Tag Archives: special needs

His Experience as an MVP

The Philly Friendship Circle connects teens and young adults to youth with special needs and their families through a full range of social offerings. Inspired by the power of genuine friendship, our youth cultivate understanding, kindness and responsibility while ensuring a caring and inclusive community.The Philly Friendship Circle offers an MVP program. It is a six-week program for 6th and 7th graders. Through activities, games, and multimedia presentations, MVP participants learn appropriate conduct when volunteering, the importance of giving back to the community, and the impact they can have on others. In addition to the MVP curriculum, participants and their […]

JChai

JChai.org JCHAI (Judith Creed Homes for Adult Independence) at Federation Hall 274 South Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania 19010 Contact: Beth Rosenwasser, PhD, Director of Community Engagement, (610)922-2480, BethRosenwasser@jchai.org JCHAI (Judith Creed Homes for Adult Independence) is an AWARD-WINNING family of residential and community-based programs for people 18 and up with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities. We create supported independent living in a person’s own home, their family’s home or in our supervised apartment program. JCHAI also provides vocational training, supported employment, counseling, social, educational and artistic self-expression with trips and social events. We offer Jewish programming but serve people […]

Thorncroft Equestrian Center

Thorncroft Equestrian Center for Theraputic Riding 190 Line Road Malvern, PA 19355 Contact: jessica@thorncroft.org, Volunteer Coordinator, 610.644.1963, info@thorncroft.org Our mission is to develop the physical and emotional well-being of all people including those with special needs. We are committed to personal growth and education in an equestrian environment of respect and love. Founded in 1969. Thorncroft Equestrian Center will continue to be a premier leader in the field of therapeutic horseback riding and related mental health programs. Our Education Center will provide continuing education and assist in the development of future programs for instructors, students and families. As a non-profit 501(c)(3), Thorncroft will […]

Room For One More….

Imagine the feeling of going to class on a Monday morning and seeing the majority of your classmates cohesively wearing a bar mitzvah sweatshirt highlighting the weekend’s festivities and YOU are dressed in your normal garb? Makes you feel down and out knowing you were one of the very few excluded from the major celebration the past Saturday night. The Mitzvah Bowl highly encourages families to consider INCLUSION when it comes time to planning the big simcha. Too many children, both in the unpopular crowds as well as special needs kids, experience a burst to their self esteem and self-worth when they […]

Intergenerational Inclusion Program

TEENS SHARE THEIR PERSONAL EXPERIENCES IN ATID JEWISH COMMUNITY HIGH SCHOOL OF GRATZ COLLEGE’S INTERGENERATIONAL INCLUSION PROGRAM ATID (Advocacy, Transitions, Involvement and Development), is an intergenerational inclusion program for all teens. In addition to celebrating the Jewish holidays as a community, the teens together with the elderly residents of Sunrise of Dresher work on Judaic craft and cooking projects, participate in games and engage in discussions on various thought-provoking topics. “When I think back on my experiences at ATID, I feel proud that I was able to be part of something so great.” MN Why choose ATID? “I’ve always dreamed […]

Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region North

Friendship Circle Philadelphia Region North 25 N. State St. Newtown, PA Contact: Mrs. Miriam Shemtov, Executive Director friends@fcpa.info 215 497-1003 The Friendship Circle South reaches out and extends a helping hand to families who have children with special needs and involves them in a full range of social experiences. The Circles’ unique formula introduces teenage volunteers to the children and through shared experiences both are enriched. Volunteers become friends to a child with special needs, thereby, giving them the opportunity to have what every child needs- friends, role models and love. Simply put, The Friendship Circle lets children and teens […]

Autism Speaks

Autism Speaks 216 Haddon Ave., Suite 403, Westmont, NJ 08108 Christina Carter, Director, Greater Delaware Valley Chapter, Autism Speaks 856 858-5400 Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism are both general terms for a group of complex disorders of brain development. These disorders are characterized, in varying degrees, by difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and repetitive behaviors. They include autistic disorder, Rett syndrome, childhood disintegrative disorder, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified (PDD-NOS) and Asperger syndrome. ASD can be associated with intellectual disability, difficulties in motor coordination and attention and physical health issues such as sleep and gastrointestinal disturbances. […]

Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center

Ivy Hill Therapeutic Equestrian Center Website 1811 Mill Road, Perkasie, PA 18944 Contact: Megan Strychowski – Program Manager 215 822 2515 mstrychowski@ivyhillequestrian.org Ivy Hill delivers professional programs designed to enhance the lives of those individuals with physical, social, educational or psychological challenges. They provide the highest quality services to the individuals who benefit from the programs they offer. The staff have degrees in areas of Special Education, Physical Therapy, and Psychology with additional specialized training and certification in Therapeutic Riding and Hippotherapy. They have individuals of all ages that have “special challenges” ranging from those with physical, intellectual, emotional, and […]

Mitzvah Project Challenge