Social & Recreation: Sports

Recreational experiences that encourage children with autism and other disabilities to develop their confidence, independence and self-esteem while interacting with peers and being part of a team. Cost and location varies by program.

Programs include:
Cleveland Browns Adapted Football League – May-July
Basketball
Soccer – January-March
Baseball – August-September
Adapted Aquatics – year round

Customized social, recreational and educational activities in a unique outdoor environment at Camp Cheerful in Strongsville. Includes horsemanship activities, cooking, gardening and landscaping, exercise and sports, community activities, arts and crafts, and field trips.

Monday – Friday, 9 am – 3 pm, with an optional supervised social time from 3-5:00 pm.

In collaboration with the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

In-home personal trainers servicing those enduring special needs and their families. All of the staff are certified and experienced with a few trainers having degrees as intervention specialists.

They work with individuals over the age of 18 in parts of Lake, Geauga, and Cuyahoga counties.

Program is designed for children 18 months and older with a broad range of disabilities including autism spectrum disorders.
Instructors teach children both independent swimming and water safety in an indoor, warm pool that is fully-accessible. Each child receives individualized, progressive instruction that makes learning achievable, sensory integrative and fun.

An adapted Jazzercize class for people with disabilities, including people in wheelchairs. The exercises are low-impact and offer an opportunity for developing social skills while getting some exercise.

Classes are held Tuesday evenings.

An integrated sports program for individuals with or without disabilities where everyone, regardless of ability, is encouraged to participate on the field of athletic competition. Sports include bowling, football, cross country, basketball, track & field, soccer, bocce and golf. ATC is a sanctioned Special Olympics organization. Funding may be available to cover the cost of participation.

Visit the All-Star Training Club website or search our Event Calendar for current program schedule.

The Macedonia Family Recreation Center has partnered with Solutions Behavioral Consulting to provide ADAPTED swim lessons in a SMALL GROUP setting for children ages 3-7. All lessons will be overseen by a certified Water Safety Instructor as well as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst, and will feature the following:

Specialization in children with Autism and other special needs, with assessments conducted prior to the first lesson

Skills that are broken into smaller steps, with modeling and visual cues to facilitate learning

Toys, games, and songs that allow children to learn in a natural environment setting

Rewards throughout each session to promote skill acquisition and development

Water Safety component included

Residential services, adult day programs, independent living services, affordable housing, and respite for adults over age 18 with autism. Applicants must be a resident of the state of Ohio.

They offer a Social Living Club with weekly activities that includes non-residents.

The Summer Enrichment Program has been serving adolescents with autism for 18 years on the 80-acre Bittersweet Farms campus in Whitehouse, Ohio. Participation in the program is also offered through our Pemberville and Lima locations.

Waivers accepted.

Veteran Blue Ribbon coach and advocate Sandy Ellis teaches the basics of boxing and some self defense skills. It is non-contact, but students will learn how to throw a punch, a jab, a right hand, uppercuts and hooks using special coaching mitts as targets. Boxing is great for self-confidence and is a great physical opportunity for those not comfortable with team sports. For teens and adults ages 15 and up.

Butler County Challenger Baseball is a league designed to meet the needs of children and young adults from 5 to 22 years of age with special needs. It is affiliated with the Little League Baseball.

Horsemanship sessions are tailored for children and adults with physical, mental and emotional strengths and limitations. This year-round program is taught by instructors certified by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship Int’l. in a heated arena. The sensory trail in the woods of Camp Cheerful was designed especially for riders with autism.

The use of the horse and equine-oriented activities are incorporated to achieve a variety of therapeutic goals, including cognitive, physical, emotional, social, educational and behavioral goals.

The CSU Health and Physical Education Department regularly hosts adapted PE courses. Currently there are no specific adapted swimming courses, but private arrangements can be made. Contact Mr. Loovis (information provided) to discuss any opportunities.

At meets, race distances, groupings, and competitive rules are adapted to meet an individual disabled athlete’s needs, and according to U.S. Paralympics rules. Ongoing Adaptive Swim Clinics are now taking place in: Wooster Ohio and Twinsburg, Ohio

Offers league programs that give athletes with special needs the chance to play right alongside their typically-functioning peers.  All players make the team and after a couple practice sessions, the games begin! Each season features 5+ games with high school or college basketball teams. Location and cost vary.

Visit the Empower Sports website or search our Event Calendar for current program dates.

Therapeutic riding and equine-assisted activities are uniquely designed for people with cognitive, physical, emotional and social disabilities.

They offer a variety of programs including therapeutic riding, carriage driving, hippotherapy, instructor training, and barn and classroom programs. They also have Gaitway High School and a Summer Camp program (separate listings)

Game On provides an activity and adventure-based learning program for children with high functioning autism and their peers. The school year program meets once a week for 90 minutes, and provides children on the spectrum and peer models with a fun, safe, accepting environment designed to provide them with the tools they need to appropriately interact with many diverse individuals and environments.

The school year is broken up into four quarters at a total of 24 sessions that do not conflict with holidays or breaks.

Game On Summer Camp is a nature-based day camp for school-aged children and teens that encourages social interactions while cultivating a connection with the outdoors.

They are a provider for Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities (CCBDD), can receive dollars from NEON, and many families use funding from Family Services.

An activities-based program that focuses primarily on children aged 6-9 with high-functioning autism. It helps them develop social skills through a variety of indoor and outdoor activities, including sports, nature activities, and other group games that help social skills.

Note that a mandatory observation needs to take place before admission to ensure benefit for the child.

The after school program is on Tuesdays from 4-5:30.

Gliding Stars offers adaptive ice skating lessons and equipment for individuals of all ages. There are several chapters, including in Ohio:

Gliding Stars of Northeast Ohio
P.O. Box 53
400 Aurora Commons Circle
Aurora, OH 44224
contact: Melinda Bednarik, Co-Coordinator
phone: (440) 477-3839

Gliding Stars of Findlay, OH
P.O. Box 1561
Findlay, Ohio 45839
contact: Cindy Bregel
phone: (419) 423-4536

Gliding Stars of Toledo, OH
P.O. Box 751
Sylvania, Ohio 43560-0751
contact: Bill Himmel, Coordinator
phone: (419) 304-4324

A martial arts curriculum that offers physical benefits including enhanced fitness, increased balance and coordination, and overall improvement in muscle development and usage. There are also mental (character) benefits which include obtaining a sense of self-confidence, greatly improved and withheld discipline, increased attention and the ability to focus, as well as an overall benefit to self-control.

Martial arts training can also provide a safe place for students to go that is separate from the rest of the world and the stress that may surround them as well as education/training to handle stranger situations, self-defense, and anti-bullying depending on the age group.

Horizon ATA specializes in working with children ages 7-12, and are based on the west side of Cleveland. They can work with all children on the autism spectrum.

Week-long programs offered throughout the summers and school breaks that teaches children with mental and/or physical disabilities how to ride a bicycle without training wheels.

There are several camps throughout Ohio. Visit their website to find the camp nearest you (the locations are updated often).

Some scholarship available.

Financial aid accepted.

For children ages 8-18

This is an informal and fun exercise class for ages 10-18 with peer volunteers that emphasizes movement and social interaction. Sessions are separated by gender.

They also provide a Special Needs Camp, which introduces athletes with special needs to the basics of multiple sports.

Visit the Kenston Community Education website or search our Event Calendar for current program schedule.

Provides opportunities for adults with emotional, physical and developmental disabilities and their families to take full advantage of nearly all of The Mandel JCC programs and services. They also offer personal training for people with disabilities.

Visit the Mandel JCC website for current program schedule.

Provides opportunities for children and teens with emotional, physical and developmental disabilities and their families to take advantage of many of the Mandel JCC programs and services. Playmakers Youth Theatre, camps and many other of their children’s and teen programs are inclusive and children with disabilities are able to participate alongside their peers.

They also offer special needs aquatic therapy (ages 2+) and personal training for people with disabilities.

Visit the Mandel JCC website for current program schedule.

Equine-assisted therapeutic and riding program serving children and adults with special needs. Classes start with children age 5.

Offering Therapeutic Riding and hippotherapy

Yoga, Yoga Therapy, and Meditation practices for people of all ages on the spectrum. Services at studio cost $60/month, with classes meeting once a week.

The Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation offers an Adaptive Aquatic Therapy Program for both inpatient and outpatient therapeutic needs.

Children may take advantage of the pool as an extension of their physical and occupational therapy goals or through learn-to-swim programs, in which recreational therapists, specially trained in adaptive techniques, work one-on-one with children to maximize their functional independence in the pool. The 30-minute sessions run every other week for 8 weeks and you must pre-register.

Call (216) 444.5437 with questions about the program.
Please note that The Cleveland Clinic no longer accepts Caresource as a form of insurance.

Riding lessons, camps, and interaction on a farm for individuals ages 2 through adult with developmental disabilities.

LEAP sponsors a recreation program that offers social, recreational, and athletic opportunities for people with developmental disabilities ages 18 and older. Called Quantum LEAP, the program is open to residents of eastern Cuyahoga County. Activities take place at various locations on Cleveland’s east side.

Visit the Quantum LEAP website or search our Event Calendar for current program schedule.

Individual and group recreation and aquatic therapy services for children and adults with special needs. Programs are structured based on one-on-one and group assessments, followed by individual treatment plans.

Group recreation and aquatic therapy services are held at the Mandel JCC in Beachwood, OH.
Aquatic therapy and group programming services are held at Gemini Center in Fairview Park, OH.

Classes change regularly, please call them or visit their website for the most updated information.

Swim, Perservere, Learn, Achieve, Socialize, amd Have Fun!

Swim lessons for children and teens with mental and developmental disabilities. Lessons are tailored to each swimmer’s individual temperament.

A trampoline park that offers open jump for people with special needs and their siblings on Monday nights from 4:30pm-6pm. They are closed to the public during this time.

They also book group events and host school field trips, including those with special needs.
For more information contact events teams at Westlake or Highland Heights locations.

Various weekly activities on the west side of Cleveland for adults 18 and older. Schedule changes every six weeks, and the cost and location vary between programs.

Contact SOAR! for current program schedule.

Sparties Running club is a one-hour, weekly running program for kids ages 7-14 on the autism spectrum as well as neurotypical siblings and friends. The program strives to increase self confidence and skill level of its runners in a welcoming community space.

Each runner works with 1 or more CWRU students to ensure participation and connections. The program is free to all families, and they actively encourage families of all income levels to participate.

Information sessions will be held prior to the beginning so families can orient themselves with the staff and program.

Sparties consulted with Milestones for additional training for their team leaders.

They offer classes specifically designed for special needs children. Classes are available both in a group setting or one on one with an instructor.

This program is for children with special needs ages 10-18 years of age. Swimmers must be able to swim multiple laps of the pool on their back and front. Coaches will work with swimmers to develop strokes, learn starts and finishes. This program will focus on fitness and exercise and will provide opportunities for individual instruction and making friends.

Cost for residents is $149, $169 for non-residents

Sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, aged 8 and up. There is also a Young Athletes program for children aged 2-7. There are no fees for athletes and their families to participate in Special Olympics and no fees assessed to local programs to participate in Area and Regional competitions.

There are minimal fees varying by sport assessed to local programs for participation at State Competitions.

Visit their website to find the office closest to you.

The Mentor Ice Arena’s Special Skaters Program is for youths and adults with disabilities. Skating instruction is provided by ice arena staff who are assisted by volunteers. Skate time and social time is also included in the program.

In addition, Special Skaters have the opportunity to compete in Special Olympic events.

The program runs from September through March during the regular season.

Therapeutic martial arts programs for ages 3-adult. Classes include physical activity and group therapy components.

3-5 year-old classes-$325/12 weeks, classes meet Saturdays 9:15-10:15 AM
6+ classes-$775/12 weeks, classes meet Tuesdays 4:30-5:30 PM and Saturdays 10:30-noon

Make It Fit is a non-profit organization whose mission is to develop and maintain a community of caring, unified, and knowledgeable individuals dedicated to raising money for autism research, treatment, advocacy, education, and family services.

Based in Columbus, Ohio, they host several fundraiser events throughout the year to raise awareness. They also partner with Cookies 4 Kids, an organization that sells cookies and brownies nation-wide to raise money to buy iPads for kids with autism.

They have a relationship with a equine therapy services in partnership with Stockhands Horses for Healing, where families can sign up for the opportunity to have equine therapy.

Provides the opportunity for children and adults with special needs in Medina and surrounding communities in Northeast Ohio a chance to experience playing baseball in a league-based environment.

Senseis and Occupational Therapists that use a cognitive behavioral therapy approach. Classes available for children ages 5 – 15.

Therapeutic riding instruction for people of all ages on the autism spectrum, beginning at age 4.

Individual evaluation required before enrollment
Evaluation-$25/half hour
Program fee-$280/10 weeks

Financial aid available

Designed to help calm the nervous system and create body awareness, this class uses visuals, low lighting, and soft music as environmental supports. Students will work on balance, strength, and integrative movement through yoga poses; self-regulation/calming techniques through breath work, and participate in mindfulness activities.
Participants should dress comfortably and bring a water bottle to class if desired.
Parents are welcome to observe and may be asked to silently assist in class.

Class is taught by Jen Griest Hayes, a Certified Level 1 and 2 Instructor for Creative Relaxation, a licensed Intervention Specialist, and Autism Consultant.