Resources for Families

Community Events and Opportunities

Beach Wheelchairs at Malaquite Beach - Five wheelchairs, designed for use in the soft sand of the beach, are available for free. To check out the wheelchair, leave a driver's license or personal wheelchair at the visitor center until the wheelchair is returned. All wheelchairs must be returned by 4:30 p.m. that day. Please visit the link for futher rules regarding the use of the beach wheelchairs.

Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History Sensory Night -Sensory night focuses on inclusion for children with sensory sensitivities. They provide a calm and friendly environment with many engaging themed activities. Check the museum events calendar for the next upcoming event.

Wheelchair accessibility travel guide to Corpus Christi - These tips will include accessible restaurants, restaurants on the beach, beaches with sidewalks, beaches with wheelchair accessibility, beach wheelchair rental programs, and accessible hotels.

C2C Coach to Communicate - The Coach To Communicate project provides a webinar and face-to-face/online individual parent coaching sessions at no cost for parents, caregivers, teachers, and service providers of children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants will be instructed in how to improve the communication skills of their own children. This project serves Texas parents, caregivers, teachers, or service providers who have a child up to age 22 with autism spectrum disorder or similar characteristics and who need instruction in communication skills.

Disclaimer of Endorsement

These events and resources contain external links to information created and maintained by other public and private organizations. These links are provided for the user's convenience. The Calallen ISD does not control or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, timeliness or completeness of this outside information. The inclusion of links or pointers to particular items is not intended to reflect their importance, nor is it intended as an endorsement by the Calallen ISD of any views expressed or products or services offered on these outside sites or the organizations sponsoring the sites. The Calallen ISD does not endorse individual vendors, products or services. Therefore, any reference herein to any vendor, product or services by trade name, trademark, or manufacturer or otherwise does not constitute or imply the endorsement, recommendation or approval of the Calallen ISD.

Medicaid Waiver Programs Information

There are three waiting lists you should get on now for services that will make a big difference later:

These programs provide funding, based on the income of the individual with disabilities (not the family), for therapies, assisted/supported living, home and vehicle modifications, nursing, adaptive aids and more. Waiting lists are years long; so sign up now!

Remember that you can always decline the services when your child’s name is at the top of the list.

The longer you wait to get on the list, the longer it will take to receive necessary services and supports.

CLASS (Community Living & Support Services) - CLASS provides home- and community-based services to people with related conditions as a cost-effective alternative to placement in an intermediate care facility for individuals with an intellectual disability or a related condition. A related condition is a disability, other than an intellectual disability, that originated before age 22 and that affects a person's ability to function in daily life. (877) 438-5658

MDCP (Medically Dependent Children Program) - The program provides services to support families caring for children and young adults age 20 and younger who are medically dependent and to encourage de-institutionalization of children and young adults who reside in nursing facilities. MDCP provides respite, flexible family support services, minor home modifications, adaptive aids, transition assistance services, employment assistance, supported employment and financial management services through a STAR Kids or STAR Health managed care organization. (877) 438-5658

HCS (Home and Community-based Services) - The Home and Community-based Services program provides individualized services and supports to persons with intellectual disabilities who are living with their family, in their own home or in other community settings, such as small group homes. (361) 851-6900

Notice of Destruction of Special Education Records

Special Education records, which have been collected by the Calallen Independent School District related to the identification, evaluation, educational placement, or the provision of special education in the district, must be maintained under state and federal laws for a period of seven years after special education services have ended for the student. Special education services end when the student no longer is eligible for services, graduates, completes his/her educational program by age 22, or moves from the district.

After seven years, the records are no longer useful to the district, but may be useful to the parent/guardian or former student in applying for social security benefits, or other purposes.

Destruction of records is the best protection against improper and unauthorized disclosure.

This notification is to inform parents/guardians and former students of the Calallen Independent School District’s intent to destroy the Special Education records of students whose special education services ended as of the end of the 2017-2018 school year. These records will be destroyed unless the parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student notifies the school district otherwise.

The parent/guardian or eligible (adult) student may request a copy of the records in writing or in person prior to August 1, 2025 at the following address:

Calallen ISD Administration Building

Office of Special Education

4205 Wildcat Drive

Corpus Christi, TX 78410

Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES)/Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres (PDSES por sus siglas en inglés)

Parent-Directed Special Education Services: TEA is providing one-time online accounts of $1,500 to parents/guardians of eligible students served by special education and who are enrolled in a Texas public school.

The Parent-Directed Special Education Services (PDSES) program, previously, the Supplemental Special Education Services (SSES) program is a one-time $1,500 online grant for parents/guardians of eligible students served by special education and who are enrolled in a Texas public school. Parents/guardians of eligible students can use the online accounts to shop the marketplace to obtain educational materials and resources such as textbooks, curriculum, or technology devices and/or services such as additional speech therapy, tutoring, or other specific services. The PDSES program is the same as the SSES program, just with a new name to better reflect the importance of parents as decision makers in the educational process. The same students who were eligible for the SSES program are eligible for the PDSES program. If students already received an SSES grant, they will not be eligible for a PDSES program grant.

Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres: TEA está proporcionando cuentas en línea únicas de $1,500 a padres/tutores de estudiantes elegibles atendidos por educación especial y que están matriculados en una escuela pública de Texas.

El programa de Servicios de Educación Especial Dirigidos por los Padres (PDSES, por sus siglas en inglés), anteriormente, el programa de Servicios Suplementarios de Educación Especial (SSES, por sus siglas en inglés) es una subvención única en línea de $1,500 para padres/tutores de estudiantes elegibles atendidos por educación especial y que están inscritos en una escuela pública de Texas. Los padres/tutores de los estudiantes elegibles pueden usar las cuentas en línea para comprar en el mercado y obtener materiales y recursos educativos como libros de texto, currículo o dispositivos y/o servicios tecnológicos como terapia del habla adicional, tutoría u otros servicios específicos. El programa PDSES es el mismo que el programa SSES, solo que con un nuevo nombre para reflejar mejor la importancia de los padres como tomadores de decisiones en el proceso educativo. Los mismos estudiantes que eran elegibles para el programa SSES son elegibles para el programa PDSES. Si los estudiantes ya recibieron una beca de SSES, no serán elegibles para una beca del programa PDSES.

Parent Resources

Parent's Guide to the Admission, Review, and Dismissal Process - This guide is designed to give you, as the parent of a child who is or may be eligible for special education and related services, a better understanding of the special education process and of your procedural rights and responsibilities so that you will be able to fully participate in the decision-making process regarding your child’s education.

Notice of Procedural Safeguards - This Procedural Safeguards document explains the specific rights and responsibilities of the parent in the special education process. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as amended in 2004, requires schools to provide parents of a child with a disability with a notice containing a full explanation of the procedural safeguards available under IDEA and its implementing regulations. This document, produced by the Texas Education Agency (TEA), is intended to meet this notice requirement and help parents of children with disabilities understand their rights under IDEA.

Texas Education Agency - Special Education Website - The Special Education Website lists all resources for teachers, parents, and Administrators.

Special Education Dispute Resolution Processes - The Texas Education Agency (TEA) offers multiple processes for resolving disputes related to special education: individualized education program facilitation (FIEP), mediation, special education complaints, and due process hearings.

The Coastal Bend Aging & Disability Resource Directory - This publication is brought to you by the Aging and Disability Resource Directory Committee. The committee members represent 2-1-1 Texas, Area Agency on Aging of the Coastal Bend, City of Corpus Christi Committee for Persons with Disabilities, Coastal Bend Aging and Disability Resource Center, Coastal Bend Center for Independent Living, Mayor’s Council on Aging, and the Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services.

Coastal Bend Aging & Disability Resource Center - The Coastal Bend Aging & Disability Resource Center has professional staff who can assist individuals of any age with disabilities, those over 60 years of age, veterans, family caregivers and agency professionals in the Coastal Bend area including Aransas, Bee, Brooks, Duval, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Live Oak, Nueces, Refugio and San Patricio counties. They will listen to your unique needs, help to evaluate the types of services needed and provide information and referrals on available services.

Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECI) - The Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) Program is a program for families with children, birth to age three, with disabilities and developmental delays. The program is designed to support families as they help their children grow and learn. ECI’s family-centered model provides specialized support by an interdisciplinary team in the child’s natural environment (e.g., home, child care centers) with a focus on coaching and instructing parents and caregivers through a child’s daily routines. Therapists and/or other credentialed professionals work with the child and family so that parents can then carry out the recommended techniques that ensure learning and progression.

Home Visitation Program - Home Visitation Program is a community-based program that supports families with young children 2-5 years of age. This program is designed to bring families, organizations and communities together to promote a healthy parenting connection and remove any barriers that families might face.

Resources for Disasters and Disability (REDDy) directory - The Directory of Community Resources (DCR) is a project of the Center on Disability and Development (CDD) at Texas A&M University. The purpose of the DCR is to connect individuals with disabilities with organizations and agencies in Texas that provide disability-specific resources and services.

Texas Parent to Parent - Texas Parent to Parent provides support, information, and education for families of children and adults with disabilities, chronic and mental health conditions and other health care needs.

Partners Resource Network - The mission of Partners Resource Network is to empower and support Texas families and individuals impacted by disabilities or special health care needs. (Toll Free: 1.800.866.4726; E-mail: info@prntexas.org)