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More Fun Meetups for Special Needs Families and Friends – August Calendar
You can clearly credit my enthusiasm for Day Of The Post this morning (yesterday morning now) and my motivation to catch up on things to the fact that I had not yet stepped foot outside. By the time I returned from my hot, sticky trip to gymnastics, Blockbuster, picking up prescriptions and grocery shopping my inspiration had melted away along with my patience (and mascara).
I promptly fell asleep tucking the children in and woke around midnight feeling refreshed, now that the temperature has come down a little from the zillion degree heat index of the day (actually 115, but they don’t do a heat index for wearing babies outside).
So in one last dedication to Day Of The Post I present to you the August meetup calendar, only scheduled through the 24th because we will be on vacation that last week. Hope to see you at a few of these fun get togethers!
August 4 – Highbridge Pool, 11:00-1:00pm, trying to get as much water time in as possible as the summer flies by (you are welcome to join us any Thursday for free swim here through August 18)!
August 6 – BounceU Open Bounce Will post time as soon as they set the schedule, probably at 10 or noon though.
August 12 – Central Park Brass at Robert Bendheim Playground, a “playground for all children.” Interactive concert starts at 11:00am, we’ll stay for a picnic, playground and sprinklers afterward.
August 14 – Bronx Zoo, 11:00-4:00pm
August 16 – Thomas Jefferson Park, 10:30am We’ll already be over there for adaptive track if anyone is interested in participating, but also plan to hang out at the shaded playground, and maybe the pool weather/crowd permitting (we are here every Tuesday through August 16).
August 20 – NYC Police Museum, 12:30pm http://www.nycpm.org
September 5 – Goodbye Summer, Hello School Year Picnic! Details TBD.
A Special Day For Special Kids at West Hills Day Camp on July 30, 2011
As summer approaches I have spent more and more time looking for fun activities and events near NYC for James, and last night I stumbled across this one – it looks promising.
Below is a description of the event as well as a map of the grounds, taken from the site http://www.specialdayforspecialkids.com:
The 7th Annual Special Day for Special Kids (SD4SK), being held on Saturday July 30, 2011 at West Hills Day Camp, is excited to bring you a Summer Festival like no other. SD4SK is dedicated to children with special needs, a place where children of all ages, with autism spectrum disorder, Asperger syndrome, Tourette’s syndrome, ADHD, OCD, and other related neurobiological disorders, can feel comfortable enough to let go and just have fun in a safe environment. While these Special Kids are enjoying the many activities being offered, we will be bringing information and resources to parents and professionals in the field. Years prior, we have welcomed over 500 patrons to this event, and this year, we expect even more.
SWIMMING – BASKETBALL – ARTS AND CRAFTS – GIANT SLIDE – CASTLE BOUNCE – MINIATURE GOLF – PADDLE BOATS – EURO BUNGEE – PLAYGROUNDS – AND MUCH MORE!!!
The site has many more details about the big day including a list of expert presentations – some of the experts will speak about life care planning, ABA therapy, motor speech disorders, due process rights at school and government benefits. The stage schedule varies from reptile shows to dance performances. Ticket prices are very reasonable, and even less $$ if you buy them online.
Creating a Meaningful Life after High School: Keynote Event June 6, 2011
Just passing along an email I received earlier today. This looks like a really excellent event for parents and special needs young adults. James is not quite here yet but I think about this topic all the time and would love to attend this panel discussion, and hope someone can benefit from this information:
Steven Morales graduated from the AHRC New York City Melissa Riggio Higher Education program at Kingsborough Community College in May 2010. He now works as a film production assistant, and contributes to the important mission of a vibrant non-profit organization in Manhattan.
Every parent wants their children to realize their dreams.
On Monday June 6, all parents and professionals have a chance to hear from leaders in the field of individualized supports about how to help their children design a meaningful life at this free event. Parents will learn how to explore and build on their young person’s passions and abilities, and design person-centered supports to help young adults live a life they choose, not one defined by their disability.
This is a chance for all parents to get a glimpse of the amazing possibilities that can be achieved through person-centered planning–and to understand the public funding streams available to support this work.
Steven Morales will be there to tell his story as well–together with Lisa Severino, a young staff member with the Self-Advocacy Association of New York State who has been living in supported housing with HeartShare for the past seven years, and Todd Irby-Rannair, a 2005 graduate of the Manhattan Occupational Training Center now working at a midtown law firm.
Please forward to any parents or professionals you know who might need this vital information. (Printable PDF here.) The event is free, but seating is limited. Online registration strongly recommended! Registered attendees will receive a free publication at the event.
The Foorce 
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