The CSUNÂ Family Focus Resource Center may be one of our community’s best-kept secrets, but for thousands of families raising children with disabilities or developmental delays, it has been an invaluable source of support and information for decades. Guided by its motto, “Your Best Resource is Another Parent,” FFRC’s staff members are parents and family members of individuals with disabilities who help other families navigate services, education and community resources. Its popular All Abilities Resource Fair returns on Nov. 7, and we asked Diana Chulak, director of operations at FFRC, to tell us more about the center and this annual event.
L.A. Parent: Let’s start with the All-Abilities Resource Fair that’s coming up on Nov. 7. You run two of them – one in the Antelope Valley in the spring and this one in the fall on the campus of CSUN. L.A. Parent has been a proud participant every year, so tell our community what parents will find at this one.
Chulak: We are excited to host our 13th annual All Abilities Resource Fair on the campus of California State University, Northridge! This event gives families the opportunity to connect with organizations, services and resources that best meet their family’s unique needs, all in one convenient location. We welcome parents, caregivers, self-advocates, educators, therapists, service providers and anyone who supports individuals with disabilities. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or looking for new programs as your child grows, families can meet service providers, ask questions, gather information and discover resources they may not have known existed. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to connect with other parents and feel part of a supportive community.
L.A. Parent: How many families typically attend and how many exhibitors do you expect?
Chulak: Attendance varies from year to year, but we typically welcome between 600 and 900 attendees and host approximately 75 to 80 exhibitors at the Northridge Center in the University Student Union. Families can explore a wide range of organizations offering services, therapies, educational programs, recreational opportunities, advocacy and community resources. Many exhibitors also provide giveaways and family-friendly activities. To make the experience even more valuable, every attendee receives access to our digital event guide, which includes exhibitor information and direct links to organizations so families can easily reconnect with resources after the event.
L.A. Parent: What makes your event so good and worthwhile to attend?
Chulak: Our resource fair is designed by families and for families. Every member of our staff is a parent or family member of someone with a disability, so we understand firsthand how overwhelming it can be to navigate services and find the right support. We carefully select exhibitors and plan the event with the needs of families in mind, creating a welcoming environment where parents can ask questions, make connections and leave feeling informed, supported and empowered. Many families tell us they discover resources at our fair that they didn’t know were available. We want to make the event as accessible as possible, so admission is free and complimentary parking passes are available while supplies last.
L.A. Parent: Beyond the Resource Fair, your office provides fantastic programming and services for parents. Can you highlight a few of them for us?
Chulak: While the All Abilities Resource Fair is our largest annual event, Family Focus Resource Center provides free support to families throughout the year. Across our four offices in Northridge (on the CSUN campus), Chatsworth, Santa Clarita and the Antelope Valley (all located in the lobbies of North Los Angles County Regional Center offices), we offer nine ongoing support groups, monthly IEP Essentials workshops and educational presentations on a variety of disability-related topics. Many of these workshops are recorded in both English and Spanish and are available on our YouTube channel, making them accessible whenever families need them.
We also maintain an online resource padlet filled with guides, community events and helpful information, and our Community Navigator program provides 1-on-1 assistance with complex applications for services such as Medi-Cal, SSI, IHSS, CalFresh and Regional Center service navigation for NLACRC clients. Our goal is to help families navigate systems that can often feel overwhelming, while ensuring they receive the support and services they’re entitled to.
L.A. Parent: What else do you want our community to know about the Family Focus Resource Center?
Chulak: One of the most important things families should know is that all of our services are completely free. As a nonprofit Family Empowerment Center, our mission is to ensure that no family has to navigate the disability journey alone. Our bilingual staff, who are all parents or family members of individuals with disabilities, understand both the practical and emotional challenges families face because we’ve lived them ourselves.
Whether you have questions about an IEP, need help finding services, are looking for support after a new diagnosis or simply aren’t sure where to begin, we’re here to help. We serve families of children and adults with disabilities, from birth through adulthood. Families are welcome to visit one of our offices, schedule an appointment in person, by phone or via Zoom, and subscribe to our monthly newsletter to stay informed about workshops, support groups, community events and new resources. And if you live outside our service area, we are happy to refer you to the parent center that serves your area. We can’t wait to meet you!
