Social and Recreational Programs/Resources
Below is information on a variety of social and recreational resources, please click the green buttons to be connected directly to each organization's website.
[email protected]
1-800-516-5247 www.AutismontheSeas.com Online brochure: https://www.alumnicruises.org/Autism/Presentations/Cruising_with_AotS/index.html Summary The Leading Developmental Disability Service Supplier to the Cruise Industry since 2007, dedicated to assisting the cruise industry in providing cruise vacations for individuals and family's living with Special Needs, including, but not limited to, Autism, Asperger Syndrome, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy and all Cognitive, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. AotS has been in collaboration with Royal Caribbean International since 2007, in providing "Cruises with AotS Staff" onboard Royal Caribbean ships. The AotS Staff cruises with you to provide and coordinate Activities, Respite and Accommodation Services. AotS also provides these cruises on Carnival and Disney cruise lines. For those individuals and families who wish to vacation on their own, “Individual Cruise Assistance Services" are available on Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Carnival, NCL, Princess and Disney Cruise Lines. |
Eileen Polasky, Program Director
Jenna Kaplan, Program Associate Phone: 508-651-2462 [email protected] BFC Offices: 207 Union Street, Natick, MA 01760 http://www.binafarm.org Summary BINA Farm Center (BFC) brings together individuals with and without special needs by offering a variety of inclusive enrichment programs that help them to both thrive personally and make their best contribution towards the communities in which they live. BFC provides a comprehensive therapeutic and recreational environment utilizing Equine-Assisted Activities and Therapies (Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Hippotherapy, Equine Facilitated Psychotherapy, Horsemanship and Recreational Riding), Creative and Complementary Therapy Programs (Yoga, Rock Climbing, Music, Massage), Vocational Training Programs (Stable Management, Organic Gardening) for children and adults with physical, developmental and emotional challenges. Siblings, parents and caregivers are able to participate in all of BFC’s programs, and it is this integrated programming designed to serve the entire family, which sets BFC apart from other equine-assisted therapeutic riding programs in the area. Horses act as a powerful motivational tool for learning. While learning to ride a horse, BFC’s students experience improved strength, coordination, balance, focus, and self-esteem. In addition to these benefits, un-mounted horse-related activities such as grooming or tacking can improve and reinforce motor planning, eye-hand coordination, visual recognition, and social skills. BFC offers programs in Lexington, Norfolk and Wellesley. |
PORTIA ABERNATHY
Special Needs Programming Manager TEL 617.456.6355 [email protected] 19 Clarendon Street, Boston, MA 02116 TEL 617.695.6950 FAX 617.695.6995 http://www.bostonballet.org/community/adaptive-dance.html Summary Adaptive Dance is designed to foster a love of dance and creative expression for individuals with special needs. The program began in 2002 as a joint venture between Boston Ballet and Children's Hospital Boston Department of Physical Therapy. Now in its eleventh year, Adaptive Dance offers classes for individuals ages 2-adult with Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorders at Boston Ballet's Newton and Boston studios. Classes are typically held on Saturdays and take place during two 10-week sessions (September through November and March through May). All classes are led by qualified Boston Ballet faculty and are supported by experienced physical therapists, and highly trained musicians. Each faculty member is deeply committed to supporting all participants as they safely explore and develop movement, musicality, and personal/social growth. In addition to providing an important outlet for creativity and self-expression, Adaptive Dance participants have demonstrated the following observable accomplishments: enhanced self-esteem and self-confidence, increased pride, cooperating with and encouraging others, increased appreciation and knowledge of music and rhythm, distinguishing right and left, attending to and following directions, increased focus, stopping/starting on cue, improved balance, posture, and alignment, separating upper and lower body movement patterns. |
Gale Batsimm
[email protected] 978-470-3165 www.creativelivingandover.org SummaryCreative Living is a unique respite home serving young adults and adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Our programs build independent daily living skills and foster social connection while providing families and caregivers time to recharge from 24/7 care. Creative Living has 30 years of experience enhancing the lives of individuals with mild to moderate developmental disabilities.Our overnight programs include: GetAway Weekends, Summer Camp (June 26-30 and August 21-25, 2017), February and April Vacation Break Camps. Overnight guests must be 18+ and capable of climbing stairs. Creative Living's beautiful Andover farmhouse is QUEST certified by the Commonwealth and our staff is Medical Adminstration, CPR and First Aid Certified. Our social programs include Friday Night Out (16+), Sunday Socials (30+), and Social Club (at capacity). |
Gigi Ranno
617-626-1294 http://www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access Summary The Universal Access Program (UAP) strives to increase the participation among persons with disabilities in indoor and outdoor recreation activities in integrated settings at a number of state and urban park facilities across the Commonwealth. During January, February, and March, UAP will offer ice skating, sit-skating, cross-country skiing, sit cross-country skiing, snow shoeing, kick sledding, snowmobiling, and other winter activities. The program also offers accessible cycling, boating, hiking, birding, horseback riding, and letterboxing in summer and fall. |
Mark Kelly
(617) 796-1527 [email protected] 124 Vernon Street Newton, MA 02458 http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/42367 Summary The Newton Parks & Recreation Department runs a therapeutic recreation program that provides year programming to youth and adults with disabilities. Seasonal sports programs include; skiing, ice-skating, snowshoeing, basketball, track, swim, golf, tennis, zumba, theater, rowing, and soccer. The program also offers teen and adults socials, summer camp, holiday parties, and special events. |
No website available at this time
Paul O'Connell [email protected] Summary Outstanding Outings is a recreational program for young adults with disabilities. It is designed to service individuals who are somewhat higher functioning socially. The program provides the opportunity for social interaction and the building of peer bonds while participating in recreational events. Participants in the events will be encouraged to gain confidence and to feel empowered by being in the community while independent from their families. During trips, participants will be given as little or as much support as is necessary for them to have a positive experience. They will be placed in groups with peers who have similar interests and social levels so that connections can be more easily made. |
Deep Chinappa
Outreach/ Recruitment Director 95 Berkeley Street, suite 109 Boston MA 02116 Email: [email protected] Phone: 617.556.4075 X20 (voice) www.pyd.org Summary Partners for Youth with Disabilities (PYD) empowers youth with disabilities to reach their full potential for personal growth through a variety of mentoring and youth development programs. Our programs are open to all youth with a disability between the ages of 6 and 24 that reside within the Greater Boston area. Current program offerings: · Mentor Match · Making Healthy Connections · Access to Theatre |
Skills for Living is more than just teaching the rote, clinical, social skills involved with human interaction. Through energetic, relational, social education, our students learn and grow together. Skills for Living is a community.
Growing up isn’t as easy as it used to be.Our children live in a fast paced, high energy, quick thinking world. Social challenges that were once considered “rite of passage” have taken on a whole new form. At Skills for Living, we believe that to have friends, kids first need to understand relationships. Skills for Living offers: Drop in Programs Lego Club Minecraft Society Pokemon Club Social Groups |
66 Dudley Road Sudbury, MA 01776
Lotte Diomede, Susan Brown 617-967-7755, 978-771-0292 www.smilemass.org Summary SMILE Mass (Small Miracles in Life Exist) is a Massachusetts Chapter 501-c3 non-profit corporation dedicated to providing vacation experiences for families who have children with multiple disabilities. Our first project will be in the Cape and the Islands area of Massachusetts with expected later expansion to other vacation destinations throughout the United States. SMILE Mass will offer state-of-the-art services to accommodate the broadest range of disabilities. The vacation homes will be aesthetically pleasing, luxurious and comforting while meeting Universal Design Standards and the complex requirements of differing disabilities. By maintaining both the specialized staffing needed for care as well as high-level hospitality staff, the transition for families from home to vacation will be as seamless as possible. SMILE Mass will strive to become the leading resource for handicap accessibility in vacation homes. |
Dale Belcher, 781-302-4619
[email protected] www.tillinc.org Summary TILL’s Springboard program is a unique social club for adolescents and adults with learning disabilities, Asperger’s Syndrome, and other unspecified needs. Through this welcoming, supportive environment, members build confidence, expand upon their social life, and develop new interests. Springboard members are matched into small groups which meet several times per month. Each group is facilitated by a professional group leader and provides planned, structured social activities and skill building activities. Members plan social outings to cultural events, restaurants, plays, concerts, festivals sporting events, and many other activities throughout New England. |
Dan Minnich, Co-Founder, Co-Director
255 Newtonville Ave. Newton, MA 02458 781-454-5297 waypointadventure.org facebook.com/waypointadventure Summary Waypoint Adventure, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides life transforming outdoor adventure programs for people with disabilities. Waypoint’s Mission is to help youth and adults with disabilities discover their purpose, talents, and strengths through the transforming power of adventure. Waypoint’s Vision is that all people, regardless of ability, will have opportunities for adventure and through them realize their personal value, strengths and abilities. These experiences will help people become stronger individuals and community members. Waypoint Adventure helps to make programs accessible through a variety of cognitive and physical supports including: differentiated instruction, off-road wheelchairs, skit-skis, adaptive kayaks and adaptive rock climbing harnesses and ascending systems. |