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Join me at the Hockomock YMCA North Andover Branch on Friday, October 19, for a Disability Awareness Night for families and children through the Family First program.
At the Hockomock Area YMCA, Families are FIRST.
As the world grows more complex, outside demands on time increase. Family First gives families the chance to pass along the values they hold most important. At the Hockomock Area YMCA, we give families the time and the place to gather together as a Family through Family First, a program aimed at strengthening Family ties.
The YMCA is committed to integration of people with disabilities through the Integration Initiative, a community-wide task group consisting of special education professionals and parents of children with special needs. They are now ready to provide special task training to management staff and "front line" professionals in an effort to begin offering classes in designated program areas for the winter session. These areas will include: aquatics, gymnastics, pre-enrichment and sports.
The mission of the group is to provide an opportunity for ALL children to participate in the YMCA's community programs. This initiative will be facilitated by YMCA personnel and will offer an integrative setting for children with special needs to learn from "typically developing" peer models; and will focus on teaching tolerance, acceptance, mentoring and respect for all children.
Integration Initiative Mission Statement
- To provide an enjoyable and comfortable environment for the individual with special needs.
- To allow the individual with special needs to be and feel successful and competent.
- To teach individuals with and without special needs to respect one another for whom he or she is including their abilities and disabilities.
- To facilitate relationships among peer groups made up of both individuals with and without special needs.
For more info, visit www.hockomockymca.org
