Special education committee to host resource fair

Local businesses, agencies and nonprofits are coming to together for one night to show Newport-Mesa residents all the resources they have at their fingertips.

Newport-Mesa Unified's Community Advisory Committee for Special Education is hosting a free Family Resource Fair from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 25 at Estancia High School, 2323 Placentia Ave., Costa Mesa.

The annual fair is meant to empower families — both typical and special education — through resources they might not be aware of, said Ann Huntington, the district's executive director of special education.

"It's just an opportunity to showcase agencies and companies in the area that will help families," she said.

The event will bring together more than 40 vendors including the Autism Partnership, Comfort Connection Family Resource Center, Disability Rights Legal Center, Down Syndrome Foundation of Orange County and Project Independence. For the full list of vendors, visit http://www.nmusd.us.

There also be a posture scanning machine, guest speakers, and demonstrations from Karate For All and about specialized bikes, Huntington said.

"We encourage all families to bring their children," she said. "It should be a lot of fun."

The first round of speakers is slated to begin at 6:45 p.m. with the Soto Law Group; UC Irvine professor Gillian Hayes on device application; the Moss Family Chiropractic on nutrition; and Innate Wellness on real food nutrition and obesity prevention.

Hayes and Soto Law Group will speak again at 7:20 p.m. along with district autism specialist Eliza DelPizzo, who will speak on parent education.

britney.barnes@latimes.com

Twitter: @BritneyJBarnes