This is an online library digital book resource for people with print disabilities. Any child from grades K-12 who is on an IEP or 504 with a visual, physical or learning/reading disability can use this site for free. It does have to be linked to your child’s school. Ask your child’s special educator about this amazing resource!
Boston Children’s Hospital does an very thorough job at evaluating and diagnosing autism. Their expertise in this area is remarkable. The staff at Children’s are also very friendly and make your child and family feel comfortable in a hospital setting.
Buddy Up Tennis is a full body workout class designed for our Athletes with Down syndrome ages 12 years old and over. Our 8 station circuit training program is designed to combine activities that both increase heart rate and strengthen muscles with particular attention on core conditioning. Buddy Up Tennis will be filled with challenges and fun to help our Athletes reach their fullest potential.
Building Bright Futures offers a lot of playgroups throughout the state of Vermont. They facilitate free, weekly playgroups for families and caregivers with children birth to age five and provide large and small motor activities, gym time, crafts, stories, and manipulatives. These groups are a wonderful way to connect with other families and find out other events that are going on in the community.
Check out their new summer hour playgroups at http://buildingbrightfutures.org
The Macaroni’s Orthotics Edition is Butler’s Original tall all-weather, 3-in-1 boot, with a special V-stitched front opened liner to better accommodate braces.
An incredible 2 week camp that is run through the Stern Center for children that want to enhance their social skills. The camp helps children navigate their way in social situations through direct teaching, coaching, and practice to learn the fundamental building blocks of social success.
Camp Daybreak provides a one week residential summer camp for children who have social, behavioral, and emotional needs. It is a highly supportive camp that includes one on one supervision. It is primarily meant for children who would not be able to attend an average summer camp due to their emotional or behavioral needs. Anyone can refer a child to attend.
Camp Kaleidoscope is a summer camp for families who have a child on the autism spectrum. It is for the WHOLE family to enjoy. We have been going for the past four years but unfortunately our child has aged out. I can’t tell you how freeing it is to spend four days in the mountains (Starksboro, VT) with other families who get it. You never have to apologize for your child, you never have the feeling of embarrassment and you get to witness your child making connections. Every family is paired with a “Family Partner”, generally college students from the Boston area. In the mornings, all kids go to “Kidville” where they can choose from a myriad of choices. Adults can go off by themselves and hike, sleep, read, connect with other adults doing a craft or attend a workshop. After lunch, there is time for rest or a quiet movie in the clubhouse. Then there are activities for the whole family such a huge water slide or swimming at the pond. After dinner, there might be a talent show or a dance party or a bonfire. All meals are provided and are absolutely delicious (local, fresh & vegetarian but things such as hot dogs and chicken nuggets are available). We have chosen to stay in a cabin for all four years (we requested the same one every year and loved it!) but there are other more comfy accommodations if you choose.
Camp Rainbow is a summer day camp run by NCSS for children with ASD or DD. The idea of the camp is to provide “a typical summer camp experience – fun activities, outdoor play, swimming, crafts, singing, friendships. Such an experience is not always available to children with these diagnoses due to cognitive, physical, and behavioral challenges.
The camp runs from 8:30-2:30 for several weeks. For more information click here: Camp Rainbow
Camp Ta-Kum-Ta serves children ages 7-17 who have or have had cancer and live in or are treated in the State of Vermont. This incredible program offers children and their families wonderful opportunities year round. In the summer they offer a week long camp with traditional camp activities such as swimming, athletics, ropes course, and arts & crafts. They also offer once-in-a-lifetime opportunities such as rock climbing expeditions, hot-air balloon rides, formal dances, and lake cruises.
Camp Thorpe is an overnight summer camp in Goshen Vermont which is dedicated to providing a fun and safe camping experience to children and adults with special needs.
Camp Thorpe is a summer camp for children and adults with moderate special needs. They offer experiences for individuals with developmental, intellectual and physical disabilities. Our campers range in age from 12 through older adults.
Their typical camper thrives in a 3-camper-to-one-counselor ratio for a 6 or a 12-day session of camp. Campers should be able to thrive in a rustic camp environment, traverse uneven and hilly grounds (with assistance), and able to participate in adapted summer camp activities.
Nestled in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont in the hamlets of Hardwick and Craftsbury, Heartbeet includes adults with developmental disabilities and interweaves the social, artistic, and agricultural realms for the healing and renewing of our society and the earth. It is a community where everyone, regardless of ability, can find meaning, dignity and reverence for life.
Located in Williston, Vermont, Catamount Outdoor Family Center offers
20 miles of year round recreational trails for hiking, mountain biking, trail running, cross-country skiing, sledding and more. One trail that stands out is our “Carriage Path,” a 3-mile, heavily wooded trail with beautiful trees and loads of nature.
The Carriage Path is a wonderful trail appropriate for enjoyment by disabled persons. What sets it apart from traditional trails is its’ generous width, gradual ups and downs, and the surface is smooth allowing safe access for wheelchairs and 3 wheeled bikes. This same trail can be enjoyed by sit-skiers during the winter months.
Catamount also has a sit-sled which allows children and/or adults to sit while someone pushes them through trails and/or go sledding down a hill.
The Center for Autism and Related Disorders (CARD) is a national program that provides services for individuals on the autism spectrum. They have recently opened a site in Chittenden County.
It is the mission of the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF) to provide opportunities and support to people with physical challenges, so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. The Challenged Athletes Foundation believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.
CHAMP at Good Hope Farm offers group or individual therapeutic lessons Monday thru Saturday. CHAMP serves individuals with physical, emotional, behavior and cognitive challenges. Each rider progresses according to his or her own skill and comfort level. A horse leader and up to two side-walkers are available to be with the rider as needed.
CHAMP also has a wonderful summer camp option for riders of all abilities age 6 and up.
The Champlain Valley Down Syndrome Group provides families that have a relative with down syndrome to connect to one another. They run a great monthly FUN group for children and also provide other ways that families can get together. Definitely a great resource in our community!
This is an incredible non-profit that goes into schools and promotes awareness about having a disability. They offer awareness curriculum, student presentations, and educator trainings. Sam Drazin struggled his whole life with hearing loss. Sam’s experiences as both a student with a disability and as a teacher working in an inclusive classroom, formed his interest in improving disability awareness and understanding. The goal of Changing Perspectives is to help everyone recognize their own challenges and to help promote understanding, respect, and acceptance of all people.
You need to have a referral from a pediatrician or another provider to access CDC.
Swings, wheelchair accessible play structure, hands on activities, music, etc. This new adaptive playground at Collin Perley Center in St. Albans is AMAZING. Definitely worth the trip!