About Rainbow Connection
Rainbow Connection is a Family Resource Center in Ventura County that serves people with developmental disabilities and other special needs and their families. Rainbow is staffed by parents of children and adults with special needs, we draw from our own experiences. We understand the daily joys and challenges of parenting a child or adult with special needs. Whether you are just starting your journey with a baby in the hospital or you are a family member looking at aging issues for someone with special needs, we are here for you to meet and find support, information and training. We are great listeners and can assist families with problem solving.
Our staff and families work together in relationships based on equality and respect. We believe that every person should be valued, respected, and given the opportunity to reach their fullest potential. We are dedicated to build sensitivity, knowledge and understanding between individuals, families, professionals and the community with sincerity and confidentiality. Our principles of family support are modeled in all program activities, including planning, governance and administration.
How it all began:
In 1991 the community (including parents) involved with children 0-3 with special needs decided that they wanted a family resource center (FRC). Parents were recruited and trained at numerous statewide trainings to run the FRC.
In the beginning, Rainbow (the name we chose for our FRC) was 2 parents working a total of 12 hours per week in a closet.
The bookcase held 6 books. The bookcase sat on one of the desks since it was a small closet. And Rainbow began to grow.
Around 1998 Rainbow merged with Tri-Counties Regional Center and became Rainbow Connection Family Resource Center, serving people with developmental disabilities through the life span. And Rainbow continued to grow. Parents getting to talk to other parents who had “been there, done that” proved very powerful. Whether it was finding out that “yes, other people really do feel like that sometimes too” or it was finding out about a new resource or it was brainstorming about how to handle a problem, parents felt supported. Rainbow continued to grow.
We have a library and office in Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Fillmore and several small satellite libraries at agencies in various communities. Our library is continuously expanding and the catalog can be accessed online.
We started with NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) support and now have activities for adults. Outreach started as collating the newsletter on the living room floor and Rainbow continued to grow, now our “What’s Happening at Rainbow” is e-mailed to over a thousand people.
As Rainbow has grown, we have been blessed with the wonderful partners
we have worked with. We serve on numerous committees in the community representing families with children with special needs. We collaborate with other agencies to provide services for families. We have worked with Area Board 9 and Disability Rights California to provide leadership training for families.
We provide information, training, and support for families with our goal being to hold the family’s hand in the beginning and then let go so they can fly with confidence on their adventure, but to assure the family that they can still knock on our door when issues arise.
Come visit us, you are always welcome!
We are here for you and your family!
In the beginning, Rainbow (the name we chose for our FRC) was 2 parents working a total of 12 hours per week in a closet.
The bookcase held 6 books. The bookcase sat on one of the desks since it was a small closet. And Rainbow began to grow.
Around 1998 Rainbow merged with Tri-Counties Regional Center and became Rainbow Connection Family Resource Center, serving people with developmental disabilities through the life span. And Rainbow continued to grow. Parents getting to talk to other parents who had “been there, done that” proved very powerful. Whether it was finding out that “yes, other people really do feel like that sometimes too” or it was finding out about a new resource or it was brainstorming about how to handle a problem, parents felt supported. Rainbow continued to grow.
We have a library and office in Oxnard, Simi Valley, and Fillmore and several small satellite libraries at agencies in various communities. Our library is continuously expanding and the catalog can be accessed online.
We started with NICU (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) support and now have activities for adults. Outreach started as collating the newsletter on the living room floor and Rainbow continued to grow, now our “What’s Happening at Rainbow” is e-mailed to over a thousand people.
As Rainbow has grown, we have been blessed with the wonderful partners
we have worked with. We serve on numerous committees in the community representing families with children with special needs. We collaborate with other agencies to provide services for families. We have worked with Area Board 9 and Disability Rights California to provide leadership training for families.
We provide information, training, and support for families with our goal being to hold the family’s hand in the beginning and then let go so they can fly with confidence on their adventure, but to assure the family that they can still knock on our door when issues arise.
Come visit us, you are always welcome!
We are here for you and your family!
It is our goal to present information that is both accurate and relevant. We have provided links to third party web sites.
Rainbow Connection Family Resource Center does not necessarily endorse any information, treatment,
program, philosophy or viewpoints conveyed by these sites. We encourage you to obtain information
from a variety of sources before considering any course of action.
Rainbow Connection Family Resource Center does not necessarily endorse any information, treatment,
program, philosophy or viewpoints conveyed by these sites. We encourage you to obtain information
from a variety of sources before considering any course of action.
