Archive
VIP Soccer Starts This Weekend In Central Park!
From Coach Jim – see the link at the bottom for an overview of the VIP soccer program including a map of the playing field.
Dear Parents and Volunteers-Attached please find a two-page overview of the VIP program (see link below for attachment), including links to resources to learn more. Also included: a map of our field in Central Park. We meet in the North Meadow on Sunday on Soccer Field B, which is right next to the handball courts at the North Meadow Recreation Center.–If walking in from the West side, you can come in at 97th street and walk along the pathways that stay closest to the 97th street Transverse Road. You have to head North to get to the field. You can wait until you get to the Recreation Center, in which case you have to go through the parking lot, through the breezeway, cut through the handball courts and then backtrack about fifty feet to your left. Or, you can head North before you get to the Rec Center, go up to the first gap in the fence around the baseball and soccer fields, and then head off to your right.–Generally, if your player is nine or under, plan to come at 10 AM. Everyone else, 11:30. Team rosters are coming later in the week. We have had a number of late additions, and unfortunately two of our experienced coaches have to take a leave-of-absense this year, to deal with a new baby and an apartment renovation. Consequently I will be promoting a couple of assistant coaches, and also am looking for new people to fill in those assistant positions.–More to come!Yours, JimHead Coach, VIP—————————————————————-
WSSL Special Needs Division (VIP) now offering late registration for Fall 2012!
Thanks to Coach Jim Karpe for sharing this info! The following late registration is being offered for WSSL’s VIP division, which meets Sundays in Central Park starting September 16th, 2012:
Exciting news!
Just now learned: You can still register on-line for Soccer for this Fall!
Please go to http://www.wssl.org/Registration/RegisterHere.html
Remember to select VIP! You will be told that you are wait-listed, but we will almost certainly be able to accomodate your player. And, remember that scholarships are available for the asking.
Please go through the on-line registration process if you are interested.
If you have already sent me an email expressing your interest, please now go through the on-line registration.
If you were planning on registering on the field, please instead go through the on-line registration.
If you have convinced a friend to try soccer, please have them go through the on-line registration.
-Jim
karpe.jim@gmail.com
Special Needs Soccer Fall 2012 – Registration open now until June 15th!
Passing along information from Head Coach, Jim Karpe:
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My Own Collection Of Summer Events, Extracurricular Activities and Camps in the NYC Area for Children With (any) Special Needs 2012
If you’re looking for a little light reading this weekend, CLICK HERE to open the main document that was handed out at this morning’s meeting. Though growing bigger every year, this labor of love still offers a manageable bite of some of the best programs out there this summer. It’s a pretty awesome resource, even if I do say so myself 🙂
Thanks to all who made it out this morning! It was really lovely to see and meet so many new faces, and I hope to see you again at one of the social group meetups this summer (if you missed the meeting, keep an eye out for more info on the free social group that meets over the summer, entering its fourth year and continuing to grow).
This Friday, May 18th: Summer Camps, Activities and Social Groups for Special Needs Families
The last meeting of The Foorce is scheduled for May 18th, 2012 at 9:00AM and will be held at PS 163 (corner of W. 97th and Amsterdam) in the library.
The meeting will be all about special needs summer activities and camps – I’ve collected more than a few handouts over the last couple months of camp fairs and conferences and I’m looking to share. Attendees will be given a Spring/Summer edition of the new Special Parent magazine, receive a multi-page booklet with local summer activities and also have the opportunity to find out about and sign up for the casual, free social group that has met weekly for the last 3 summers. It’s a great social outlet if your child isn’t booked up for the summer (we have committed to zilch so far, yikes!).
If that isn’t enough, you will have the opportunity to sign up for the fast-approaching Central Park Challenge (June 2nd) and even to find out about Fall activities like soccer, whose registration is open right now!
Anyone and everyone with a special needs friend or loved one is invited to join us so please help to spread the word. The meeting will run from 9:00am until everyone leaves and small children are welcome (I’m bringing 2!).
Hope to see you there this Friday!
Top Ten: Favorite Extracurricular and Social Activities For Special Needs Kids in NYC
Disclaimer: This “Tuesday Top Ten” was bumped (rudely shoved) to Wednesday for the first time ever thanks to Beth Israel Medical Center, where we spent 5 hours in transit/waiting and 10 minutes with an actual doctor yesterday.
Moving on…
I’m almost hesitant in posting this week’s Top Ten because I don’t want people crowding up all of my favorite activities, but my altruistic nature has won so you are about to benefit from my experience, trials and errors, hours spent googling “special needs activities NYC” and not least of all my frugality (a fancy word we like to use for cheapness). In fact, many of the activities listed below are among my favorites because they are quality programs at low or no cost, though the ones that do cost a few more dollars are certainly worth it if they’re on the list!
There are obviously a bunch of other amazing activities and experiences in the city that didn’t make my Top Ten, but IMO it’s a pretty good problem to have such a large pool of choices! To clarify, the programs on this list are all extracurricular activities that include social interaction and meet regularly (so one-time events, general public venues and private lessons were not considered).
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1. Daniel’s Music Foundation: Take it from a music teacher, this one is far and away the best introduction to music you can make for your special needs child (or adult). Not surprisingly, there is a waiting list and altruistic though I may be, I’m not giving up my spot! This amazing program runs from September through May, offering music classes for all ages and abilities. If you haven’t already, read one of my many admiring posts about the Trush family (founders) and their fantastic foundation. Cost, free.
2. West Side Baseball (Registration ends on Tuesday, January 31st!) The Challengers division is open to children with any disability, ages 5-18. This program runs April through June and meets in Riverside Park – we’ve enjoyed 3 seasons and are looking forward to our fourth! Cost, $150 (scholarships available).
3. Safe Haven Hoops: for children 5-18. This program runs December through March. **Though the season is underway, special needs players can register anytime during the season for the Champions division. Cost $120, scholarships available. Thanks to this wonderful program, James has shown remarkable improvement in shooting baskets and not crying when others shoot baskets.
4. WSSL: Special needs soccer for ages 5-18. The VIP division meets September through November at the North Meadows in Central Park. Cost, $150, scholarships available.
5. Fitness For Focus: Special needs martial arts classes for kids ages 4 and up. Sessions available year round at 2 locations. There are free trial classes being offered January 29th and 30th! Email senseiglenn@fitnessforfocus.com for more details or to register for a free trial. Cost, varies (early bird registration discounts offered).
6. Adaptive Swim Lessons provided by NYC Parks – though we have only participated during the summer, there are opportunities year round throughout the city. In fact, free adaptive swim lessons and aquatic exercise therapy (for up to 12 people at a time) are being offered this Winter/Spring for anyone interested, including special needs school or adult groups, at locations in all five boroughs. For more information please call 718-760-6969 or email Victor.Calise@parks.nyc.gov.
7. Achilles Kids – offers a school program and an extracurricular year round program that meets every other Saturday. Saturday sessions include training activities that integrate free-play, games, and nutritious snacks to make the experience fun and provide racing opportunities. Even better, the entire family can participate.
8. Adaptive Track and Field program provided by NYC Parks – for kids ages 5-16 with (and without) physical and developmental disabilities, offered in multiple locations citywide. What’s really neat is the big integrated track meet at the end of the summer at Icahn Stadium (with many adaptive events), which was a really great experience for James to participate in (except for the starting gun). Even more appealing, the schedule is very flexible – we did once a week but could have done more. All of the equipment and t-shirts are provided. And, it’s free! Go to http://www.cityparksfoundation.org/pdfs/cityparks_Trackbrochure.pdf for last year’s information – I’ll post 2012 info when I get it!
9. Special Needs Aquatic, Cultural and Athletic Programs at Riverbank State Park. To me, this one is such a hidden gem, not just for the special needs population but for anyone with young children who doesn’t want to pay Manhattan prices for Manhattan classes. As noted in their program guide, “the physically challenged can participate in most of the free programs, activities, and classes. They may receive daily discounts or free admission.” However, there is a plethora of activities and classes for “special populations,” no matter what the disability (or age). Costs are low or free. Click the link to browse the Riverbank State Park Fall/Winter Program Guide 2011-2012.
10. KEEN – a national, nonprofit volunteer-led organization that provides one-to-one recreational opportunities for children and young adults with mental and physical disabilities at no cost to their families and caregivers. Neither income nor the severity of a child’s disability is a barrier to joining a KEEN program. This program meets on select Saturdays around the city and is open to athletes 4 to 21 years of age. For more info call 212.768.6785 or email info@KEENnewyork.org.
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Okay, now don’t all go register for everything at once!
Did I miss your favorite? Did I get someone’s contact info wrong? Please leave it in the comments section.
Special needs baseball, basketball, and soccer leagues added to Websites and Resources!
I can’t believe it took me so long to put up our favorite sports leagues on Wesbites and Resources. I guess we’re so busy playing in them that I forgot about advertising them, plus I almost hate to let the cat out of the bag.
Soccer is wrapping up today, basketball season starts December 3rd, and baseball registration opens up Dec. 1st for the Spring 2012 season. See my previous posts or go to Websites and Resources for more info on all of these amazing leagues!
First Foorce Meeting October 21, 9am: Extracurricular and Social Activities with Special Guest Speakers
Hooray – the first Cafe 163 meeting is next month and I am finally organized enough to tell you about what to expect! On October 21st at 9am, I can’t wait to welcome two special guests who will speak about some incredible opportunities for special needs students and their families this year.
Ken McGrory is returning this year to talk about the Save Haven basketball league – come hear him discuss what’s new this year! The Champions division is now in its 12th year and is open to all children with special needs. The boys and girls, aged 6 to 22, have different issues including ADD, ADHD, Autism, emotional issues, and various physical challenges. The division is split into four groups, flexibly based upon age, ability, social considerations, maturity and size factors. The division is primarily operated by parent volunteers and buddies. Buddies are volunteers (including high school kids and adults) who come out and work directly with the children in building their skills and their self esteem. The division has grown from its original season of approximately 20 players to over 80 players at this time. It has been a fantastic experience for James, not to mention a way to burn some energy and calories during the colder months.
In addition, I am thrilled to announce that Karen Lewis will be speaking at Cafe 163 for the first time. Karen Lewis is the director of Achilles Kids, a free running, walking and rolling program for children with all types of disabilities that is a part of Achilles International. As director, Lewis is responsible for coordinating year-round Achilles Kids weekend events, managing a large portion of Achilles Kids’ PR for both general promotion and specific events and administering more than 150 school chapters of Achilles Kids in New York, where the organization is based. This is especially family-friendly as many weekend events include typical siblings and parents, too! A great way for everyone to get out and about together on Saturdays, not to mention a way to exercise as a family!
In addition to our two amazing speakers, information will be available for:
Sunday Circle, a 2-hour drop off program filled with fun and exciting activities. Parents have the opportunity to drop off their child and enjoy time out while their child has a blast in a trustworthy environment. Sunday Circles allow you to leave your child in the loving hands of qualified professionals and one-on-one teen friends. FREE
West Side Little League, Challenger division, Spring 2012 (special needs baseball).
Cub Scouts/ Boy Scouts, inclusive environments for special needs boys.
Plus more on peer/buddy programs, art classes, cooking instruction, respite opportunities, exercise programs, bowling, swimming lessons, martial arts, and private/group music lessons for the special needs community.
The meeting on October 21st will begin at 9am and will last approximately 1 hour. As of right now, the plan is to meet in the auditorium of PS 163 on W. 97th and Amsterdam. As always, feel free to email me or leave a comment if you have questions.
There will be special handouts, Foorce slogan contest info (see post), and a 2011 event calendar passed out at the meeting. I’m really hoping for and looking forward to an even bigger turnout than last year, and can’t wait to see everyone again!
The Foorce 
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