Sports & Rec Programs For Kids With Disabilities — Ontario
DANCE
Bust A Move Dance (BAMD)
Toronto and GTA
bustamovedance.com
Dance Ability
Milton, Mississauga, Alliston, Ancaster, Bradford, Richmond Hill
danceabilitymovement.com
GYMNASTICS:
Schlegel’s Gymnastics Centre Oakville
Focused on fun, fitness adn the fundamentals of gymnastics in a non-competitive environment.
www.schlegelsgym.com
905-842-3537
Kid’s Super Gym Mississauga
A structured gymnastics program designed to introduce, establish and build fundamental gymnastics skills including strength conditioning, co-ordination, balance, flexibility and agility.
www.kids-supergym.com
905-607-5437
AQUATICS:
Goldfish Swim School —Not adaptive specifically but the facilities and program are well suited for children with a variety of disabilities. goldfishswimschool.com
City of Mississauga — Children with special needs swim lessons. Participants must be accompanied by caregiver over the age of 14.
www.activemississauga.ca
905-615-4100
City of Oakville — Aquadapt Program: 1:1 swimming lessons.
www.oakville.ca
905-815-2000
Lynne Patch Aquatics Mississauga — Private, semi-private & inclusive swimming lessons for children with special needs.
www.swimlpa.com
905-897-7946
Making Waves Swim School Brampton and Milton — Integrated, low ratio (3:1) swimming lessons in warm water pool offered across all three locations. Salt water pool in West Brampton.
www.mwss.ca
905-455-7946 (Brampton) 905-878-9747 (Milton)
Ron Edwards Family YMCA Burlington — L’il Sharks Program: In-water teaching to develop and improve swim skills for children with special needs age 3+.
www.ymcahbb.ca
905-632-5000
SPORTS & FITNESS:
Airborne Trampoline Centre Mississauga — Offers a variety of choices to fit the needs a wide range of individuals and groups.
www.airbornetrampoline.ca
905-828-2412
Sportball (multiple locations) — Adapted Sportball program provides an array of skill building opportunities for participants with additional needs.
www.sportball.ca
905-842-4473
Cruisers Sports for the Physically Disabled (Multiple locations) — Non-profit organization providing sports & rec opportunities to people with physical disabilities.
www.cruisers-sports.com
905-790-6732
Dash Sports Oakville — Multi-sport program for children ages 3-7 which introduces them to 8 different sports.
www.dashsports.ca
905-849-8837
The Golden Horseshoe Disabled Sports Association (Oakville, Burlington) — Training and competition for youth with physical disabilities. Sports include: track & field, boccia, swimming, wheelchair basketball.
www.ghdsa.org
Oakville Soccer Club — Breaking Barriers: Designed for participants between the ages of U6-U13 with intellectual and/or physical disabilities—facilitated by OSC’s Active Start certified staff and dedicated volunteers. Breaking Barriers will introduce participants to the fundamentals of physical literacy and the sport of soccer, engaging at their own pace while making new friends.
www.oakvillesoccer.ca/youth-hl/breaking-barriers
905-849-4436
Ontario Track 3 Ski Association (Multiple locations) — Volunteer non-profit organization that teachers children with disabilities to downhill ski and snowboard.
www.track3.org
416-233-3872
Parasport Ontario — Visit the online directory to find opportunities for athletes with a physical disability in your area.
www.parasportontario.ca
416-426-7187
Track 2000 Milton — Riders Ready BMX racing program for children with a physical disablity, ages 6-18.
www.mbmxracing.com
905-630-7400
Special Olympics Ontario (Multiple locations) — Providing year-round sports training and athletic competition for individuals with intellectual disabilities. SOO promotes opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and develop skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympic athletes and the community.
www.southcentral.specialolympicsontario.ca
289-521-0583
Looking for a SUMMER CAMP in Ontario?
Check out this website for help finding the right camp for your child: www.ontariocampsassociation.ca
Also, Easter Seals Summer Camps
FUNDING ASSISTANCE:
Canadian Tire Jumpstart — Assistance for children & youth to participate in organized sports & rec.
jumpstart.canadiantire.ca
1-877-616-6600
KidSport Ontario — Helps youth participate in organized sport & physical activity.
www.kidsportontario.ca
1-866-641-7767
P4P Action Guides for People With A Disability
planningnetwork.ca
Easter Seals “Access 2 Cards”—The Access 2 card allows persons with a disability to receive either free admission or a significant discount for their support person at member movie theatres and attractions across Canada.
http://easterseals.ca/english/access-2-entertainment-card
Easter Seals Incontinence Supplies Grant Program:
https://services.easterseals.org/incontinence-supplies-grant/
President’s Choice Community Funding — Applicable to families whose children have been diagnosed with a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, muscular dystrophy, spina bifida and various developmental delays. Applicants must meet the following criteria: Canadian Child (18 and under)
, Diagnosed physical or developmental disability, Household annual income $70,000 or less
www.presidentschoice.ca
Community Living Ontario—Tax, Benefits, Trusts, and Wills Toolkit Ontario
planinspiringpossiblities.com
Registered Disability Savings Plan
RDSB
Children’s Fitness Tax Credit — Children with disabilities (who receive the Disability Tax Credit) age 18 and under are eligible for an additional credit claim of $500, for a total of up to a $1000 Fitness Tax Credit Claim for 2015/2016. NOTE: Ontario proposes to end the CATC as of January 1, 2017, and will focus on developing other programs to encourage physical activity and healthy eating for Ontario’s children, including those in lower-income families.
Healthy Smiles Ontario – a free dental program that includes regular check-ups, preventive care, and treatment for children and youth 17 and under. www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/dental
The Ontario Cleft Lip and Palate Craniofacial Dental Program — This program provides financial assistance for the specialized dental needs of children with cleft lip/palate, craniofacial anomaly or other severe dental dysfunction. The program will reimburse 75% of dental treatment costs remaining after private dental insurance. http://www.health.gov.on.ca
EDUCATION:
ONLINE GAME/EDUCATIONAL SITES For Kids:
USEFUL WEBSITES, BLOGS, & Articles:
- The #DearEverbody Campaign
- Bloom: Parenting Kids With Disabilities
- www.specialneedsplanning.ca
- The Mighty
- Embracing Imperfect
- Mommydo.com
- A Rare Kind of Normal
- Dear New Special Needs Parent—You Are Not Alone
- What one mother’s son has taught her about “having it all”
- A Great New Way To Describe Kids With Special Needs
- 10 Things I Wish Somebody Had Told Me…
- To the Embarrassed Parent of the Child Pointing at My Daughter
GENETIC DISORDER INFO:
- Unique-Rare Chromosome Disorders
- Chromosome Disorder Outreach
- GeneCards—database of user-friendly info on annotated human genes
- Rare Toolkits—variety of topics related to living with and/or advocating for rare disease patients
SPEECH DELAYS—
Online Resources:
BOOKS /~/ For Parents:
- Because She Was: A Memoir by Shelley Bouwer
- Changed By A Child by Barbara Gill
- Positive Discipline For Children With Special Needs by Nelsen, Foster & Raphael
- The Spark: A Mother’s Story of Nurturing Genius by Kristine Barnett
- Mom Upside Down Is Wow by Lynn Madison
- Mindful Parenting In A Messy World by Michelle Gale
BOOKS /~/ For Kids:
- A Different Kind Of Safari by Helen C. Hipp
- The Land of And by Katie Mullay & Toby Allen
- The Land of Or by Katie Mullay & Toby Allen
Disability Support Organizations:
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario