Programs designed to challenge that special-needs child

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Here is a sampling of local sports and recreation programs for children with special needs. Most charge fees and may serve only children with certain types of disabilities.

Events

Inclusive recreational activities: 7-9 p.m. Wednesday, Ricketts auditorium, 18315 Bothell Way N.E., Bothell, 425-398-9758. A panel of parents from the Northshore School District's Special Education Parent and Professional Advisory Council will discuss how to create inclusive recreational activities for special-needs children. A short Q&A session will follow; information on local resources available. Call by Monday for free child care.

Wheelchair Sports Jamboree: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m. April 24, Chief Sealth High School, 2600 S.W. Thistle, Seattle. The free clinic will feature new equipment, demonstrations and exhibitors. Presenters include a Paralympian gold medalist and a wheelchair tennis champion. To register, contact Nick Bicknell at 206-615-0617 or e-mail nick.bicknell@seattle.gov.

Ongoing programs

Highline YMCA: Offers a specialty-skills sports clinic most Saturday afternoons during the school year. Baseball will start March 27; participants play soccer in the fall and basketball in the winter. 17874 Des Moines Memorial Drive, Seattle, 206-244-5880.

SKIFORALL Foundation: The program, which began in 1979, provides year-round opportunities including skiing, snowboarding, cycling, in-line skating, rock-climbing, kayaking, hiking, camping, rafting and day camps. Scholarships available. Minimum age is 5, with higher age requirements for some activities. www.skiforall.org or 425-462-0978.

Special Olympics Washington: Started in 1968, Special Olympics provides free year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with mental retardation or closely related developmental disabilities. Minimum age is 8. Individuals with disabilities who do not also have mental retardation are not eligible. The Summer Games run June 4-6 with aquatics, soccer, running and cycling competitions held at Fort Lewis, McChord Air Force Base and the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. Special Olympics will host its 10th annual fund-raiser, Breakfast with Champions, at 7:30 a.m. June 17 at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center. 206-362-4949, Ext. 221. General information: 800-752-7559 or www.sowa.org

 
Little League: Download a brochure on the Challenger Division for special-needs children at www.littleleague.org/programs/challenger.asp. Local Challenger divisions include District 8 (Woodinville to Queen Anne, call coordinator Bev Newsome, 425-483-9753); Sammamish Little League (serves the Eastside, www.nill.org/sllChallenger.asp); Mukilteo North Little League (www.eteamz.com/mukilteonorthlittleleague); and District 1 Little League (Snohomish County, call Kerry Mallery at 425-348-6127).

Miracle League of Monroe: Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Monroe, this is a youth baseball league for children with special needs. The club is trying to raise $1 million to construct a baseball field with special amenities for the disabled, such as a wheelchair-accessible field. Information: rotaryclubofmonroe.com/Miracle_League/Miracle_League_home.htm

Washington State Youth Soccer Association: The Outreach Program for Soccer, known as TOPSoccer, is for athletes ages 5 to 19 with a mental or physical disability. A TOPSoccer Celebration will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 12 at Starfire Sports Complex, 6840 Fort Dent Way, Tukwila. The free event is open to children under age 18 with disabilities. For more information on this and other programs, visit www.wsysa.com/programs/topsoccer_default.asp#Programs. For information on the national program, download a brochure at www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/20/main.html.

Robinswood Tennis Center: The public tennis center offers year-round tennis lessons and play for special-needs children and adults from 3:45 to 5 p.m. Wednesdays. $3 a visit. Also, a wheelchair tennis class runs 3:30 p.m. Saturdays for all ages. 2400 151st Pl. S.E., Bellevue, 425-452-7690.

Team Shadow: Basketball, track, swimming, weight lifting and table- tennis teams for physically challenged children age 8 to 18. 206-726-3984.

Sonics Jr. Wheelchair Basketball: Year-round team plays in exhibitions and tournaments. 206-281-5800.

Footloose Sailing Association: This nonprofit group brings sailing as a recreational and therapeutic outlet to people of all disabilities. The sailing season runs May to October, with lessons, events and day sailing on Lake Washington. 206-382-2680 or www.footloosesailing.org.

Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center: Founded in 1976, the Woodinville-based program works with children and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities. Riders can start as young as 2-½. There is currently a long waiting list, however. 425-882-1554 or www.littlebit.org

EquiFriends: Snohomish-based program offers therapeutic horseback riding and driving for people with disabilities. 425-337-1137 or www.equifriends.org

Hawk Ridge Therapeutic Riding Center, 34519 S.E. David Powell Road, Fall City, 425-222-0080.

Ski for Light: Guided skiing program for the blind organized by Sons of Norway. 253-631-7904.

More opportunities

Local parks and recreation departments: Check with your city to see if it offers programs for children with special needs. Seattle Parks and Recreation (Specialized Programs office, 206-684-4950), for example, offers swim lessons and bowling for special-education students age 4 and up.

Local training: In rural areas, children with special needs might train with school teams but not compete with them, instead attending regional meets for athletes with disabilities.

Camp directory: The Center for Children with Special Needs and Washington State Department of Health offer a free summer camp directory listing more than 75 camps and programs in Washington for children with health-care needs or disabilities. Families can search and print the directory on from www.cshcn.org, or they can request a copy by calling the Children's Resource Line at 206-987-2500, Option 4 or 866-987-2500, Option 4. Resource-line staff can also provide recreational resources for children with special needs, or check out "Starting Point Resource Guide" (www.cshcn.org/resources/guides.htm).

Arc of King County: Information and referral specialists can provide recreational resources for children with developmental disabilities. Call 206-364-8384 or visit www.arcofkingcounty.org.

— Stephanie Dunnewind, Seattle Times staff reporter

Copyright © 2004 The Seattle Times Company