. NCDB has created a web page for families with different activities at home during COVID, for children to learn and have fun. NCDB hosted a webinar on establishing routines at home, for children with any type of disability. For the Blind Center of Nevada click here.

In these challenging times many youth are going through difficult times. The Office of Suicide Prevention has tips for parents on how to help to prevent youth suicide. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress Subscribe Past Issues Translate RSS Special Education Guidance from Nevada Department of Education 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, all calls are confidential. The Lifeline is a national network of over 180 local crisis centers, combining custom local care and resources with national standards and best practices. The Mobile Crisis Response Team is designed to provide crisis intervention and support to Nevada families dealing with a behavioral or mental health crisis. The Crisis Support Services has developed a tip sheet on how to keep your loved ones S.A.F.E.R. in both English and Spanish.

If families are concerned about their infant or toddler’s development, or suspect that their little one has a disability, services from early intervention provider can help a child learn many key skills to help meet their developmental milestones. The Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities, Part C of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act), is a federal grant program that assists states in operating a comprehensive statewide program of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities, ages birth through age 2 years, and their families. In order for a state to participate in the program it must assure that early intervention will be available to every eligible child and its family. The federal law, IDEA Part C, requires states including Nevada to provide quality services that meet the individual needs of eligible infants and toddlers.

Click here to find out more about early intervention services from the Nevada Department of Health and Human Services

Positive Behavior Intervention & Supports (PBIS) is an effective way to reduce challenging behaviors. PBIS can be used at home to help families during these challenging times. These recommendations can help to minimize disruptive behaviors in the home. Check out these suggestions for families, and caregivers. For more information about PBIS visit Positive Behavior Support of Nevada.