The Benefits Of Social And Recreational Programs For Children With Special Needs In NYC

By Enid Hinton


Becoming a parent is probably life's biggest challenge. There is nothing that can prepare someone for the joys and challenges that parenting will bring to their lives. Yet when a child is born with a disability or additional needs, those challenges become even more significant. Many people find themselves becoming over whelmed by the demands on their time and energy. Without help it is all too easy to sink in the despair of coping with all the extra demands.

In some cases a child is diagnosed at birth. This can make it easier to have access to social and recreational programs for children with special needs in NYC. However, in many cases a child is not diagnosed until later in life. This is especially true for a youngster who has autism. The parents may not realize that anything is wrong until they are two or even three years old.

Social skills are very important to everyone, but this is an area that many children need help with. An increasing number of youngsters being diagnosed on the autism spectrum, there is a huge need for programs that address this specific area of need. In many cases important social skills have to be taught systematically by role play and repetition.

One of the great things about living in New York, NY is the sheer number of people. With such a huge population there is always a demand for good programming. This can range from arts and crafts, to sports and groups that allow for positive interaction between young people. Having well trained counselors on hand at all times is an essential feature of any good program.

After the diagnosis the family will be registered with many local and state wide agencies. They will also be assigned a case manager. These managers can be tremendously important as they can give the entire family help and support finding all the best programs to meet individual requirements. Some children only have minimal needs and are able to participate in regular activities such as scouts or guides and school based activities. Others have very significant challenges and need more specially designed activities.

It is very important for children to have access to sports all year round. The summer is a great time to get outside and play. There are now many adaptive sport programs that allow children with many types of disability to participate in an organized sport such as baseball, soccer or basketball. During the winter months most sports have to move indoors. Swimming is still one of the most popular activities as it offers many health and social benefits to every participant.

Much of the specialized equipment is very expensive and out of the reach of many families. Having access to this can make all the difference in their lives. For example, specially trained swimming instructors providing individual help to a disabled child will allow the rest of the family time to swim at the pool together knowing that their youngster is in safe hands.

Learning to take turns, resolve conflicts and be part of a groups are key to success in all areas of life. The earlier they learn these skills the better their chances of leading a full and rewarding life. Families in New York, NY only need to go on line to find many excellent services in their area.




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