Community Based Physical Activity Programs - Sports, Activities, Recreation & Leisure
Santa Rosa – Sonoma County
Created By: Danielle Taylor – Adapted Physical Education Teacher – Santa Rosa City Schools
Resources/Activities Specific for Individuals with Disabilities
Abilities First Sports Camp
http://www.abilityfirstsports.org/
o Location: Chico, CA
o Contact: Phone: 530 588-0335
o Season: Summer - June
o Ability First is a week long wheelchair sports camp designed to provide instructional & recreational sports opportunities to youth with physical disabilities. Sports range from the beginner through both the junior and national levels of athletic competition. Evening programs are designed to provide opportunities for leisure and social activities. Ages 8-19.
Adaptive Aquatics
http://www.scfymca.org/programs/adaptive_aquatics.shtml
o Location: Sonoma County YMCA on College Ave
o Days: Saturday Mornings
o Cost: Fee is involved
o Serves all ages with all disabilities and challenges through a warm water movement program. Participants need to be accompanied by a parent or caretaker. A support group meeting follows every class. The chair lift is available for assistance into the pool.
Alchemia
www.alchemia.org
o Contact: Liz Jahren -
o Phone: (707) 547-7625
o An adult drama performance group for individuals with disabilities.
Bay Area Outreach for Recreation (BORP)
www.borp.org
o Location: East Bay
o Population: Individuals with Physical Disabilities
o Contact: Rick Smith – Executive Director - ; Trooper Johnson – Youth Sports Program Coordinator –
o BORP is an adaptive sports and recreation program for individuals with physical disabilities.
o Programs include: adaptive cycling, adventures and outings, adult wheelchair basketball, goalball, power soccer, youth sports programs and veteran’s outreach
Challenger Baseball
http://www.eteamz.com/northbaychallenger/
o Contact: Sandee Huskey; Phone: 707-331-1321
o Location: 132 10th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95405
o Sport Season: In Spring
o Challenger Division of Little League is a program for intellectually and physically challenged youth, helping them to enjoy the full benefits of Little League participation in an athletic environment structured to their abilities. More than the skills of baseball learned through the experience, the value of the Little League. Challenger Division is found in the proven therapeutic and socialization benefits of participating in sport. The participants build self-esteem and learn the disciplines of teamwork, sportsmanship and fair play – all hallmarks of the Little League program.
o Registrations: Initial round of registration begins in February, register by downloading a player application under HANDOUTS and bringing it to Tryouts during February. Season runs April – June at Mark West Fields.
o Divisions: Minors (5-9 years) Juniors (10-14 years) Seniors (15-22 years)
Wonder League Baseball
http://wonderleague.org/
o Contact: George Lawson -
o Location: Foss Creek Community Center – Healdsburg, CA
o Sport Season: Spring – Registration in April
o The Healdsburg Wonder League program is a baseball league that is designed for children, ages 4–19, with special needs. Each child is paired with a “Buddy,” who will assist them with hitting, fielding the ball, moving around the bases and, most importantly, having fun! The games are played with a special set of rules. Nobody keeps score, everybody hits and gets on base, and everybody has a great time!
Collaborative Autism Training and Support (CATS)
o Contact: Grace Harris -
o Phone: (707)585-6108 ext. 103
o Partnership between SSU and the California parenting Institute
Disability Services & Legal Center
http://www.disabilityserviceandlegal.org/
o Phone: (707) 528-2745
o DSLC Info
DSLC is a resource center, (one of California's 28 Centers for Independent Living CIL/ILC) that promotes the Independent Living philosophy through education, community partnerships and advocacy. DSLC operates as a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives and advancing the rights of people with disabilities in Sonoma, Napa, Lake and Mendocino counties in California, USA. All offices are scent free and offer a variety of programs aimed at meeting the needs faced by people with all disabilities. Most of our services are free. Legal fees are contingent upon winning your case. Further, we offer ADA consulting to businesses and organizations.
Giant Steps
http://www.giantstepsriding.org/
o Location:
Riverside Equestrain Center/Sonoma Horse Park
7600 Lakeville Highway, Petaluma, CA
o Contact: (707) 769-8900
o On a working horse ranch just north of San Francisco, Giant Steps offers life-changing experiences to people of all ages with a wide range of disabilities.Each week, riders come from throughout the Bay Area to interact with their 1,000 pound "therapist" in a safe and secure environment and achieve goals that they never before dreamed possible. Our focus is not on their limitations, but what they can do, and the results are extraordinary. Our riders range in age from four to ninety-four years old and come to us with a wide range of challenges. We serve riders with over fifty distinct disabilities each year. Lessons are individually designed to suit each rider's particular need, ability and stamina and are consistent with predetermined goals that are established in conjunction with parents, caregivers, physicians and other therapists. Find out more about our current programs.
Hippotherapy - Renaissance Healing & Learning Center
http://www.rhlc.net/
o Location: 7695 Derby Ln. Cotati, CA, 94931
o Phone: (707) 664-8919
o Renaissance Healing and Learning Center is a therapy center that was developed by Fran Sandler Judd, a physical therapist in Sonoma County, California, to utilize Hippotherapy ("treatment with the help of the horse") to help provide benefits to patients with a variety of neurological and orthopedic conditions, that includes Parkinson's Disease, cerebral palsy, autism, developmental delays, back pain, and other impairments. RHLC has been providing Hippotherapy for children and adults with physical and emotional challenges since 1998. In a unique alternative to the clinical setting, RHLC offers a nurturing environment which promotes healing for our patients and their families.
Table Tennis Club
o Contact: Alan Gulick
o Email: ; Phone: 707-843-0768
o Location: North Bay Table Tennis Club - Petaluma
o Club Info: Every Monday and Wednesday from 5-6pm we teach an adapted class for kids/adults ages 7-22 years with Developmental Disabilities. It will be a fun and safe environment for everyone to learn table tennis rules and sport etiquette, with the goal of joining other events at North Bay Table Tennis Club. Table Tennis helps with the coordination of the arms, legs, wrists and hands. We will be emphasizing that playing the game is fun, not winning or losing. Table tennis also helps with being able to communicate with others, especially complimenting others when they make a good shot.Each class is limited to 3 people,pleasecontact usto reserve your date(s).
o Cost - $15 for 1 class & $100 for 10 classes
Special Olympics Northern California – Sonoma County
http://www.sonc.org/sports/county/sonoma
o Contact: Director - Carole Alsbury - & Colleen Metz Rouleau -
o Seasons: Year Round
o Sports Offered: Aquatics, basketball, bocce, bowling, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field, volleyball.
o Sonoma County provides athletic and life opportunities to over 275 amazing participants with an Intellectual Disability from school-aged to mature adult. Along with the numerous sports that Sonoma County offers, the program provides social and life opportunities. We believe the life lessons learned on our athletic fields and arenas carry over and assist our athletes in all aspects of their lives.
United CP of the North Bay
http://www.ucpnb.org/recreation
o United Cerebral Palsy of the North Bay “enhances the quality of life of people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities, their families, and their communities." We believe that individuals with even the most challenging disabilities have the right to quality education and transition services; integrated employment opportunities with competitive wages and career opportunities; and accessible recreation programs. We also promote full inclusion in community life by providing resource and referral, advocacy, and community integration services.
o Online Brochure: http://www.ucpnb.org/uploads/media_items/2013-recreation-services-brochure.original.pdf
o Recreation Services include: Cycle Without Limits – Cypress Summer Program – Camp Kaos – Kamp Kennedy – Boost Camp – Adventure Trips – Friday Night Dances
o Cycle Without Limits – Bike Camp: “Cycle Without Limits” Bike Camp is an instructional program that teaches children with disabilities how to ride conventional two-wheeled bicycles without the use of training wheels. With a high rate of success, “Cycle Without Limits” Bike Camp provides important physical activity, builds self-esteem and develops skills that will last for years. Summer session includes swimming and outdoor play.
o Cypress Summer Program is a two-week day course for school-aged children with autism and other disabilities. The ten-day program operates when summer school is not in session. Cypress Summer Program is a positive adaptive behavior and community-based program with a 1:2 staff/participant ratio offering swimming, hiking, bowling and other recreation activities.
o Camp Kaos is a four-day camp for school-age children with disabilities held at Howarth Park in Santa Rosa. Activities include games, arts and crafts, and nature activities. Accessible facilities offer the opportunity to go boating, ride the carousel, and take train rides.
o Kamp Kennedy - a 4-day camp that includes arts and crafts, song and dance active and passive games, and play groups. The annual summer day camp is provided by the City of Santa Rosa Recreation &Parks Department for school-age children at Kamp Kennedy located at Howarth Park. Accessible park facilities offer children the opportunity to go boating ride the carousel, take train rides, and pet animals at the zoo. For more information please contact Ryan Shepherd at Santa Rosa Parks &Rec via email or call 707-543-3428.
o Boost Camp is a therapeutic four-week movement education program for children with physical disabilities. This lively program teaches skills to help children increase their mobility in order to live a more independent life. For more information go to: www.boostcamp.org
o Outdoor adventure activities include sea kayaking, white water rafting, and adapted cycling in partnership with Environmental Traveling Companions (ETC) and Bay Area Outreach and Recreation Program (BORP). All activities are accessible for ambulatory and non-ambulatory children and adults with developmental disabilities. For more information, contact Ron Hamilton: .
o Dances for adults with disabilities are held at WineBev Services in Napa, California. These dances are open to the public and provide an excellent opportunity to meet some new friends, catch up with old ones, and have a great time. Held 3 times per year.
Rising Stars Soccer
http://playsportscity.com/community-2/risingstarsdetails/
o Location: Sports City at 921 Piner RdSanta Rosa, CA 95403
o Contact: Katya Robinson
o Email/Phone: / / 707-526-2884
o Sports Season: Fall - Registration in August. Season runs September to October. Thursdays at 4:30 & 5:30
o Rising Stars is a program that brings children and adults with cognitive and/or physical disabilities off the sidelines and into the game. Rising Stars promotes personal development in a fun soccer environment designed to improve social skills and overall fitness. This program is different from typical soccer as it does not match players by age, but by their cognitive ability and skill. The program is ages 4 years to adults. The unique design of our program allows players to achieve personal success using Buddies, each session levels to the ability of their players, allowing them to succeed.
Saturday Sidekicks
o Location: Sonoma State University
o Contact: Dr. Elaine McHugh
o Phone: (707) 664-2660; Email -
o Seasons: Spring - begins end of January and runs for 8 weeks on Saturdays; Summer – begins in June
o Saturday Sidekicks is an on-campus physical activity program for school-aged children with special needs from local communities. Three one-hour sessions grouped by age take place each Saturday morning for 8 weeks during fall and spring semesters. Each child or teen is paired with a Sonoma State student, who plays with them and guides them through activities that are set up around the gym, based on a weekly theme. Group and individual activities are included, like modified sports and games, perceptual motor activities, dance, and similar activities. The program is supervised by the Adapted PE Coordinator, Dr. Elaine McHugh, with assistance from a team of advanced Adapted PE student leaders.
Sprit Squad – Cheerleading Team
o Location: ACC at Cardinal Newman High School
o Contact: Mackenzie DeMasters
o Email: / Phone: 707-799-6537
o Informational meeting on 9/20. Participants grade levels 7th-12th. Sonoma County’s first special needs Cheerleading team (supported by Special Olympics).
Additional Activities for Individuals of All Abilities
Santa Rosa Parks & Recreation: (Under Departments)
http://ci.santa-rosa.ca.us/departments/recreationandparks/Pages/default.aspx
1. Activities & Classes – “Adults, Youth & Active 50+ Adults”
o Email:
o Steele Lane Community Center: (707) 543-3282
o Finley Community Center: (707) 543-3737
o Luther Burbank Home & Gardens: (707) 524-5445
o Info: Ranges from Arts, Dance, Cooking, Computers, Boating, Camps, Fitness, Music, Leisure, Language, Photography, Sports, Theater, Travel, Special Populations Classes…
2. Sports
o Email contact: Brandon -
o Phone: Mon-Fri 3pm-5pm - (707) 543-3281
o Sports Department Phone Numbers:
Recreation and Parks Sports Desk / (707) 543-3281Field Conditions / (707) 543-3474
Boys and Girls Club / (707) 542-3249
Neptune Swim Team (Ridgway Swim Center) / (707) 543-3421
Mark West Little League (Northwest) (Ages 5-16) / (707) 523-9333
Rincon Valley Little League (Northwest) (Ages 5-16) / (707) 537-9426
SR American Little League (Southeast) (Ages 5-16) / (707) 522-3571
SR Babe Ruth (Ages 13-15) / (707) 575-7215
Westside Little League (Southwest) / (707) 528-2006
SR Cycling Club / (707) 545-4133
SR Express Track Club / (707) 545-1535
Santa Rosa Tennis / (707) 527-0539
Santa Rosa Youth Soccer / (707) 544-8369
Sonoma County Hourseshoe Pitchers / (707) 538-3128
YMCA / (707) 545-9622
Ziemer Brothers / (707) 585-7800
3. Parks
o Phone: (707) 543-3770
o Picnic Reservations: (707) 543-3753
o Volunteer Opportunity: (707) 543-3770
o Info: List of (65) parks, park rules, reservations, dog parks, volunteer
4. Aquatics
o Finley Aquatic Complex - 707-543-3760or Ridgway Swim Center - 707-543-3421
o Info: 2 year round aquatics centers. Links: Swim lessons, public swim, jobs, lap swim, rent the pool, water fitness, safety training, birthday parties, therapeutic