Our psychological and parent advocacy services research assessment findings, and explore alternatives to special education that will insure that you are successful in your advocacy for an appropriate individualized education for your child.

As Licensed Educational Psychologists we at Ceres Psychological Services provide specialized in-person assessment and interpretation of existing data to clients in Oakland and Berkeley, California and other East Bay communities.

E-mail support is provided with no charge to purchasers of the book Learning Disabilities Understanding the Problem Managing the Challenges. We regret that we cannot be of greater service to a national audience. However, we will do our best to negotiate something that will be of assistance.

Advocacy Services:

• We work exclusively with and for parents of special needs children to provide the outside information permitted by law in support of a decision to place or not place a child in special education. Our work asks the question: "Is special education appropriate even if the child is eligible." Emphasis is upon full inclusion in the general education classroom with an Individualized Education Plan.
• This recommendation presumes parent involvement by providing activities at home to support what the teacher is asked to do in the classroom.

Educational Alternatives

• While in our efforts we focus upon the law, we are educators, not attorneys-at-law. Still, we hope to support parents with information that will help them to understand the law and utilize that information to explore educational alternatives to meet the special needs of the child with learning disabilities.

Assessments

• We review all current and previous assessments for accuracy of interpretation and/or recommend additional assessment as needed to identify learning strengths and weaknesses needed to develop an appropriate Individualized Education Plan (IEP).

Motivation and Support

• We assist you toward mastery of the content of our book Learning Disabilities Understanding the Problem Managing the Challenges. Initial emphasis is upon understanding what causes learning disabilities and the challenges they present to the child, the family and the school.
• The reader is then assisted in preventing long term consequences to the child by advocating for an appropriate education. The parent advocate is advised what to do and how to do it, what to say and when to say it, questions to ask, and what to do if you don’t get the right answer.
• If you are feeling defeated, we will read your email and it is hoped that we can respond with something that will motivate you to continue advocacy for your child.

Our Mission

• Our mission is to reduce the incidence of learning problems in the children of the twenty-first century, by helping parents rear children ready to learn. Thereby, we practice what we believe.

Our Book

• Book on Learning Disabilities
  A parent manual which removes all the mystery from learning disabilities and special education.
   
• About the Author
  The author's credentials and experience that she makes available to you as you find your way through the special education process.
   
• Introduction
  An introduction to a "gem of literature" which will have an immediate impact not only upon the lives of children, but also their parents, teachers and others who care about them.
   
• Summary of the Book
  A short review of the books organization and contents.
   
• Table of Contents
  An overview of specific topics organized into a meaningful approach to understanding the problems, and mastering the challenges for parents, teachers and administrators.
   
• Excerpts from Chapters
  Stimulating statements from each exciting chapter.