Your imput is important to our Park and Recreation Adaptive Programs
Please Remember to check out all of the new Adaptive/Special Needs Programs in the Park and Recreation Brochures!
Children with special needs get mentor. Simsbury teacher takes part-time job
CHESHIRE — One of the first things Traci Holden wants to do is meet with the parents group that spawned the creation of her new part-time job with the Parks and Recreation Department. Holden of Wallingford was named adaptive programs coordinator Thursday, said Lou Zullo, the town's personnel director.Parents for Adaptive Programming, a group of 20 core members who aim to increase the number of recreation programs for people with special needs, asked town officials...
Whoever said money can’t buy happiness should have been at the Cheshire Community Pool on any Thursday night.
If they had been, they would have seen how a $21,000 investment could translate into more than a dozen special-needs children splashing and swimming, laughing and smiling.
They also would have seen an equal number of teenage girls from the Cheshire High School swim team learning that many of life’s greatest victories are achieved outside the realm of athletic competition.
"They love it," said Kathleen Davies, as she and her husband, Tom, watched their 6-year-old twins, Matthew and Jack, frolic in the pool under the watchful eyes of the scholastic swimmers. Read More
Adaptive/Special Needs Programs
The Adaptive Recreation programs are designed to include children and adults with special needs in recreational activities. The goal of the programs is to provide a positive and supportive learning environment where they can explore new skills, foster friendships, and have opportunities to experience success. Volunteers will be used to assist in our programs to provide positive social interaction.
Please also note the symbol throughout the brochure indicating other programs that would be appropriate for individuals with special needs or that would provide the necessary support and modifications for inclusion of individuals with special needs.
Cheshire Parks and Recreation encourages participation for everyone! If you or a family member with special needs would like to participate in other recreation programs, please contact The Cheshire Park and Rec Department at 272-2743 to discuss the supportive services needed to make it a positive recreational experience.
Group hopes to create art, music programs: Parents plan to aid their disabled children through town department
By Sloan Brewster, Record-Journal staff
CHESHIRE — Disabled children sometimes have social, cognitive or physical issues; often they have a combination of the three.
Their parents have jobs to do, other children to raise, lives to attend to, and simply cannot be there all the time to give the hands-on support needed to help overcome the difficulties caused by those disabilities.
*Group disbanded in January 2005 when our mission was complete
Our members have moved on to other Special Needs Projects while continuing to Support the Park and Recreation programs - Please Visit the sites or contacts listed below:
Kids in Motion - Boundless Playground In Bartlem Park
Special Needs Little League that gives children 4 - 21 years of age with physical and/or mental disabilities to opportunity to play organized baseball.
Special Buddies are utilized to assist out players on the field, at bat and on the bench.
Best Buddies Program – CT Middle School Chapter of the Year!
The Dodd Middle School Best Buddies
Program has had a very successful year.
The program was awarded the
Connecticut Middle School Chapter of
The Year Award in March! The students
and faculty have put forth great effort
this year.
Best Buddy activities have included monthly
buddy lunches, arts and crafts theme
parties after school, Irish dancing and
music program, bingo and bowling. The
students have enjoyed getting to know
their buddies and participating in all the
group activities.
<<THE WIGGLES DONATE TO DARCEY SCHOOL: Jan 2005
Recently when the Wiggles performed at Oakdale Theater, Marilyn DiTota, a member of Parents for Adaptive Programming, was contacted about possibly arranging a "meet and greet" with area special needs children. Marilyn, along with CO-member, Donna Bouteiller manned the phones, fax and e-mail trying to put the "meet and greet" together.
Due to "Scheduling Issues" they were not able to get the meet and greet scheduled, but were able to
get donations of autographed pictures, books and
Dorothy and Henry stuffed animals to present to Joanie Townsend's EIC class.
Brent Graduates from the First Pet Therapy Program offered by the Cheshire Park and Recreation Department (July 2004) - The Park and Rec Program was run by Soul Friends, a non-profit organization out of Wallingford, CT.
Participants of the first Adaptive Golf Program offered by the Cheshire Park and Rec Department July 2004, pose with their Golf Coach, Bill Slone.
