Oh, you know... the basics. Little things like speech limitations, social skills, or ability to control behavior, etc, etc. But I get it. It's all part of the package and thus, our life. We work around it. We immerse ourselves in therapy, doctor appoints, and medication. With time and LOTS of work and repetition things can and do get better. Progress is made.
But.... there is one area that has been a continual challenge for us on this journey. Because of Jackson's disability, finding interests for him outside of our home has been a challenge. While typical kids can choose from dance, music, the arts, and sports, Jackson has not had the desire or ability to really connect with any particular interest or hobby. Part of that is because he has a hard time connecting with people in general. However, he does enjoy Scouts. Yay, for Cub Scouts!
I think if we lived closer to SLC, there would be more opportunities for him to participate in adaptive sports and activities. Plus, let's face it. When you have a child with special needs AND other children with their own set of needs, the money you normally dedicate to that child's "typical activities" is instead dedicated to their therapy, medication, and medical bills. Plus, when you are going to OT, PT, Speech, and Psych - who has time for one more thing, right? :)
We also tried to get Jackson to "play down" on community leagues with his younger brother. For a few years, this seemed to work well. Although, now we're at a point where the younger age group's skill set is advancing and Jackson is finding it more difficult to keep up. Plus, the desire is not there. In baseball, he enjoys hitting, but would rather pick grass when it is his turn to be in the outfield.
So... what to do, what to do?
This past fall, this topic was on my mind heavily. Jackson has been a therapy kid for 11 years and I have felt the tides beginning to turn. I needed to find something for him that wasn't so clinical. Heaven knows we have our clinical plates FULL! I also wanted to find something for Jackson that would be enjoyable and let him interact with other kids (social therapy) in a more typical environment.
Do you every have those moments where you know you were lead to a certain point? Well, on a certain day in October, I had that a-ha moment. I knew I was where I needed to be. After dropping Lex off at dance, I decided to venture west to a tumbling facility in K-town. But... they were closed. Every time I've stopped there - they've been closed. Grrr...!
I then remembered the Sportsplex. I remembered Collin had participated in their Sports Academy programs in the summer. It was worth a try. So I stopped in and began asking questions at the front desk and described what I was looking for.
One thing led to another and I ended up talking to the Gym Manager, Joel. He was great and very receptive to my questions. While the gym didn't currently offer anything I was describing (other than individual personal training and a kid's class), he said he was happy to help me put something together.
At first I thought I would like to take on another project / opportunity. (There really aren't a lot of adaptive activity options in Davis County.) But, I also knew my plate was full. So... we decided to go with the existing kids' classes and hope for the best.
Not more than two weeks later, we were at ward party and our new neighbors sat down beside us. Camille Bennett is darling and just happens to be finishing her masters in.... wait for it.... Special Education Physical Education. She is currently working in programs like the one I want set up at the Sportsplex.
So, I said... "Camille! I have a business idea for you! You would be perfect for this. There is such a need for these types of programs in Davis County."
Fast forward two months, and.... it is happening! My neighbor, Camille, and Joel, from the Gym, have worked their magic and have created an Adaptive Sports Academy Class. It is going to be great. Here is all of the information. If you are still with me this far into the post, PLEASE help us pass along the information to anyone who may need a little extra help with coordination, agility, sports, technique, social skills, etc. This isn't necessarily a class for kids with "special needs". After all, what does that mean anyway? For heaven sakes, I have special needs - lots of them. :) It is a class for anyone who may not flourish in the typical environment - for someone who may need to take things a little slower and who needs a bit of extra help. This is the class!
They probably need about 10 participants to really make the class work. If they have more register, additional classes will be added. I truly think this is a perfect opportunity for so many kids who just didn't thrive in traditional sport settings. I am crossing my fingers that it will be a success.
(ps - I'm not be compensated to promote this class, nor am I affiliated with the class in anyway. Well, other than being a passionate mama bear who wants to find programs for her son.) :)
pss: Now go!!! Help me spread the word! Classes begin Thursday, January 26, 2012
Adaptive Sports Academy Information
Class Description:
Adaptive Youth Academy provides children who have unique abilities and needs with the opportunity to learn and practice athletic skills, improve fitness levels and to improve self-confidence. Not to mention, having the opportunity to be part of a team. If they enjoy playing sports and want to be a part of a team this is a great opportunity and your kids will LOVE it. This class will be taught by Camille Bennett.
This class will be offered on Thursday from 4-5pm. If there is enough interest a second class will be from 5-6pm on Thursdays. Classes will begin on Thursday, January 26, 2012.
Adaptive Youth Academy is just $30 per month for SportsPlex members or $40 per month for nonmembers. The classes are grouped into four sessions that each include eight weeks of instruction. For example, Session III runs from Jan. 26 to March 15 — classes are not held during weeks surrounding major holidays. There is a one-time enrollment fee of $20.* If you already paid the enrollment fee when you registered for Session I, you don’t need to pay any enrollment fee to register for Session III. You can pay the enrollment fee online to secure your child’s spot in the program.
Visit the SportsPlex website at http://sportsplexgyms.com/youth-academy-center/sportsplex-youth-academy-classes for more questions.
Some quick facts about the new Adaptive Youth Academy class:
· Adaptive Youth Academy provides children who have unique abilities and needs with the opportunity to learn and practice athletic skills, improve fitness levels, and to improve self-confidence.
· This is a great opportunity for to be part of a team and practice sport skills.
· This program provides a smaller group, more practice time, and adaptations needed to help each athlete learn skills at their own pace.
Bio about the teacher:
Camille (Lott) Bennett is currently a Master’s student at the University of Utah in Special Physical Education. Camille grew up in Kaysville and attended Davis High School. While growing up she played many different sports. Her main focus in athletics was Track and Field. She was recruited to be a sprinter and hurdler at Weber State University. She received many All-Conference Awards and was a three-time Big Sky Conference Champion in the Women’s Mile Relay. Camille got her Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Education, Health Promotion, and Coaching Sport. She has spent over 500 hours planning, teaching, and coaching students with disabilities in Davis and Weber School Districts. Camille is married to Justin Bennett and is currently living in Layton.
~~~
If you know of any similar classes in your area, please leave a comment!
No comments:
Post a Comment