Ann Arbor, MI, Fitness Program for DD

This is from an Intentional Communities of Washtenaw (ICW) email newsletter:

Consider the Movers and Shakers Program

...The goal of this program is to provide an environment where adults with disabilities (18 years of age and older) can build cardiovascular fitness and muscular strength and endurance. Enrollment for Movers and Shakers includes 8, 90-minute sessions, hosted at the Meri Lou Recreational Center in Ann Arbor in partnership with Parks and Recreation of Ann Arbor.

Every participants works with their very own coach, 1:1 ratio, with a dedicated pre-medical or kinesiology student. The program fee is $300 per semester but scholarships are available to anyone in need.The FALL SEMESTER begins September 26th. For registration information and contact info, CLICK HERE .

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Find out more about the organization providing this program and similar programs for children and adults with special needs:

LightUpNow

"It is LightUp’s mission to develop exceptional research-informed programs and to make these programs accessible to those who need them the most.

"LightUp strives to create an open, supportive, and fun environment for individuals with special needs to actively participate within their community, develop meaningful ongoing relationships, and ultimately improve their overall health, happiness, and life satisfaction.

"We work in collaboration with Sunfield Center, our affiliated mental health organization to advocate and provide high quality programs for individuals with special needs within our community."

Maryland: Physical fitness and people with disabilities

from:
 
Inclusive Gym Gets People With Disabilities in Fitness Spirit

by June Soh

July 31, 2015

Teamwork is an integral part of the health and fitness program at Spirit Club, a gym in suburban Washington where most of the participants have autism, Down syndrome or other developmental disabilities.

“Our main focus is the same thing as any other gym, which is to help people be active and healthy," said Jared Ciner, who created the club in Kensington, Maryland, two years ago. "The difference is that we do modify a little bit to make sure that it is right pace for the people we are working with, so that everybody can follow along...."

St. Louis Center "Fitness for Life" Program

St. Louis Center is a residential community for children and adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities located in Chelsea, Michigan, about 15 miles west of Ann Arbor.

St. Louis Center began offering a "Fitness for Life" program  this fall for qualified residents of Chelsea, Dexter, Grass Lake, Manchester, and Stockbridge, Michigan. The program is available to people with special needs. It's purpose is to increase the physical fitness level of participants, thereby increasing their capacity to perform normal daily activities more safely and independently.

According to an article in the Journal Register:

Caitlin Deis, a 2001 graduate of Chelsea High School with a bachelor's in psychology from Alma College, was hired to become the part-time fitness specialist in September 2011 and was offered the position full time in June 2012.

She had this to say about the program:

“What’s unique about our approach, is that if someone is afraid of using a free-weight to build arm strength, we might use a household object like a water bottle instead. Several of our participants don’t like standard exercises, but most like to dance, and we’ve even introduced them to yoga as a fun way to stretch and increase their flexibility and core strength. We’ve already experienced tremendous success with several of our residents, who have lost as much as 15-20 pounds. One young man here has even dropped 60 pounds through regular exercise and a change in his diet.”

For more information on the program schedule and fees, see the SLC Web site or contact Caitlin Deis, Fitness Specialist, by phone at 734-475-8430 or by email at wellness@stlouiscenter.org  .

Indian Trails Camp near Grand Rapids

Here is a note about a new camping opportunity for families in Michigan. Indian Trails Camp, six miles west of Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a camp for people with disabilities that will have its first Family Camp at the end of September. This is from the website:

Family Fun for Everyone!

August 3^rd, 2012

We are so excited to have our first Family Camp this fall from September 29-30!  This will be a wonderful opportunity for everyone in the family to enjoy the joys of camping together, no matter what their abilities are, while strengthening their bonds.  

Each family will have their own cabin for their entire stay and during the day get to choose from different programming options to make their visit as enjoyable as possible.  So whether it's indoor swimming, rock climbing, or creative arts - whatever is most fitting for your family's needs and wants.  And what's camping without ending the day by roasting marshmallows by the camp fire with your family and new friends.

Don't miss out on experiencing camp in an accessible environment where all family members can participate in adaptive activities!  If you are interested or have questions, please feel free to contact us at (616) 677.5251 or info@indiantrailscamp.org

 

Community Resources: Heated pools at the Romulus Athletic Center

It is usually hard to find places that can accommodate my sons for fun recreational activities, but today I discovered a great place for people of all sizes, shapes, and degrees of disability. A gang of kids from Ian's school, High Point School in Ann Arbor, took a field trip to the Romulus Athletic Center to swim and play in their water park.

Water temperature is always a concern for people with severe physical disabilities, even for Ian. He is relatively beefy compared to some of his classmates, but can't tolerate anything that is colder than a warm bath.

The Lazy River Pool, heated to about 88 degrees, has a gentle current that flows around a 240-foot loop and is the closest Ian has every been to river rafting or body surfing. It is also great exercise for people who can walk against the current. Inner tubes are available. Many of the High Point kids use flotation devices that keep their heads above water, but allow them to move freely underneath the surface.
 
The Splash Pool, heated to about 86 degrees, is a large wading pool with lots of surprises, including intermittent geysers, a 150-gallon tipping bucket, a water curtain, and numerous sprayers and water jets. The sound effects are enough for me, but even very young children seemed to be having a wonderful time.

A four-lane Lap Pool, heated to about 80 degrees, is available for real swimmers who can handle deep water (10 feet at one end).

The Hot Tub/Spa is the biggest hot tub I have ever seen. It is heated to 103 degrees and has numerous water jets and bubblers. Children must be at least 16 years old to use the Hot Tub.

Then there is the two-story, 120-foot long water slide (at 86 degrees). Fortunately, it was not open today. There were a number runners and darters in the High Point group who would need to be carefully supervised to even get near this contraption. I'm sure it is thrilling for the right group of people.

The water park has a chair lift that is always available with pool staff to get people in and out of the pool.  There were at least two lifeguards watching at all times that we were there. Most of the pools are accessible by either ramps or shallow steps.

The RAC is owned by the City of Romulus and is located near the Detroit Metro Airport - very easy to get to from I-94 on the Vining Road exit. Fees vary depending on age and residency. A one-time fee for non-residents is $10. The center also has basketball courts, exercise machines, a climbing wall, a cafe and snack bar, a day-care center, an indoor track for running and walking, and many classes and fitness programs.

Who knew?

Washtenaw County Special Olympics

This is a note from Anne Rogers, the Director of Special Olympics for Washtenaw and Livingston Counties:

Now that the school year is in full swing I wanted to send some dates for the upcoming year so you can plan for them.

We will have basketball practices starting December 6 at 6:00 at High Point School on Wagner in Ann Arbor next to the WISD. ALL abilities are welcome.

Our Spring Bowling Tournament is scheduled for April 29 at Bellmark.

Our Spring Games is scheduuled for May 17 at Saline High.

Our Polar Plunge is scheduled for February 19 at U of M golf club. We are looking for people to help plan this and to take the plunge.

I am always available to speak to groups that want to find out more about Special Olympics - just let me know.

Please forward to anyone that you think may be interested.

Anne Rogers,
Special Olympics Michigan
Director, Livingston and Washtenaw
phone: (734) 222-8283
fax: (734) 222-9895
Special Olympics Michigan Website
E-mail: mi27so@yahoo.com

The AACIL: Activities for People with Disabilities

The Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living (AACIL) offers lots of activities for people with disabilities. Although their focus is generally on people with physical disabilities, they also serve people with other developmental and cognitive disabilities. Even if your child has never participated in AACIL programs, it is worth a look to see if there might be something for a more severely impaired child or adult.

The AACIL also has an email news letter with updates on CIL activities:

eNews for Youth
A Periodic ePublication of the Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
for Young People with Disabilities

Call to be placed on the email list.

Contact the AACIL at:

Ann Arbor Center for Independent Living
3941 Research Park Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48108
(734) 971-0277
phone: (734) 971-0826 fax: (734) 971-0277

Saint Francis Camp on the Lake - Jerome, Michigan

Check out Saint Francis Camp on the Lake in Jerome, Michigan, north of Coldwater and west of Adrian, Michigan. The camp is run by the Alhambras, a fraternal order of Catholic men dedicated to assisting persons with developmental disabilities.

The Website has an informative video to give you an idea of what the camp and campers are like, an application, and more information on contacts. The cost for one-week at camp is $450.

There will be an open house on June 5, 2010, but families are encouraged to find out more about the camp before then by contacting Mike Carpenter at mike_carp@sbcglobal.net or viewing the Website.

Ann Arbor recreation programs for Spring 2008

The Ann Arbor Rec & Ed catalog for Spring 2008 is available on-line. You can find Adapted Recreation classes for special needs adults and children on page 34 of the catalog. Look at the catalog here and the AA Rec & Ed website here.

The classes currently offered are:

Cooking Cooperatively: Every Wednesday from 4/16 to 6/4, 5:15 - 7:30 pm, at the High Point Young Adult kitchen. The emphasis is on kitchen safety and measuring techniques while creating simple foods.

Dinner & a Movie: Every Thursday from 4/24 to 5/29, 5:30 - 8:30 pm, at the High Point School Young Adult kitchen. Make a simple meal, watch a new movie every week, and become a film critic in the discussion afterwards.

Adapted Swim Sessions: Friday evenings, starting at either 5:30 or 6:00 pm, at the High Point pool, from 4/18 - 5/30. Private instruction or therapeutic swim lessons. Grade K - adult.

Strike Force: Bowl up to two games per week and get an official Strike Force t-shirt. Monday afternoons starting at 4 pm, from 4/14 - 6/9 at Colonial Lanes.

Check the catalog for fees and scholarship opportunities. On-line registration is available here.