Hi. Everyone is welcome to ask about and/or post about these things anywhere here -of course. Also; anyone can do a search on the internet for such programs. But I thought it might be nice if there were one spot for people to list special programs they have had personal experience with &/or know about. It may be helpful to someone else who is looking for such a program. (If listing a program that you have not had personal experience with, please feel free to go ahead & list it, but let us know how you came across it).
If anyone has anything they would like to share here, please feel free to do so; and thank you very much!
1-) Special Olympics; Found it on the internet. (Used it myself & think its really neat, however I must say when I used it -it appeared the nearest program to us was too far away. It did not tell me nor would I have guessed that they would wind up coming to my son's school to work with him...so maybe if someone else experiences this, yet they are really interested in the special olympics -it will pay off to inquire further.) Special Olympics Locator Program (click on the colored words & it will take you there). Special Olympics (Home Page)
Snoezelen Room.....some communities have a Snoezelen room that you can book for you and your special needs child for half hour...It's a room with different toys and lights that stimulate and the rooms are usually padded, white with coloured lights and soft music or animal noises piped into it.....
San Antonio, TX s getting an awesome special needs complex. Check out the concept plan-
http://hartmansa.org/San%20Antonio%20Special%20Needs%20and%20Regional%20Sports%20Park.asp
Some cities also have sports programs that are adapted for kids with disabilities.
If I think of anymore I will post.
***For those of you visiting ANY amusement park -visit the hospitality desk and they will give you a pass so you can skip the line. You walk up the exit and flash your pass and they allow you on the ride ahead of everyone else. It does not matter if the disability is cognitive or physical. Lines are extra difficult for them in either circumstance so the parks offer this service but you have to request it. I always end up educating at least one suffering family every time we visit a Six Flags. They don't advertise it enough imo.
My son is involved with the Happy Trails program here in Visalia, California. It's a horse riding therapy program for people with disabilities of all ages. We have been attending for almost 1 full year. He loves going. We started out with the regular horse back riding (with a saddle) and he is now doing the vaulting (kinda like trick riding). They have a wonderful staff, and all the horse are as gentle as can be.
Lane has also been with the Miracle League. A baseball league again for persons with disabilities. He has only done one season, but we will be going again this fall. Again, this program is in Visalia, California.
Another thing we do is going ATV riding at Pismo Beach. For some reason, the noise doesn't bother him there. Have a dirt bike ride around our house and he runs for his bedroom. But the sounds at the beach have no effect on him. He loves playing in the sand, and feeling his feet melt into the sand as the waves return into the ocean. This last time we went, we took the truck into the dunes with Lane, and he just loved all the bouncing up and down. He laughed soo much.
I highly recommend Camp Barnabas in sw Missouri. You may have seen it on Extreme Home Makeover. It is an awesome Christian camp for kids and adults of all disabilities. They are wonderful. My son Ben is 17 with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, learning delays, and a few autistic tendancies. He has been going to Camp Barnabas for going on 8 straight years. And siblings get to go and be with other sibs of special needs kids. They will provide scholarships for any camper who needs it, too. Check it out at www.campbarnabas.org
Becky S., missouri
Ladies,
I don't have a child with special needs, but as a member of law enforcement and a strong advocate and fundraiser for the Law Enforcment Torch Run for Special Olympics, I urge you to get your intellectually disabled children involved in the Special Olympics program in your area.
Special Olympics is such an esteem and moral booster for these kids that continues well into adulthood. I have known and spoken to many atheletes who are encouraged, built up and amazed at the opportunities and relationships they have had through this program. Special Olympics is supported entirely by donation and atheletes are trained and compete at absolutely NO COST to the child or their parents.
We have just come from the International conference in Dallas, Texas and what an amazing time. I wanted to make sure the word got out to everyone here. You will build friendships and relationships with other parents that you would otherwise never have made. Many of our atheletes went to the world games in China (at not personal cost to them or their families), what an experience!!!!!
Just a thought for today! Write to me if you have any questions and I will be happy to either answer them or put you in contact with someone who can answer them.
Cherie.... Expect your miracle from God TODAY!!!
I live in Monroe, Ga. My six year old son participates in a special needs karate class. It is run by an occupational therapist who also has a black belt. They teach them like it was a regular class. They get there next belt a little easier. My son loves it. We also participate in a special populations program in gwinnett county. He just got through with anything goes basketball. They also do baseball and cheerleading. They have an adapted baseball field complex including playground. It is awesome. The basketball and baseball is broken into different levels and abilities. It comes complete with uniform and trophy.
My daughter is 8 and is in Special Olympics basketball. We are leaving this weekend to go to the State Tournament in Louisville Ky. She is soooooo excited. She is the smallest/shortest on her team but they include her in everything! Its a great moral booster for her as well as good exercise. We are doing Track next. The best thing about Special Olympics I guess is that its Year round (beyond the obvious). There is also a program here in the Summer called........Camp Happy Days, thats run by our local Parks and Recreation. My daughter LOVES this program and its free for special needs children......My daughter is developmentally delayed and she totally qualifies for both of these.
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- Jennifer761
on Jul. 4, 2008 at 2:05 PM