Cultural Competency & Resources in Multiple Languages

American Federation for the Blind (AFB)

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a national nonprofit that expands possibilities for people with vision loss.

AFB's priorities include broadening access to technology; elevating the quality of information and tools for the professionals who serve people with vision loss; and promoting independent and healthy living for people with vision loss by providing them and their families with relevant and timely resources. AFB's work in these areas is supported by the strong presence the organization maintains in Washington, DC, ensuring the rights and interests of people with vision loss are represented in our nation's public policies.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Autism Society of America (ASA)

ASA, the nation's leading grassroots autism organization, exists to improve the lives of all affected by autism. We do this by increasing public awareness about the day-to-day issues faced by people on the spectrum, advocating for appropriate services for individuals across the lifespan, and providing the latest information regarding treatment, education, research and advocacy.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks was founded in February 2005 by Bob and Suzanne Wright, grandparents of a child with autism. Since then, Autism Speaks has grown into the nation's largest autism science and advocacy organization, dedicated to funding research into the causes, prevention, treatments and a cure for autism; increasing awareness of autism spectrum disorders; and advocating for the needs of individuals with autism and their families.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Bananas Inc.

BANANAS is a child care resource and referral service. We often just call ourselves an R&R, short for Resource and Referral. We helped create R&R's in California and in the rest of the country. We exist to help parents find child care and children's services in their communities.

Sounds simple? Well, a lot goes into that task. We help develop new child care resources and maintain existing ones so that parents have a good selection to choose from. We provide counseling to parents as they tackle the difficult task of choosing child care. We provide back-up support in different languages (written materials, workshops, support groups, advice line) to parents. We participate in myriad cooperative activities in the community to work on building a better world for children and families.

• 在中國的內容 (Content in Chinese)
• Contenido en Español (Content in Spanish)
• Nội dung bằng tiếng Việt (Content in Vietnamese)

California Tomorrow

California Tomorrow's mission is to help create a just and inclusive multiracial, multicultural and multilingual society by promoting equal access to social, economic and educational resources and equal participation in major institutions, and by embracing diversity as a great strength.

Since 1984, we have specialized in the development of new models and strategies to bring about inclusion and equity. California Tomorrow works directly with people in public schools, community-building organizations, family-serving institutions, after school and early childhood programs, community colleges, and private philanthropy to build the capacity of their institutions to effectively serve all communities. We collect and interpret demographic data in relation to social justice. And we engage in advocacy aimed at furthering equity, challenging exclusion, and promoting policies that build upon the assets of our society's diversity.

• Download: Cultural Competency: What it is and Why It Matters

Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Learning (CSEFEL)

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is a national resource center for disseminating research and evidence-based practices to early childhood programs across the country.

The Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (CSEFEL) is focused on promoting the social emotional development and school readiness of young children birth to age 5. To support this goal, we have developed a conceptual model of evidence-based practices for promoting young children's social emotional competence and preventing and addressing challenging behavior.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)
  View practical strategies and tools in downloadable PDFs in Spanish for teachers and caregivers.

Childhood Matters & Nuestros Niños

Childhood Matters and Nuestros Niños are live one-hour weekly call-in radio shows presented by Interactive Parenting Media whose mission is to inform and inspire parents and all who care about children so that every child may be happy, healthy, and thrive. We provide a respectful, inclusive public forum through our interactive radio shows — Childhood Matters and Nuestros Niños — and other media in English and Spanish. The websites allows you to listen to past shows and provide access to parenting resources.

Chinese Parents Association for the Disabled (CPAD)

CPAD Is a non-profit organization dedicated to help individuals with special needs and their families (e.g. Autism, Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy… etc). All the parent members are volunteers, and strive to help each individual achieve his or her full potential toward a meaningful and productive life; to encourage opportunities of social integration, and social inclusion into mainstream society. We can provide information about various disabilities, suggest referrals to appropriate community resources, and offer interpreter/translation assistance. On a periodic basis, CPAD also invites subject matter experts and legal petitioners to speak on subjects such as how to fight for better educational services and gain better understanding of their legal rights.

• 在中國網站 (Site in Chinese)

Colorin of Colorado

Colorín Colorado is a free web-based service that provides information, activities and advice for educators and Spanish-speaking families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational initiative of WETA, the flagship public television and radio station in the nation's capital. Major funding comes from the American Federation of Teachers, with additional support from the National Institute for Literacy and the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Communication Development: A Parent's Guide

The guide provides an online guide to communication development for parents. The purpose of this guide is to provide current information about topics related children's speech, language, and communication development that may be helpful to parents. In this guide, you'll find information on commonly asked questions about communication development and about speech and language therapy.

• 在中國的內容 (Content in Chinese)
• Contenido en Español (Content in Spanish)

Culturally & Linguistically Appropriate Services Early Childhood Research Institute (CLAS)

The CLAS Institute identifies, evaluates, and promotes effective and appropriate early intervention practices and preschool practices that are sensitive and respectful to children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

The CLAS Institute identifies, collects, reviews, catalogs, abstracts, and describes materials and practices developed for children and families from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, and professionals who work with them.

• CLAS Institute Publications
  Visit the CLAS Institute Publications page for selected publications regarding Cultural Competency

Daria Music

Meet a wonderful children's performer who has traveled the globe to share music that inspires, empowers and is just plain fun! On this award winning website you can find lots of great ways to have fun with music, build your own instruments build your own instruments , discover silly songs or design a multi-cultural project for your school or community group. Each month a free song is available for download .

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Disability Rights California

Disability Rights California works to bring about fairness and justice for people with disabilities. To reach those goals of fairness and justice, they may: file lawsuits on behalf of individuals or groups: investigate charges of abuse and neglect; build peer/self advocacy groups; forge community partnerships; advocate for change in laws, regulations, and public policy, and provide information to those who may not know about their rights.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC), A Service of the Office of Head Start (OHS)

Cultural and Linguistic Responsivenes This section provides resources to support staff that work with dual language learners who are diagnosed with a disability, or who may need an evaluation to determine their eligibility.

The following resources will help you learn about dual language learners and their families:

• OHS Definition of Dual Language Learners
• Dual Language Learning: What Does It Take?

Enabling Education Network (EENET)

EENET is an information-sharing network on the issue of inclusive education. Our network is open to everyone. We share information originating in countries of the South and encourage conversations and debates about inclusion and rights in education.

• Documents in ten different languages including Arabic , French , Spanish , Portugese , & Russian
• Multiple Language Index for Inclusion under Enabling Education Network
  The Index for Inclusion under Enabling Education Network is a set of materials to help schools reduce barriers to learning and participation for all children and young people. It also helps schools develop themselves in a way that values all students equally.
• Rede Inclusão - Sítio em Português (Site in Portuguese)
  Also from Enabling Education Network, we are delighted to announce that Citizens of the World, an NGO based in Portugal, has launched Rede Inclusão – an EENET-inspired inclusive education website. It aims specifically to help education practitioners and stakeholders in Angola, Brazil, Cape Verde, East Timor, Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Portugal, São Tomé and Principé to document and share their experiences of inclusive education.

Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC)

Based in San Diego, the Exceptional Family Resource Center (EFRC) is a community-based collaborative agency, staffed by parents and professionals. It is designed to serve families of individuals with special needs by providing a broad continuum of information, education, and support. Services and supports are offered in English and Spanish.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Exceptional Parents Unlimited (EPU)

EPU's mission is to strengthen and empower children and families facing extraordinary medical, developmental, and parenting challenges.

• Sign Language Dictionary (American Sign Language University)

Family Village – A Global Community of Disability-Related Resources

The Family Village is a global community that integrates information, resources and communication opportunities on the Internet for persons with cognitive and other disabilities, for their families and for those that provide them services. The community includes informational resources on specific diagnoses, communication connections, adaptive products and technology, adaptive recreational activities, education, health issues, disability-related media and literature, and much more.

• Family Resources
  Resources include:
  • African American Disability Resources
  • Asian American Disability Resources
  • Latino Disability Resources
  • Native American Disability Resources

The Federation for Children with Special Needs

The Federation is a center for parents and parent organizations to work together on behalf of children with special needs and their families. We can help! Organized in 1975 as a coalition of parent groups representing children with a variety of disabilities, the Federation operates a Parent Center in Massachusetts which offers a variety of services to parents, parent groups, and others who are concerned with children with special needs.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)
• Sítio em Português (Site in Portuguese)

Fiesta Educativa, Inc.

Fiesta Educativa was founded in California in 1978 to inform and assist Latino families in obtaining services and in caring for their children with special needs. Fiesta Educativa was formed by family members and professionals who recognized the need to provide assistance and advocacy to these Spanish-speaking families.

Harvard Family Research Project

Since 1983, we have helped stakeholders develop and evaluate strategies to promote the well being of children, youth, families, and their communities. We work primarily within three areas that support children's learning and development—early childhood education, out-of-school time programming, and family and community support in education. Underpinning all of our work is a commitment to evaluation for strategic decision making, learning, and accountability.

• Family Engagement in Early Childhood: A Resource Guide for Early Learning Challenge Grant Recipients
• National Center on Parent, Family and Community Engagement
• National Family, School, and Community Engagement Working Group: Recommendations for Federal Policy
• Parent Teacher Conference Tip Sheet in English and Spanish
  Parent-Teacher Conference Tip Sheets provide key strategies for both parents and teachers to walk into conferences informed and prepared, in order to ensure the most successful outcomes.
• Valuing Families as Partners

Head Start Center for Inclusion Spanish Content

Bienvenidos a la consolidación del Sitio en Español de Head Start Center for Inclusion. En un continuo esfuerzo de aumentar la accesibilidad a las herramientas y recursos de HSCI, más abajo están disponibles las versiones de los materiales traducidos al español. Para posibles preguntas, contacten con Taiya Minott.

Los servicios de la traducción al español para HSCI fueron proporcionados por Vilma Illanes, una educadora altamente experimentada con veinte años enseñando los grados 100, 200, y 300 de español, en niveles de college y de universidad.

• Materiales de Capacitación de 15 Minutos
• Módulos
• Historias sociales
• Grupo de la comunidad de HSCI
• Hojas de Consejos para un Comportamiento Desafiante

healthfinder.gov

healthfinder.gov, a government Web site where you will find information and tools to help you and those you care about stay healthy.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)
  Based on the English version , health finder.gov en espanol offers personalized and actionable health information presented in an easy to read format. The quick Guide to Health Living provide information on over 40 different health topics from acupuncture to vaccinations. Each heath topic includes small steps and quick tips you can follow to be health and stay healthy.

H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection of Kern County

H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection is a Family Resource Center and a Family Empowerment Center staffed by parents and family members of Kern County children with disabilities and/or special health care needs. Staff in the Family Resource Center provide families with parent to parent support, advocacy, training and assistance, resource coordination and information.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)
• Boletín de Noticias en Español (Newsletter in Spanish)

Improving Access and Opportunity for Latinos in Early Childhood

What are the elements of a quality education for young Latino children and their teachers that is culturally and linguistically responsive to their needs? The Center for Children & Families conducted a project to address this critical issue, and as a result developed a set of publications to support trainers, practitioners, and families.

Institute for Community Inclusion (ICI)

ICI offers training, clinical, and employment services, conducts research, and provides assistance to organizations to promote inclusion of people with disabilities in school, work, and community activities.

• El Acto de Americanos con Desabilidades de 1990 (Site in Spanish)
  Translation of the Americans with Disabilities Act: General Overview

LD OnLine

LD OnLine is the world's leading web site on learning disabilities and ADHD, serving more than 200,000 parents, teachers, and other professionals each month. LD OnLine seeks to help children and adults reach their full potential by providing accurate and up-to-date information and advice about learning disabilities and ADHD.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

Matrix Parent Network + Resource Center

Matrix is a parent-run information and resource center providing no-cost services to families of children with special needs (birth through age 26) in Marin, Napa, Solano and Sonoma counties.

Through the delivery of comprehensive support services, Matrix helps families in Marin, Napa, Solano, and Sonoma Counties become well informed and better able to advocate for their children in order to enrich their lives.

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)

National Associaton for Multicultural Education (NAME)

The National Association for Multicultural Education (NAME) was founded in 1990 to bring together individuals from all academic levels and disciplines and from diverse educational institutions, and other organizations, occupations and communities who had an interest in multicultural education. NAME is committed to a philosophy of inclusion that embraces the basic tenets of democracy and cultural pluralism.

• NAME Resources
  Provides resources on cultural competency and multicultural education.
• NAME Parent Resources
  Resource link for parents.

National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC)

Founded in 1926, The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is the world's largest organization working on behalf of young children with nearly 80,000 members, a national network of more than 300 state and local Affiliates, and a growing global alliance of like-minded organizations.

• Cultural Competence
• Engaging Diverse Families
  Engaging Diverse Families (EDF) is helping early childhood education programs effectively engage diverse families. Our goal is to learn how excellent early childhood education programs are effectively engaging diverse families and to share what we learn with other programs struggling to start and sustain family engagement practices.

National Black Child Development Institute Inc. (NBCDI)

To give our future the chance it deserves, NBCDI advances a multi-faceted agenda to promote and protect the well-being of all African American children. NBCDI's wide range of programs respond to the necessity to replace the one-size fits-all, deficit-oriented paradigm with initiatives that serve children based on their strengths and needs. Our programs assist children and families who are experiencing challenges in the areas of early care and education, health, parenting, education, and child welfare. NBCDI's affiliate chapters composed of volunteers are not only reaching out to African American children; they're connecting with them in ways that make a difference. NBCDI also serves as a resource to people who are professionally and personally committed to children and families.

National Center for Cultural Competence (NCCC)

NCCC provides national leadership and contributes to the body of knowledge on cultural and linguistic competency within systems and organizations. Major emphasis is placed on translating evidence into policy and practice for programs and personnel concerned with health and mental health care delivery, administration, education and advocacy. The NCCC is a component of the Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development (GUCCHD) and is housed within the Department of Pediatrics of the Georgetown University Medical Center. It provides training, technical assistance, and consultation, contributes to knowledge through publications and research, creates tools and resources to support health and mental health care providers and systems, supports leaders to promote and sustain cultural and linguistic competency, and collaborates with an extensive network of private and public entities to advance the implementation of these concepts

• Sitio en Español (Site in Spanish)
• Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

National Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Systems (NCCRESt)

The United States is fortunate to have a diverse population, but in the 23 decades since its establishment, the US has faced many challenges to its democratic ideals. Chief among these has been responding equitably to the ethnic, linguistic, cultural, and religious differences that characterize its people. Schools continue to reflect this struggle even today. NCCRESt works with state and local systems to address ingrained school practices that contribute to perpetuating disparities in access to learning. We provide technical assistance and professional development to schools and their communities, including resources for early intervention, universal screening, progress monitoring, and culturally-responsive response to intervention.

• Downloadable Training Modules: NCCRESt's Newest Professional Learning Module: Culturally Responsive Response to Intervention!

National Council of La Raza (NCLR)

NCLR has profiled four early childhood education programs from our network of Affiliates that exemplify best practices in serving young Latino and ELL children and their families. Each report profiles one Affiliate and provides policy recommendations to help bring these programs to scale. The link gives you access to 4 downloadable reports on Preparing Young Latino Children for School Success: Best Practices in 1) Professional Development 2) Students Assessments 3) Language Instruction and 4) Family Engagement