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- For Parents of Children with Special Needs
- Activities Specific for Kids with Special Needs
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Activities Specific For Kids With Special Needs
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This list will continue to evolve as new programs become available. Did we miss something? Email us program information you'd like us to include to ClarenceSEPTSA@gmail.com
Baseball
Challenger Division of Little League Baseball is designed to give children and adults ages 4 and up an opportunity to play baseball regardless of their challenges. Participants enjoy the full benefits of taking part in an athletic program structured to their abilities. The value of the program is found in the proven therapeutic and socilization benefits of participating in sports, the strengthening of self-esteem, and the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship, and fair play.
The Miracle League of Grand Island and WNY
The Miracle League program provides and opportunity for children with mental and/or physical challenges to play baseball. With a specially designed turf this league makes dreams come true for children with special needs.
Dance Programs
An independent dance, fitness and movement program serving the special needs community.
Jaclyn Carol's Dance Acadamy: A Chance to Dance
Special needs fance class for kids ages 6 and up. Tuesdays 4-4:30 pm. Our class will be structured around a creative movement curriculum that will allow for students to practice spatial awareness, body awareness, rhythm, and of course tons of fun! Our course will end in a performance in our end of year recital! Aides are welcome, and we will do our best to address any accomodations your dance may need. About our instructor: Our teacher Miss Julianne Casilio is certified through the State on New York Special Needs Education, Music Education, and has been teaching Dance for about 10 years. She is excited to work with your beautiful dancers!
260-1787
A dance program that provides sessions in a safe, non-threatening environment for individuals to grow and develop their personal potential. Uses a holistic approach, which encourages the mind/body connection. Experience spatial relations, sensory integration, body awareness, and concept formation to our environment and others.
Gyms
Open play time dedicated to children with special needs and their families. Ages 12 and under. Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 4-5 pm.
9-11 am Sundays. Where families with sensory challenges can jump and fun together in a relaxed, supportive environment.
We Rock the Spectrum Buffalo Northtowns
Provides children with fun and motivational environment to help them in the areas of strength, movement, sensory processing, communication, positive behavior modification, social interactions and self care skills. Classes and open play available.
Martial Arts
Riederer's Ken-Po Self Defense Studio
"KenPo Eagles" classes for kids with special needs, focuses on self control, self defense, coordination and fitness!
True Abilities, Inc.
True Abilities, Inc. offers assistance in linking individuals and families with various sports and recreational activities such as: martial arts, dance, cheet, gymnastics. As your one stop shop for recreational activity, True Abilities will assist you in finding the program that fits the needs of your young athlete. We will work with you, your athlete as well as the organization of your choice to ensure your athlete has every opportunity to enjoy and exceed in the sport of their choice. True Abilities aims to provide a positive, accessible and adaptive environment for individuals with developmental disabilities train in the martial arts.
Movies
Flix Stadium 10 sensory friendly family film series slated to run the first Saturday of every month at 10 am. THe films will be presented with the theatre lights on and the sound lowered.
Sensory friendly movies - lower sound, lights brighter. Niagara Falls Regal theater only.
Music Programs
BPO Kids for Exceptional Kids
A program to make BPO Kids concerts more accessible and comfortable to all children, especially those with Autism Spectrum Disorders, cancer, and other chronic physical or healthcare challenges. Includes pre-concert activities, sound muffling headphones, preferred exit seating, and access to quiet space if child needs a break. Ushers, staff, and volunteers have received awareness and educational presentations to increase their understanding of Autism Spectrum Disorders, and best practices to communicate and interact with children and families. For tickets, call the box office at 885-5000.
Other Activities - Fun Things to do
AU-Some Aquarium at the Aquarium of Niagara
Please join us for AU-Some Aquarium! Special evenings dedicated to providing a safe, supportive, sensory-friendly environment where families with autism can meet, learn and have fun together. Families will enjoy the touch tank; a sensory friendly sea lion show, sensory and art activities, gluten free snacks and informational resources from community partners. Noise reducing headphones are available at the front desk. All evenings run from 6 - 8 pm, with the sea lion show at 7 pm. Occurs one time per month. Call for additional information.
For more information call: (716) 285-3575 ext 219, email: info@aquariumofniagara.org
Au-Some Evenings at Explore and More
An exciting and free program dedicated to children on the autism spectrum and their friends and families. Once a month, these special Au-Some Evenings give children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Sensory Disorders, their friends, and their families and opportunity to play and learn together in an understanding and supportive environment.
Chuck-E-Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays
New York State locations of Chuck-E-Cheese will be beginning a sensory sensitive play time for children who have autism and other special needs in January 2017. The first Sunday of every month they will open their doors from 9 am - 11 am with reduced lighting and noise, caring and trained staff, and will still offer food and games. Contact your local Chuck-E-Cheese for additional information.
Our mission at Sensational Fun is to embrace and empower children with diverse abilities through diverse play. We aim to provide a family oriented play place where children with special needs can learn and interact with others while still being themselves in a safe, engaging, and understanding environment. It is the goal of Sensational Fun to provide an array of sports, clubs, camps, and special programs which are adapted to the unique abilities of our special needs community.
Strong National Museum of Play
The Strong is a highly interactive, collections-based museum devoted to the history and exploration of play. It is one of the largest history museums in the United States and one of the leading museums serving families. For social stories related to visiting the Strong National Museum of Play, visit: www.museumofplay.org/visit/accessibility
Sweet Charlotte's if a safe and positive children's play place created to embrace all children and their families. We welcome you to come and play with our "back to basic" toys inspiring children to use their own imagination. Owned by a mom of a child who has Autism.
Playgrounds
All Inclusive, ADA approved playground in Pendelton, NY.
Handicapped accessible playground in Grand Island, NY.
Running
RACIN! Rollin' Athletic Inclusion Network
The mission of RACIN! is to improve the physical, social and emotional lives of people with developmental disabilities through regular physical activitiy and involvement in the local racing scene. Together, we run, walk, and roll!
Skating
A competitive sled hickey organization that promotes the athletic abilities of physically challenged youth and adults in Western New York. All that are athletically inclined, but have a physical handicap are encouraged to attend a game or practice, and explore if this is a good sport match.
WNY's first hockey team for athletes with Developmental Disabilities. They provide both male and female individuals with Developmental Disabilities the unique opportunity to play ice hockey. They provide players the opportunity to be part of a team, provide training in ice hockey, provide players with the thrill of competition while having fun and facilitating the development of social skills. Must have the desire to play and ability to skate.
A skating program for all ages. It is the philosophy of Gliding Stars to use the sport of ice skating for physical, mental, and emotional growth of persons with disabilities. All persons with physical, mental, and developmental disabilities welcome.
SABAH is dedicated to the mission of enriching the quality of life foe individuals challenged by physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disability by providing educational and therapeutic recreation, promoting fitness and developing social and communication skills. Although the organization began as one which provided adaptive ice skating for those with special needs over the winter, SABAH now offers six year round programs on the ice and on the turf.
Skiing
Bill Lounsburg Adapted Ski Program
Adapted ski programs. We can accomodate a wide variety of disabilities, including people with wheelchairs. For physically and mentally challenged individuals.
Join the Hills Angels adaptive coaches for two hour sessions designed for children and adults with physical disabilities and developmental delays. Staff work with participants and their companions to tailor sessions to the skier or snowboarder's needs. Our goal is to train participants and companions with the skills to ski independently.
Kissing Bridge Adaptive Ski Program
Ages 4+. The adaptive ski program at Kissing Bridge helps physically and developmentally challenged individuals learn to ski.
The Phoenix Adaptive Ski Program
Adaptive ski/snowboard program focusing on the instruction and guidance for adults and children with special needs in Western New York. Staffed by dedicated volunteers and trained instructors, this program provides a safe, compassionate skiing environment. Each student is matched up with an instructor and volunteer. Helmets and proper winter/ski clothing is required, but not provided. Skis, snowboards, boots and poles are not provided. Special adaptive equipment is provided. Call (716) 699-8159 for more information.
Soccer Programs
Soccer Shots is providing a new opportunity for children with special needs, and their families. Join us to experience the benefits of soccer, and to celebrate involvement, growth and fun for children with special needs.
TOP Soccer
Open to all players with special needs ages 5-21. Accomodates all disabilities whether mental or physical.
- Amherst
- Lockport: contact: nfallsterbots@gmail.com
Socialization
We are an organization dedicated to providing friendships and fun for special needs people, ages 10 - the early 20's. We will be hosting monthly social events. At events, special needs participants will be partnered up with a "buddy". Our event locations will vary.
Sports - General
Camp Abilities Brockport id a one-week educational sports camp for children and teens who are blind, visually impaired, and deafblind. The camp is set up to provide a 1:1 instructional situation for each person, which is often on the contrary to other camps designed for people with visual impairments. Our counselors are pooled from physical education and special education undergraduate and graduate programs across the U.S., and overseas.
C.A.P.S. - Challenged Athletes Participating in Sports
The purpose of CAPS is to provide safe, nurturing and supportive athletic activities and opportunities for children and young adults with physical and/or mental special needs. An easier way to put this is that we give people with disabilities a chance to play sports and participate in various activities that may be difficult to find elsewhere. We offer sports (baseball, football, soccer, hockey and basketball) and social activities (holiday parties, dances and special guests).
Find Your Niche (Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders)
Ages 5-19. Sports covered may include: football, basketball, soccer, golf, general sports, outdoor activities. This provides the participants with a general knowledge of various games and activities through a series of skills development stations.
Rochester Accessible Adventures
Inspiring hope. Improving ability. Rochester Accessible Adventures partners with the community to ensure individuals with disabilities are able to access inclusive active recreation and sports opportunities. Rochester Accessible Adventures is community based and community driven. We understand that real change happens through collaboration and we partner with businesses, municipalities, service providers, medical providers, and other non-profits to ensure people with disabilities and their families have access to active, healthy lifestyle opportunities.
SABAH is dedicated to the mission of enriching the quality of life for individuals challenged by physical, cognitive, and/or emotional disability by providing educational and therapeutic recreation, promoting fitness, and developing socail and communication skills. Although the organization began as one which provided adaptive ice skating for those with special needs over the winter, SABAH now offers six, year round programs on the ice and on the turf.
They provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-style sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.
The Independence Foundation is dedicated to providing support and assistance to children and individuals with physical disabilities so that they may live independently, self-directed lives. It is our goal to provide accessible housing, social activities, community involvement and recreation. Offers: Soccer, bowling, social activities.
Offering fishing, sailing, SCUBA and waterskiing to persons with physical or mental disabilities.
The challenger sports league is open to players of all ages. Each player has a physical or mental condition that limits their participation in other competitive sports programs. Games are structured to allow all players to be involved as they are able. Traditional rules are modified and the focus is always on having fun while learning the game. Sports offered: baseball, basketball, bowling, golf, volleyball
Through Young Athletes, volunteers introduce young children to the world of sport, with the goal of preparing them for Special Olympics sports training and competition when they get older. The program focuses on the basics that are crucial to cognitive development: physical activities that develop motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and the application of these physical skills through sports skills programs.
Swim Programs
Clarence Learn to Swim - Adaptive Swim Program
Offers reserved classes for children with a classified disability or significant medical condition.
Offers multiple programs for children with special needs to learn how to swim.
1. Au-Some Swimmers - swim program for children on the spectrum.
2. Special Friends - swim program for children with cerebral palsy, spectrum disorders, Fragile X Syndrome, Down's Syndrome. 1:1 instruction and group play. Maximum of 5/class.
3. You and Me on Land and Sea - adaptive swim program combined with relationship based parent/child and peer play group.
Theatre
Inclusive Theater of WNY seeks to reimagine our society through producing original scripts in our ongoing writing group and writing workshops, and through the production and performance of those scripts with actors who are chosen solely on their ability - whether they have a disability of not. We also plan to produce eisting play without limiting our casting to people without disabilities. This may result in powerful new interpretations of those works as for example, a person in a wheelchair plays the romantic lead based in a story based on a Jane Austin Novel. This is our dream: Not only to reimagine existing plays and be a place where diversity is the norm, but also to challenge perceptions and begin to create a world in which people are accepted and allowed to contribute to society no matter what age, physical condition, race, nationality or gender.
The Unique Theatre Company is an extraordinary company of artists that aspire to promote community integration trhough the arts. They are dedicated to providing a venue where persons of all levels of ability can learn to express themselves through art, playwriting, acting and more. Unique Theatre company is comprised of aspiring and/or working playwrights and actors who have an interest in giving voice to persons with disabilities, as well as changing current cultural perceptions of what it means to be a person with disabilities.
Therapeutic Horseback Riding
Buffalo Therapeutic Riding Center
There is a unique bond between horses and people that can be particularly meaningful to children with disabilities. Riding programs provide a relaxing, non-academic environment in which children can interact with adults and peers and more importantly with their horse. We currently offer programs for mentally and emotionally impaired, learning disabled and developmentally challenged children ages 6 - 18.
Our mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities through equine related activities. These activities offer therapeutic benefits for children and adults with varying conditions, such as Cerebral Palsy, Developmental Delays, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Trisomy 21, Anxiety, and many more.
The High Hurdles Therapeutic Riding Program offers cognitively, emotionally, and physically challenged individuals a unique opportunity for growth and development. Out person centered philosophy drives us to create customized lesson plans based on the goals and desires of each particular rider. Our arena contains the state of the art SureHands lift, which allows riders who use wheelchairs to have a more dignified transfer to horseback, giving those who may not otherwise have the chance to ride the oppotunity to do so.
Lothlorien Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc.
Assisting ideividuals to develop their higest potential through therapeutically based equine activities.