Programs for our Exceptional Kids
BASEBALL
Challenger League Braintree American Little League Games held at Hollingsworth Park 348 Pond St Braintree Sunday afternoon league for ages 5 and over. No cost for this league. Contact Kathy Jordan
Superstars of Braintree. Open to all towns T-ball league open to ages 4 to 10. Games played at the Morrison School in Braintree Games played on Saturdays. Kerrie Doherty
BASKETBALL
Superstars of Braintree. Open to all towns for ages 4 to 10. No charge for this league. Games played on Saturdays at the Morrison School in Braintree. Kerrie Doherty
DANCE
InSync Center for the Arts 550 Adams Street Quincy 617-328-5678 Contace is Teri . Me Too Program open to ages 3 to adult children of all abilities. 45 minute class on Saturday mornings for $45 per month
HORSEBACK RIDING
Briggs Stables 623 Hanover St Hanover contact is Erin Wiggin or Gina Petrino 781-826-3191 briggsstable.com
Booth Hill Farms 65 Booth Hill Road Scituate contact is Linda Adams 781-545-2340 www.boothhillfarm.org
Handi Kids – The Bridge Center 470 Pine Street Bridgewater 508-697-7557
Triumph Riding Pleasant Meadow Farm Hingham contact is Steve DeMenna 781-704-5307 www.triumphriding.com
North Star South Shore Therapeutic Riding 49 Cross Street, Pembroke 781-826-4970
Mass Hospital School 3 Randolph Street Canton Steph Barnes, Barn Manager 781-830-8752
RESPITE
South Shore ARC. Saturday respite program runs two Saturdays a month from 10:30 to 3:30 for $50 per day. Open to ages 6 and over.
Yawkey House of Possibilities at Stonehill College 320 Washington Street, Easton. They offer a Saturday respite program for ages 8 and over. They also offer overnight respite. Check their website as they have many, many great programs. Their phone number is 508-205-0555.
South Shore Support Services 317 Libbey Parkway in Weymouth. Phone is 781-331-7878. They offer school vacation outings and programs.
Friendship Home 458 Main Street in Norwell. Phone is 781-659-8202. They offer friendship clubs, travel clubs and overnight respite to children 12 and over. This is a growing program so watch their website for future programs.
Handi Kids Camp now called the Bridge Center, 470 Pine Street in Bridgewater. They offer Saturday respite for ages 4 to 22 with a staff ratio of 1:3. They also offer summer camp, horseback riding and many other programs.
JF&CS Sunday Respite. Children with developmental delay including children with autism. Program includes swimming, music and art. Stoughton area from 1-4 pm on Sundays. Contact person is Doreen Cummings 781-647-5327 ext 1938
Agape Inn 217 Plymouth Street in Holbrook 781-767-4358 Provides short and long term respite program as well as center-based day program on Saturdays and school vacations. Evening programs for those over age 17.
SWIMMING
Weymouth Club 75 Finnell Drive in Weymouth. Debbie Weinstein 781-337-4600 ext. 255 S.W.I.M. program is Swim with Individual Methods. One to one swim lessons for children with autism.
Mass Hospital School 3 Randolph Street in Canton. They offer water exercise with a certified aquatic exercise professional, Aquatic Therapy, R.A.S.P.-Recreational after school swim as well as a Saturday swim must have a parent or other caregiver with them. This is a beautiful, fully accessible pool. Full information is available on their website.
New England Village 664 School Street Pembroke Teen Swim Class from 11:30 to 12:15 for ages 15 and over. $10 per class. Six week sessions. Teens who are not independent will need an adult to go in the water with them. Swim and water fitness class open only to those who are not residential students. Many other swimming and fitness programs for those over 18 years of age. Susannah Locketti, Aquatics and Wellness Coordinator 781-293-5461 ext 202. Other available programs such as art, cooking, etc for adults Ginger Cameau 781-293-5461 ext. 204 or
SAILING
Accessail of Duxbury. Bay Maritime School 457 Washington Street in Duxbury. Phone number is 781-934-7555. Classes are 2 hours for $25. Students can learn to sail or be sailed around Duxbury Bay. Open to all ages. Check their website to book a time.
High Challenge Water Sports. AccesSport America. They adapt and create equipment to accommodate every disability. They offer all kinds of water sports such as kayaking, windsailing, etc. They are at Spaulding Rehab Center from May to October and at the Mass Hospital School from June to August. The contact person is Betty Miller 978-264-0985 or .
SKIING
S.T.R.I.D.E. Program at Jiminy Peak Resort Hancock MA offers lessons to kids with all kinds of disabilities. The phone number is 413-738-5500 ext 5120. This program is available in many different locations and offers all kinds of sports and activities.
Maine Handicapped Skiing offers all kinds of recreational and leisure programs to people with disabilities during the summer as well as the winter. Check their website for a listing of all their programs.
CAMPS
First check with your local recreation department in your town. Almost all of the area towns offer and exceptional program to students and it’s a great way to meet other kids in town attending different schools.
Agassi Camp in Poland ME is an Easter Seals Camp for ages 8 to 13. Phone is 800-244-2756ext 410
HandiKids or The Bridge Center 470 Pine Street in Bridgewater offers summer camp to kids with disabilities. They can be reached at 508-697-8613.
Camp Fatima in Gilmartin Iron Works NH offers a fabulous overnight camp where each student has their own councilor. This camp is the third week in August and is free of charge. They also offer another week in the beginning of the summer for exceptional campers that don’t require a one-to-one ratio with staff. Check their website for further information.
Dream Day on Cape Cod if a free family camp for seriously ill children and their families. Camp is at Nickerson State Park in Brewster MA. All meals and activities are provided in a rustic setting. Phone is 774-994-7346 or email dreamdayon
SOCCER
Top Soccer in Hingham. John Burrill 800-852-8111 ext 237 for more information
Superstars of Braintree. Open to all towns. Ages 4-10 free of charge. Games held at the Morrison School in Braintree on Saturday afternoons Kerrie Doherty
OPEN GYMS AND FITNESS
HandiKids, The Bridge Center 470 Pine Street in Bridgewater on Thursdays from 4-6pm and Saturdays from 1-3pm Open to ages 4 to 22.
Compelling Fitness in Hanover. Group and individual physical fitness training for people with developmental disabilities. 781-826-3313
Cole Public School 81 High Street in Norwell on Sundays from 1-4pm
Cardinal Cushing School 405 Washington Street in Hanover. Open gym on Saturdays in July and August from 10-11:45am. $50 per family. All family members can join in and play. For children with developmental delay under 10 years old. Includes the use of the outdoor swimming pool. Tom McElman 781-829-1295 or
Cardinal Cushing School 405 Washington Street in Hanover. Saturday morning activities and open gym to ages 10 to adult from 9:30 to 10:30. $80 for 8 weeks. Includes fitness training. Tom McElman, recreation director 781-829-1295 or .
Super Saturdays. Open to Braintree children. Spring and fall sessions available. Cost is $180 for 12 weeks. Held at the Liberty School 49 Proctor Road Braintree. Contact Dr. Mary Ford Clark 781-848-4000 ext 2275
Childrens Physical Development Clinic at Bridgewater State College serves ages 18 mos to 18 yrs. Provides physical motor and aquatic skills. 508-531-1776
MUSICAL OPPORTUNITIES
Choral/Community Voices. Open to ages 16 and over with developmental delay. Duxbury on Wednesday evenings from 7-8pm. Call Eve Montague 781-934-2731 ext. 20
South Shore Conservatory of Music One Conservatory Drive in Hingham offers Yoga and Music Therapy for Special Children. Call 508-591-7714 for more information.
Rythmic Art Program. Drums and percussion instruments. Open to all ages on Saturdays from 9:30 to 10:30 at the Cardinal Cushing Center 405 Washington Street Hanover. $80 for 8 weeks.
INFORMATION
Mass Down Syndrome Congress MDSC.org
Cerebral Palsy Clinic in Wollaston 43 Old Colony Ave Quincy 617-479-7443 masscp.org Provides recreation and rehabilitation programs including PT, OT, and speech.
Quincy QPAC quincypac.org They have a great resource room and will be putting all their information on line soon. They have a great deal of information on Autism Spectrum disorders.
South Shore Therapies 163 Libbey Industrial Parkway in Weymouth Suite 302 offers Speech-PT-and OT services 781-335-6663
Braintree Pedi Outpatient Rehab 751 Granite Street Braintree offers Speech-PT-OT services 781-380-4360
Communication Enhancement Clinic 9 Hope Avenue Waltham 781-216-2200
Commission for the Blind 48 Boylston Street in Boston offers many support services 800-392-6450
Advocates for Special Kids 139 Simon Hill Road in Norwell 781-264-1257 provides special education advocacy to families.
Family Ties of Massachusetts is a statewide information and referral network. www.massfamilyties.org or 800-905-8437 They run parent-to-parent support programs and have a great statewide directory available if you ask. A division of the Federation for Children with Special Needs.
Mom’s Night Out A group of local mothers whose children have special needs. Meets from dinner at local restaurants on the first Wednesday of every month. Contact Jean Zarrella at , Debbie Rizzo at or Sara McCann at
EQUIPMENT
Pass It On. Accepts and lends out special needs equipment of all kinds. Contact is George in Mashpee 800-267-6768 or 508-477-6966
Scituate Etrusco Associates, One Common Street in Scituate 781-545-4411 has hospital beds, lifts, wheelchairs etc for loan.
C.O.R.S.E.
Scituate Community of Resources for Special Education 600 Chief Justice Cushing Highway Scituate 781-545-8738 This is a group which started in 2007 by a group of parents. They offer a large selection of educational and recreational programs to students in Scituate. They offer yoga, horseback riding, karate, sailing, movie afternoons, etc. If there are still available spots they open their programs to children from other towns. Check their website for more information.
GIRL SCOUTS
Special Needs Girl Scout troop based in Weymouth but open to girls over age 6 from any town. Meets every other Sunday afternoon 3:30 to 4:30 at St. Albert the Great Church Hall, Washington Street Weymouth Contact is Debbie Rizzo 781-331-6860 or
BIRTHDAY PARTIES
Birthday parties for all ages and abilities at Cardinal Cushing School 405 Washington Street in Hanover. Use of the recreation hall and during the summer beach entry pool. Contact is Tom McElman Recreation Director 781-829-1295
SOCIAL SKILLS PROGRAMS
Cardinal Cushing School 405 Washington Street in Hanover. Open to all ages Saturday from 11:30 to 12:30. $80 for an 8 week session. Circles Program which promotes personal space, eye contact, tone of voice etc. 781-829-1295
Handi Kids, The Bridge Center, 470 Pine Street, Bridgewater 508-697-8613 Social skills program on Saturdays from 3:30 to 5:30 for ages 4 to 22. This is for children with Aspergers Syndrome, High functioning Autism and other related social skills challenges.
House of Possibilities, Stonehill College 350 Washington Street Easton 508-205-0555. Snack and Chat. Teens working together to cook a meal, set the table, and have dinner conversation. Contact is Amy Mirabito.
SIBSHOPS
For siblings of people with developmental disabilities to obtain peer support.
Sibshops of Greater Brockton. Recreationally based support programs for kids from ages 8 to 12 who have siblings with special needs. Kathy Kerwin 508-583-8030 ext 224 or
Cardinal Cushing Center 405 Washington Street in Hanover meets the second Saturday of each month from 10:30 to !2:30 Cost is $15 and lunch is included. 781-829-1295
If you have any information on programs of any kind that is based south of Boston, please contact Debbie Rizzo at 781-331-6860 or .