The Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center’s van

California State University, Northridge, in conjunction with the Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center and the DEAF Project, will be hosting a special needs resource fair on Saturday, Nov. 8.

The fair, one of the largest of its kind in Southern California, will allow community-resource providers the ability to connect families of special needs children to more than 70 resources for various ages, abilities and needs. The fair is scheduled to take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Northridge Center of the University Student Union, located on the east side of the campus off Zelzah Avenue.

“We are excited to host our second-annual event for families of children with special needs at CSUN,” said Victoria Berrey, program manager for the Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center. “We hope to share some of the great resources for families available at CSUN, as well as the biggest variety of educational, recreational and therapeutic service providers in our area.”

Event sponsors include the North Los Angeles County Regional Center; Newman, Aronson, Vanaman and media sponsor L.A. Parent Magazine. Vision screenings will be provided by the Therapeutic Center for the Blind. Child development screenings will be provided at the Family Focus Resource Center’s mobile screening van. Wahlbangers Drum Circles, among various performing arts groups, also will be showcasing their talents.

More than 70 vendors will be available to discuss the details of the various services they provide for families of special needs children. Vendors include the Behavioral Learning Center, A Change in Trajectory, Child Care Resource Center, Child Development Institute, McRory Pediatric Therapies, Shaka Surf Club, The Shape of Behavior, We Rock the Spectrum and Special Olympics.

Parking for the University Student Union is located in the G3 parking structure, which can be accessed by entering Prairie Street from Zelzah Avenue. Parking passes are $6 and can be purchased at machines within the parking structure or pre-purchased at The Permit Store.

For more information about the Special Needs Resource Fair, call the Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center at (818) 677-6854 or visit their website at www.familyfocusresourcecenter.org.

For more than a decade, CSUN’s Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center, housed in the Michael D. Eisner College of Education, has provided parent-to-parent support, education and information to parents and caregivers of children with special needs and the professionals who serve them.

Family Focus Resource and Empowerment Center, Michael D. Eisner College of Education