Norwich offers a wonderful Unify Fitness program that occurs throughout the school year. The group will be meeting every Sunday between 2:30 and 4:00. During the meeting time, they will be conducting physical fitness together as well as hosting mentor meetings to set weekly goals for each other to ensure healthy living. This is meant for all abilities and each child is matched with a Norwich cadet. Siblings are also welcome! This program is geared towards 4th grade and older. The program begins September 9, 2018.
Partners In Adventure day camp groups young people, ages 7 through adults, who have disabilities, with their non-disabled peers for a summer camp experience. There are 9 weeks of Summer Camp (four, 2-week and a one-week).
Activities are adaptive and designed by special educators and physical therapists for the success of all abilities and include: horseback riding, swimming, boating, zip line, archery, African drumming and dance, cooking, arts & crafts, science and nature, games, dance, life skills, music, beach parties and more. Each 2-week session will include field trips to a variety of locations.
There is a one-week Winter Camp during February break as well as other activities throughout the year.
Social Adventure Group supports young adults ages 18-29 who have difficulty with social relationships and wish to connect with others. We have a general meeting the 4th Thursday of each month at Vt. Family Network, 600 Blair Park Road, suite 240, south entrance (facing the Superstore) 6:30-8:30pm. The members plan events and play games at the meetings. Some of the events include: movies, dinner, comedy, game nights at people’s homes, theater, biking, Church Street, Anime, mini golf, rock climbing, and more. New members always welcome.
Special Olympics Vermont offers year round sports training and competition opportunities in 13 Olympic-type sports for individuals ages 8+. In 2016, the sports seasons were reorganized into four distinct seasons culminating in four statewide competitions: Winter Games, Summer Games, Fall Games, and Holiday Games.
This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals to participate in sports, make friends, and have fun!
The Special Olympics Young Athletes program is an innovative sports play program for children with and without disabilities ages 2 through 7, designed to provide opportunities for young children to be active, have fun, and learn foundational sports skills. The program supports physical, cognitive and social development — skills important on and off the sports field. It also offers families connections to local Special Olympics Programs. There is no cost for your family for participating. The program offers 1 hour classes that meet for 6-8 weeks throughout the year.
We recently went to Stowe and had a wonderful experience. From the lodging, activities, skiing, to the incredible staff; this is definitely a place that accommodates children with special needs.
The skiing at Stowe goes above and beyond to accommodate individuals with special needs. Stowe Adaptive is an incredible program that offers lessons and equipment to make sure that every individual can get out on the mountain. And Stowe also offers a “Buddy Pass”! Here is some great information that Donna Barton (Operation Manager) at Stowe offered:
The idea of the Buddy Pass is that if you are unable to meet the minimum Essential Eligibility Criteria, you qualify for our adaptive lesson program or the Buddy program. Check out the EEC requirements on their website.
In addition, here at Stowe…if you do not meet the minimum requirements of the EECs and you apply for a scholarship through Friends of Stowe Adaptive Sports, you may be granted a scholarship to use toward lessons or access. For more information click here
Equine Therapy Program is up and running, at Lily Bud Farm in Hinesburg, VT. They currently offer lessons on Wednesday and Sunday mornings for children under 150 lbs.
A scholarship program for students who need financial assistance is available. Qualifying students can take a lesson for $25 instead of $45.
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a 6 week program for kids who have all types of disabilites. During this 1 1/2 hour weekly program, each child is usually paired with a local Vermont high school soccer player. It is a great program that is very well run. It usually begins in the beginning of September.
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer is a 4 week program for kids who have all types of disabilites. During this 1 1/2 hour weekly program, each child is usually paired with a local Vermont high school soccer player. It is a great program that is very well run. It usually begins in the beginning of September.
Central Vermont TOPSoccer will take place on the Woodstock High School soccer field and is supported by Vermont Soccer Association, Woodstock High School and surrounding communities. This 4 week program begins Sunday 9/10/17.
“The Horses Touch” which is held at Twitchell Hill Farm in New Haven offers therapeutic horseback riding for people of all ages and disabilities. Susan Guran comes highly recommended for teaching children how to connect and ride horses. They offer individual lessons as well as a wonderful summer camp.
Unified Sports is a program that is run through Special Olympics of Vermont and is offered in several schools throughout Vermont. This is an incredible program that allows children with disabilities to participate in sports through their schools. The programs are offered from elementary school through college level. They focus on bowling, snowshoeing, and bocce during the school year.
United Dance aims to share the love of dance and foster creativity by providing high quality, engaging, and thoughtfully designed programming in a structured, safe environment where individuals with Down syndrome and their families can be unequivocally themselves and experience the joy of dance to the fullest!
Occurs once a year in the Burlington area.
Vermont Adaptive Ski and Sports works with children and adults with all types of disabilities. It offers numerous programs (skiing, cycling, tennis, hiking, etc). Their ski programs are run at Bolton, Sugarbush, and Pico. The ski program is amazing!
One parent says, “Thank you to VT Adaptive and the compassionate skiing volunteers for supporting my daughter Sophie in an activity that she truly loves! No longer watching her siblings from the lodge, now all she talks about is going to “top of the mountain”. We can’t wait for the snow to fly in our house!”
This is an amazing program for individuals who have a diagnosis of autism.
1) Children & adults do need a diagnosis of Autism.
2) They can live anywhere! We have folks come from NY!
3) No membership at the Y is required
4) A few different options in terms of age. If they’re over 3 years old we look at the 6 private swim lessons, one-on-one with an instructor
The grant will cover 6 private swim lessons (30 minutes each) OR if they’re under the age of 3 I look at integrating them into our parent/child program with a caregiver from home in the water with them.
They offers six 1/2 hour swim lessons for free if your child has ASD. After six sessions, you can take private lessons for $30.00 per 1/2 hour.