Association of Massachusetts Educators of Students with Visual Impairments
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Improving and Enriching the Lives of Students with Visual Impairments

  

 

Recreation Resources

Our Place Our Space's Kids Space Afterschool program for elementary and high school students who are blind will take place on Thursdays 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM & the first two Saturdays of the month,10:00 AM – Noon: The Tobin Community Center, 1481 Tremont Street Roxbury MA. For more information call 617-459-4084.

  

Carroll Center for the Blind-Outdoor Enrichment Program: http://www.carroll.org/recreation/

Perkins School for the Blind Outreach Activites: http://www.perkins.org/community/outreach/weekends.html

Association for Blind Citizens:  http://www.blindcitizens.org/

The United States Association of Blind Athletes/ USABA, www.usaba.org or call 719-630-0422

The Mass. Department of Conservation & Recreation Universal Access Program website is  http://www.mass.gov/dcr/universal_access .

 

 


 

 

Association of Blind Citizens

New England Ski for LIght

 

 

There are a variety of great opportunities for children and adults with disabilities in Massachusetts to participate in indoor, outdoor and sports activities. Here are some additional resources for recreational opportunities:

    ·       All Out Adventures in Easthampton offers outdoor recreational programs that include accessible kayaking, sailing, flat water canoeing, hiking, and hand cycling in various locations in Massachusetts. 413-427-8980.

    ·       Accessible Swimming Pools outdoor swimming pool lifts are available at all of the State Parks and Recreation Department's 20 swimming pools. The pools are free. Contact pool directly for information about other site factors affecting accessibility.

    ·       AccesSport America is a national, non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery of higher function, fitness, and fun for children and adults with disabilities through high-challenge sports, which include kayaking, windsurfing and water skiing. For more information, call 978-264-0985 or go to info@AcesSportAmerica.org. Office located at 119 High Street in Acton.

    ·       ARCs. Local Arcs provide a variety of social and recreational activities for children and teens with developmental disabilities.

    ·       Challenger Sport League. Some towns (Andover, Braintree, Sandwich, Sudbury, Wakefield and Woburn) have challenger teams. The goal of the challenger team is to play with no pressure and to educate typical peers and their parents about sportsmanship. The program is available for boys and girls, ages 3 - 19 with all types of physical and developmental disabilities. Call local Little League to find out if a particular town offers Challenger Division Baseball.

    ·       Great Park Pursuit - MA DCR "No Child Left Inside" Teams are challenged to visit different state parks over a six-week period as part of a fun Massachusetts State Parks Family Adventure! Teams will hike to amazing views, learn to fish, pitch a tent and roast smores, discover secrets of the past, ride a horse drawn wagon, learn about birds of prey and even how cows are milked. Each week is filled with new outdoor adventures to discover and enjoy! Complete tasks at all six parks and your team will be deemed semi-finalists eligible to join hundreds of teams and compete for prizes.

    ·       Horseback Riding - NARHA Centers in Massachusetts

    ·       Mass Dept of Conservation & Recreational Universal Access Program Provides outdoor recreation opportunities in Massachusetts State Parks for visitors of all abilities.

    ·       National Parks & Federal Recreational Land Access Pass- "America The Beautiful" . The pass is for citizens or permanent residents of the United States who have been medically determined to have a permanent disability. It provides access to, and use of, any Federal recreation site that charges an Entrance- or Standard Amenity Fee and provides a discount on some Expanded Amenity Fees. The pass must be obtained in person.

    ·       Nature Trail- Broadmoor Wildlife Sanctuary. A quarter-mile, handicap-accessible trail and boardwalk along the bank of Indian Brook. This sanctuary has the following universally-accessible facilities: Nature Center, Restrooms, and All Persons Trail. 280 Eliot Street in Natick 508-655-2296

    ·       Outdoor Explorations / Medford OE provides one-day clinics and multi-day overnight trips with activities such as kayaking, backpacking, sailing, rock climbing, whitewater rafting, snowshoeing, and community service. OE specifically designs its programs to be inclusive of all ages and abilities. Programs accommodate most disabilities, including cognitive, sensory, physical, mental, and multiple disabilities.

    ·       Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA) provides year round sports training and athletic competition for all persons with intellectual disabilities. Minimum age requirement is eight years of age. There is no maximum age requirement. SOMA summer games offers aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, sailing, tennis and volleyball. Go to above link to search SOMA region that covers your town. 978-774-1501.

     Town Recreation Departments

    ·          Wheelchair Sports & Recreation Assn. offers information about beach wheelchairs, biking, boating and more. 



Waypoint Adventure's mission is to help youth and adults of all abilities discover their purpose, talents, and strengths through the transforming power of adventure. purpose, talents, and strengths through the transforming power of adventure.



 

 US Association of Blind Athletes has resources on modifying PE classes is available and have a number of suggestions for ball and target areas, running and jogging, boundaries and lines, as well as modification of rules. Go to www.USABA.org .

 

 

The Canadian Blind Sports Association has produeced a book on 'Integrating the Visually Impaired Student into Physical Education:  A Teacher's Resource Manual”.  http://www.canadianblindsports.ca/eng/index.htm

 

Rush-Miller Foundation:  http://rushmillerfoundation.org/ is a Foundation which assists children who are legally blind in getting a tandem bike. 


 RadaR the Eargame is a new online game for children who are blind or vision impaired. For more information email radar@sonoplanet.com  for more information, use subject-line 'RadaR account'. If interested in receiving a free audio-CD with the audioplay and songs from RadaR the Eargame, please include postal address.

 

 Sonokids has set up and maintains an international, multilingual webportal which is fully accessible for children with a vision impairment. On www.sonokids.com you will find accessible audiogames which are fully compatible with assistive technology such as JAWS.

 

 

 

 Camp Inter-Actions Georges Mills, NH: A summer camp experience for boys and girls ages 8-15, from the northeast region, who are blind or visually impaired. Through challenging and rewarding experiences the campers will make new friends, learn new skills, gain self-confidence, and develop independence. All program activities are designed in a safe and fun environment for children who are blind or visually impaired.

 

Inter-Actions is located on 150 acres with secluded shorefront on a crystal clear lake. A sandy beach, canoes, and kayaks add to the fun at the waterfront. Campers and their counselors sleep in screened cabins. The dining hall, main house, and nurse’s cabin are close by in a rustic setting.  Camp Inter-Actions is an ideal setting for a traditional summer camp experience.

 

Activities include; music, swimming, boating, fishing, adapted sports and games, arts and crafts, pottery, woodworking, camping, nature activities, leadership skills, and daily living skills.  All activities are incorporated into fun-filled days!

 

2012 Camp Sessions

One-Week Session: 
July 22-July 28, 2012

Tuition: $575

 

Two-Week Session: 
July 29-August 11, 2012

Tuition: $ 950

 

Both Sessions

July 22-August 11, 2012
Tuition: $1,425

 

 For a registration form and additional information please contact:  (Scholarship information available upon request.)
   campinfo@inter-actions.org  603-228-2803

Debbie Gross,

www.inter-actions.org

 

 

 


Blind Camp in Maine: Sponsored by the American Legion- Hosted by Camp Lawroweld, Weld, Maine. Ages: for children ages 12 and up and adults who are blind and their families. Lots of activities. Space is limited. For more information about the camp, call Brenda Elliot at 617-670-3820

 

  

Adaptive Play Resources: http://letsplay.buffalo.edu/products/index.htm

The National Center on Physical Activity and Disability: www.ncpad.org

Accessible Games:  www.7128.com