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Top 7 Reasons to Supercharge Your Child’s Physical Therapy with the Spider Cage

There are so many reasons why the Spider Cage is a powerful therapeutic tool to integrate into your child’s physical therapy program. If you worry about your child not having all possible opportunities to develop new movement skills, you should try out the Spider Cage during a trial session at our office to see firsthand what your child can do!

Why is the Spider Cage so powerful? Let’s look at 7 reasons that the Spider Cage gives children access to developing new skills and abilities, by supporting them to increase strength, balance, motor control, endurance and sensory processing, all while having sooooo much fun. Remember, fun is really important when it comes to children- if they’re having fun, then they’re LEARNING! Let’s get into those 7 reasons now.

  1. Exploration of New Skills

The Spider Cage is setup where the child wears a belt and the bungees connect to the belt. There are 8 bungees that can be attached to the belt with 2 on each corner.The child can be sitting, on hands and knees, standing, walking on a treadmill or moving between positions. The bungees in the Spider Cage provide support, but they’re also dynamic, so it is a different experience for a child that has been in a stander or a gait trainer. It is also different than having a parent or therapist helping. The child can try out new skills with just enough assist, but they are initiating the movement and responding to what worked and what didn’t work to learn from the experience.

In the video below, you can see the boy practicing standing up by himself without using his hands, which he can’t do outside of the Spider Cage. Over time the bungees can be lowered or only 4 bungees can be used to build more independence, which can then generalize to outside of the Spider Cage.

2. Confidence Building

Many children with movement delays or disabilities develop a learned helplessness from frequently experiencing things being difficult or impossible. Learned helplessness is when you have learned that you can’t do something, so you stop trying. It is an understandable reaction, but one we have to mindful of when guiding children to develop new skills and abilities. The Spider Cage is a fantastic tool for children to experience that they are capable of doing, with just the right support. This can be basic gross motor skills like sitting, standing and walking, or it can be more advanced skills, like hopping and balancing on dynamic surfaces.

The boy in the video initially needed hands on help to perform this motion. He didn’t try to initiate it on his own and needed help to complete the motion. After several times in the Spider Cage, he learned how to transition from hands and knees to standing with the help of the bungees alone. He was so proud of himself and this transferred to him helping more with transitions off the floor outside of the Spider Cage.

3. Safety to Try Higher Level Balance Skills

Children will limit attempts at new skills if they know their body isn’t going to be able to do it reliably and safely. Knowing they can’t fall, the Spider Cage gives the opportunity to try all sorts of challenging balance tasks without the risk of falling and hurting yourself. This way, the kids can work on those advanced skills, flood their brains with novelty and develop more advanced movement control.

In the video below, she challenges herself to move from standing to half kneel while standing on a bolster that rolls side to side. What a challenging task! This would be a risky thing to try holding maybe a trapeze overhead and would have allowed her to rely mostly on her arms, instead of her hips. Doing this activity in the Spider Cage let her work on a high level of hip and balance control and no rely on her arms for help.

4. Sensational Sensations

As we said before, the Spider Cage is a DYNAMIC place to be! The bungees provide resistance and assist to movement, giving intense proprioceptive/deep pressure input to the children’s bodies. All of the movement is very stimulating to the vestibular system in the inner ear as well. The Spider Cage is a great place to put together the postural system with the eyes, vestibular (inner ear), and proprioceptive (information from joints and muscles) to work on improving body awareness and regulation skills.

In this video you will see a boy doing intense jumping, having a BLAST, and regulating his system to do focussed work afterwards!

5. Hands Free Movement

Children who use crutches or walkers for mobility are always using their hands to help manage the rest of their bodies. The problem is that they then become limited in using their hands for other activities, such as carrying something, and they rely on using their arms to initiate movement, rather than using the pelvis, the cornerstone and powerhouse of our bodies.

In this video you’ll se a boy playing basketball where he typically needs a person to help or his hands on an assistive device to be able to do an activity like this.

6. Speed & Power

The Spider Cage gives the support a child needs to be able to work on moving at increased speeds than they could do outside of the cage. It also lets them work on their power with jumping and leaping. The dynamic assist on the bungees give greater access to new skills while decreasing risk of falls at the same time. This allows motor control, strength and endurance to build to support the use of increased power and speed outside of the cage in the future.

In this video, the boy walks 2mph, when he usually walks at a slow pace with crutches, he’s able to explore increased speed. You can see how proud he is at his acomplishment!

7. Play

Play is how babies and children learn! Play in the Spider Cage gives access to children with a limited play repertoire to develop more advanced play skills. Children can jump, kick a ball, throw a ball, and knock down towers. There are so many games children with limited play skills can try out in the Spider Cage!

In the first video below, the boy initially needed assistance from the therapist to stop on the target. With practice he was doing it all on his own and laughing so hard each time!

In the second video, we used the Spider Cage in a completely different way to make a ninja obstacle course with the bungees! The boy is working on his midrange postural control to move over and under while trying not to touch the bungees.

In the 3rd video the boy is playing t-ball! He has the opportunity to be hands free using the support of the bungees to play the game!

Blast off!!!
The ninja avoids the obstacles at all cost!!!
Baseball time!!!
Every kid deserves to knock over their therapist once in a while!!!

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Arts for All!

Participation in the arts are a way for someone to express themselves. It creates a window into the soul and an escape all in one. Some turn to painting, drawing, music, drama, or dancing to find their sense of self or to relieve stress after a long day, and this is no different for kids and adults with Cerebral Palsy (CP). Taking part in the arts is a wonderful thing for children with CP to do, no matter their level of disability, and here’s why!


Self Expression Without Limits

The arts allow for a place to explore what you are thinking or feeling. Whether you are verbal or non-verbal, participation in an art form is a way to get your feelings out! Society often tries to put us in boxes that may make us feel limited. But when you are creating art, you get to make the rules. Bend the rules to work for you

Adaptability

With the free form nature of many arts programs there are no rules that have to be adjusted to make it work for your body. If your dancing includes, moving your head side to side to make your wheelchair turn to the right and the left, do it! If you need something to secure a paint brush to one of your hands or to your head to paint your beautiful picture, why not! It’s your masterpiece, so the environment can be set up to make creating your art that much easier.

Community OR Solitary Art

Many arts are performed in a group setting for those who love being social, like Drama. You can find your Drama, Dance, or Visual Arts community if that floats your boat. BUT the cool thing about the arts is many forms don’t have to be done in a group, they can be done alone too if you’d prefer to work that way.

Confidence Booster

For many kids and adults, taking part in the creation of something beautiful, or something they made themselves, is a huge confidence booster. When the right adaptations are in place to support each child or adult, either with motor or intellectual considerations, the child can make something by themselves (or with a little bit of teamwork if needed) and feel proud of themselves for doing so!

Types of Art

Visual Arts

  • Visual arts include painting, drawing, sculpture and photography, are likely to be the most common of all arts programs designed for people with disabilities.
  • The visual arts are easily modified. A child’s pointer finger, pencils, and brushes can all be adapted to fit their needs by instructors or parents. The most common forms of modifications are handles and grips on paint brushes, pencils and pens; easels that can be attached to a wheelchair or placed on a table. There are even attachments designed for the head in which the artist can manipulate the brush, just as is used on a pointer for the computer.
  • Photography can also be modified to meet various physical needs. Cameras can be attached to wheelchairs so they can remain stable while a person is shooting a photo. It might require some creative thinking, but if the photographer cannot use their fingers, cameras can be placed in such a way that a student can use their tongue to release the shutter.

Dance

  • When many people think of dance, they picture the ballerina trope, but that’s not all dance is, in fact, there are so many styles of dance! This includes modern, ballet, tap, and jazz. In the past years, dance has become so much more freeform than people think. With the dawn of modern dance and creative movement, movement can be whatever you want! The creation of movement is often left up to the dancer OR to the choreographer
  • Movement can be created in many ways. Students in wheelchairs can be pushed by a fellow dancer while they dance in their chair or other times can push themselves in a pattern as part of the choreography. Students can use their crutches or walkers to move, participate in floor mobility, and show off their specific mobility strengths. Choreographers can play into this as well, creating routines that maximize each dancer’s strengths.
  • As Dance is very aerobic, it also provides an outlet to work on mobility, strength, and develop flexibility. It can help those moving to stay fit and healthy. It can also help children with CP work on coordination and balance!

Drama

  • Theater programs for disabled actors provide opportunities to show off their talent. Often, modifications are made to shows that make the performance accessible to actors with disabilities. There are troupes of performers with disabilities as well as productions who participate in inclusive casting. 
  • Theater is often all about building community and putting yourself out there, and for many regardless of mobility status, gives actors the chance to put on a second skin. When you are acting as another person, you get to leave your own troubles behind and step into that person’s life and mind for a few hours. This can be a great escape for anyone, including children and adults with a disability.

Music

  • Music is another way that children and adults with CP can creatively express themselves and can be a great stress reliever. Music, like the other artistic forms discussed above, can be followed, but it can also be created! A child with CP can participate in a piece of music though percussive instruments, can learn to strum the strings of a guitar, and others too. 
  • Music therapy is a great outlet to explore as it not only allows for creative expression but also works on rhythm and timing, social skills, language, and mobility!

But where is there to go in NJ for my child with CP to participate in the arts? Check out these links to find out more!

Dance:

http://kayelynndance.com/chance-to-dance/

http://www.danceinnovations.org/dipf

http://kayelynndance.com/chance-to-dance/

http://www.danceinnovations.org/dipf

Theater:

https://papermill.org/access-for-all

Art: 

https://www.tasoc.org/

Music:

https://www.theconnectiononline.org/com

https://jamminjenn.com

References:

https://www.cerebralpalsy.org/information/activities/arts

https://www.cerebral-palsy-faq.org/art-exhibit-highlights-skills-of-children-with-cerebral-palsy.html#:~:text=Art%20therapy%20stimulates%20expression%20and,intelligibility%20due%20to%20cerebral%20palsy.

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3 Ways Total Motion Release (TMR) Sparks Change with Children with CP

Children with cerebral palsy (CP) undergo intervention throughout their lives. They often receive physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy for many years in the home, school and clinic settings. Parents are often presented with lots of opinions as to therapy options, medical interventions like botox and baclofen, bracing options, and surgical procedures, such as selective dorsal rhizotomy and lengthening procedures.

Although it is a lot to navigate, parents, you need to know that you are the experts in your children, there is not doubt about that. Many parents will tell me that they feel like they are left to manage their child’s care in a world that speaks a different language that are all giving different opinions. This is not easy! That’s why when we provide care for our families, our goal is to help you manage the big picture and not only provide your child’s therapy. We’re here to support you, guide you, and connect you with resources every step of the way.

In the therapy world, there are so many different treatment approaches out there and often they are filled with big promises. This can add to the challenge of navigating the best care for your child. We know that you want the best for your child and we want to empower you to trust your gut, combined with learning as much as you can, to find the best match of services for your child.

TMR is a treatment approach that can be powerful for children with CP. Rather than tell you so, or even show you someone else’s child, I invite you to come in for a Discovery Visit at our practice to learn how TMR can help your child. TMR is integrated into our intensive therapy programs as well as our weekly sessions. It is an approach that is easily accessible for you to do at home in between sessions, which is a big piece of why it is so powerful- your repetition at home adds on to changes that are made in therapy sessions, stacking up to powerful changes in your child’s ability to breath, balance and move.

There is a reason families from around the world, from South Korea to Saudi Arabia, to throughout the United States, from NY, Virginia and Texas, have worked with us to learn how to use TMR to help their children breakthrough limits and open up new worlds of possibility.

Whether you’re curious or skeptical, we want to talk to you and share with you the future of pediatric therapy with children with CP and other movement disorders! Email us anytime at info@kidpt.com or call/text us at 908-543-4390.

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Physical Therapy for Our Heart Warrior Kids

February is American Heart Month! Along with AHM, it is also Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Week from February 7th to February 14th! Many people don’t know, but children with Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) often have to have surgery to correct the way their heart is working within their first year of life. Sometimes, depending on the severity, children with CHDs need multiple surgeries spanning from a couple of months after birth to their toddler years. Many of these surgeries cause children to stay immobile as they recover, which is necessary, but often limits their overall motor development. As most surgeries are performed within the child’s first year of life, these children can become delayed in crucial developmental milestones that would be occurring at this time.

This causes these kiddos to have to play a lot of catch up as they grow and develop as older infants, toddlers, in grade school, and beyond. Understandably, if you are a parent of a child with a CHD, you may have felt overwhelmed when your child was going through struggles and surgeries. We have heard from our parents, many are just so relieved when their child begins to recover from surgery, and starts to move around and play again. 

Often, physical therapy for children with CHD’s is crucial to make up for lost time, improve gross motor skills, and catch them up to where they have the potential to be! Sometimes the importance of physical therapy is overlooked as they have other medical based needs to meet, but their success with movement is also very important to their success in life, in play, and in school later on! 

Having children with a history of a CHD screened by a physical therapist, and if appropriate started in physical therapy services is important to do ASAP. If you have a child who recently had surgery and still has mobility restrictions, check with their heart surgeon to see if it is okay to start PT, and they will give you the go ahead when they think your child is ready and cleared to move. 

We understand how scary it can be to encourage your child to move and play after hearing so much “don’t do this” or “no they can’t do that right now” that typically comes right before and after surgery. If you aren’t sure where to start, let us PTs help you! We know how to encourage the development of new motor skills and play while keeping in mind any restrictions that your child still has, to help them be the best that they can be while making sure they stay as safe as they can be. The best part is, we can coach you how to do similar activities at home so that you know how to keep your child safe, but help them grow while they play at home. 

Basically, we are here to be your teammate, parents! We know the road you have traveled with your child has been tough, and you may or may not have some more road left to go. But regardless of the difficulty of the journey, we are here to support you and your child along the way to make life easier for you and to help your child achieve all the motor skills they are capable of (while having fun)!

Reference: 

Sprong, M. C., Broeders, W., van der Net, J., Breur, J. M., de Vries, L. S., Slieker, M. G., & van Brussel, M. (2021). Motor developmental delay after cardiac surgery in children with a critical congenital heart defect: A systematic literature review and meta-analysis.

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Total Motion Release (TMR): Tots & Teens

What is it?

If you are a parent of a special needs child, you have learned to be very patient when it comes to your child’s progress in therapy programs and how to embrace the baby step milestones along the way. In this video, I will share with you how I had to develop patience too as a young professional, and how I was able to move on from it over a decade ago.

What does that have to do with TMR? Well, when I starting using TMR, I started seeing immediate changes in children’s bodies. What I would have seen change in 6 months, I could see change in 6 visits. In fact each visit had a change I could put my finger on.

Total Motion Release, or TMR, is an approach the physical therapy that the therapists at KidPT apply to all of their sessions. If you’re a current client, you may ask yourself, why have’t I heard of this before? Just like all of the approaches we integrate into our sessions, we don’t usually name them, because they’re all under the lens of pediatric physical therapy and regardless of how we get there, our #1 focus is always your goals and not how we get there.

If your home program involves holding your baby in different twist or crunch positions, or for an older child, playing or sitting in a twist position, you’ve been doing TMR! If your wondering why we’re always asking your child to work their easier side really really hard, this will explain why!

So what is it? As TMR has spread around the world, from here to Australia to India, many therapists and the families they work with have experienced the impact TMR can have on changing how the body moves. And how those changes can come FAST!

As one of just a few Certified TMR- Tots & Teens therapists, I wanted to share a video series on TMR, what it is, how it is used, and how it can spark change in children and adults with various movement challenges. This video is a general video on TMR for pediatrics. The following videos will share with you how TMR is applied with different diagnoses and disabilities.

Do you have a question? Post it below!

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Show YOURSELF some love this Valentine’s Day!

Happy Valentine’s Day 2022! This year let’s use Valentine’s Day as a day (5 minutes, 1 hour, whatever you got!!!) to give yourself some LOVE!!!

We know parents are busier than every before and life continues to be unpredictable and filled with curve balls. That’s why we’re here to remind to to practice some self-care for show yourself some love.

Here are some ideas for you! See what speaks to you and try to squeak one into your day this Monday.

  1. Go for a walk.
  2. Read a book or find a book club to join (with so many more virtual options these days, there are many virtual book club options! There’s even a Somerville/Bridgewater book club on Facebook that you could join).
  3. Meditate. I got started by setting a timer initially for 5 minutes. Start small and build a practice. Its such a gift to give yourself a quiet mind each day.
  4. Take a screen break. Choose a period of time and put away all the screens for a while. You choose how to use that time.
  5. Yoga; find a 15 minute yoga flow on YouTube and try it out.
  6. Dance it out. Play your favorite song and just move!
  7. Blast your favorite song! Turn off Cocomelon and put on YOUR favorite song. Belt it out!
  8. Use some essential oils to give your nose a happy little moment.
  9. Call a friend. Sometimes we sacrifice our friendships while being busy in our lives. Reach out to a friend and enjoy that connection.
  10. Buy yourself some chocolate and enjoy!

I hope this list got you brainstorming about a small part of your day that can be focused on YOU. You are worth it and some self love will help you be your best self for your family too!

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Winter Olympic Themed Family Fun!

The winter olympic games have begun. It is amazing to see what the human body can achieve with consistent hard work and dedication. If you are like us and enjoy watching the games as a family, here are some ideas to bring the winter games to your very own living room and keep your kiddos active.

Ice Skating

Have your child practice their speed skating or figure skating skills with this fun indoor activity. Have your child skate around the house with each foot on a paper plate or a furniture slider or in tissue boxes. Have them practice their twists,  turns, and spins. 

Ice Skating at home!

Bobsledding

Don’t throw away that amazon box. Have your child decorate their very own bobsled. Once they have produced a personalized sled, they can sit in the box and weight shift side to side as though they pretend they are racing down a winding track. Turn this into fun “heavy work” by having your children take turns pushing the other child in the box across the floor. Heavy work can be organizing for both the sensory and emotional regulation systems. Don’t have an empty cardboard box? Use a laundry basket instead.

Skiing

Take out those furniture gliders again and have your child stand with one foot on each glider. Have them propel themselves forward with sliding their feet and using 2 pool noodles. You can even set up cones that they have to skate around or go in and out.

Snowboarding

Place a pillow or wobble board on the floor and have your child assume the snowboarding position and have them rock back and forth and even touch their hand to the ground as if they are gliding down a snowy slope. Enhance the experience by playing a YouTube video in the perspective of someone snowboarding down a mountain

Watch some of the Olympic sports with your children and see what creative ideas they come up with to imitate the sports at home!

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Ditch the Resolution?

Did you know that less than 25% of people keep their goals past the month of January?

So what does this mean for the rest of the 75% of the population?

Does that mean that we’re all unrealistic in our expectations…

…not disciplined enough,

…not motivated for the right reasons,

…unwilling to make the “right” sacrifices,

…or just plain lazy?

We need to stop that negative self talk NOW!!!

We may be easily tempted into accepting these explanations of our “failure” as truth. Especially since social media is constantly screaming how we are not enough without this product, that body, or those fad diets or trends.

Maybe the fact that the majority of the population is unable to follow through with their resolutions, speaks more to the ineffectiveness of resolutions rather than us. Maybe the concept of resolutions does not align with how we as humans are typically wired. Keeping goals and following through is a hard task for anyone, so what can you do to make this process easier? We encourage you to instead establish small changes in your ROUTINE rather than resolutions. How is establishing a routine different? Below are 5 tips to making realistic routine changes that will help you reach your goals.

Start Small

This is so important to avoid burnout. If your goal is to exercise consistently, refrain from initially making a goal that reflects your ideal frequency, duration, and intensity. Instead, start with small increments of an exercise or activity that will slowly get you to that goal. This could include walking in the morning or after you get home from work, performing a short yoga flow routine on youtube, or even doing pushups before you get ready for work. The important part is that it starts to become your routine and then you can always progress the amount of time and intensity of the activity as it becomes an automatic part of your day.

Ban the Barriers

Barriers are anything that block you from performing your intended task. Some examples of barriers are relying on the presence of another individual to complete the task, only exercising in a gym, and only doing an act of self care when everyone around you is content and happy. The more steps or conditions needed to complete a task, the less likely you are to follow through. There is not a problem with performing your routine with other people or going to the gym to exercise, but always have a back up plan and follow through even if the conditions aren’t ideal. 

Combine It

Combine it with something that gives you joy. This will be different for each individual person. This may be listening to a beloved audiobook or podcast, sharing the activity with a family member or friend, or making sure to give yourself a reasonable reward each time you perform the task. Even if the actual task is daunting and overwhelming, you will still have something to look forward to, which will help to reduce your avoidance of following through.

Pair It

Pair it with activities already in your routine. Take advantage of all the routines you have already established throughout your day. By coupling your new activity with something you already automatically do in your day, it will boost your ability to follow through. An example of this is if your goal is to spend more time with your child, perform fun activities at a consistent time in your day that you are already with your child. For example, have an ice cream date or do a puzzle or play on the playground with your child after driving them home from school, after dinner, or before the bedtime routine.

Make It Sustainable

If you intend on making lifestyle changes that last longer than a few months or a year, then it has to be reasonably sustainable. It is important to choose goals that allow you to function in a normal daily routine without significant stress and sacrifice as this can be unhealthy for your body. Make sure to allow yourself a balance of productivity, connection with loved ones, adventure, self care, and rest. 

If you’ve already ditched the resolution, its not too late to make a change. Think new routines, not resolutions and try some of the above tips to put them into action!

Habits and Routines Can Help You Stick to Your Resolutions
Resolutions and Routines
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Calming Strategies for Kids

We’re now in a new year and we all know what ringing in the new year means, brand new goals and shiny new dreams! A new year can serve as a reset for some of our goals. We all hope that with the shift into a new year, we will be able to do things we haven’t done before, reach new heights, and achieve our dreams. With all of our heads in the clouds, we also have to remember that 2021 was tricky for us all and we also deserve some rest and relaxation. We want to ring in the new year with a new sense of calm for both us and our kids. With a calm mind, we can think through anything and achieve things we never thought possible while keeping our stress levels comfortably low. Here is how to get started:

  1. Diaphragmatic breathing – This activity can be helpful for anyone, of any age! Just lie on the ground or sit in a chair. Place one hand on your belly and make sure you are “belly breathing”, aka, make sure you can feel your tummy moving up and down every time you breathe. This way you know you are doing it correctly. You can stack your breathing by counting up to five, then down to five. Repeat the counting process about ten times to allow the body time to relax, the heart rate to slow down, and the nervous system to slow down with it!
  1. Heavy work activities – this one gives the body a sense of where it is, which works especially well for the kids who seem to physically be in one million places at once, touching everything, bouncing and jumping around, and having difficulty focusing on one task at a time. Heavy work activities can be done by pushing or pulling a loaded wheel barrow, carrying a full laundry basket, or helping stack heavy cans onto low shelves. (PS this is also a great way to get your child to help out with chores as well – its a win win!)
  1. Make the “Bubble” – This game uses similar principles as heavy work, and turns it into something fun and interactive you and your child can do together! First, have your child hold their hands in front of them with their palms facing each other. Then you put your hands on the outside of their hands with your palms touching the backs of their hands. Tell them to push out into your hands as hard as they can, and meet the resistance they are giving you (aka give them as much force as they are giving you). Count to 60 together while pushing with force, then slowly release their hands. Tell them to now slowly move their hands apart and together, but don’t change their hand position or let them touch their hands to each other. While they move their hands in and out slowly, it will feel like they are making a large bubble bigger and smaller right between their hands! When they’re ready to be finished with the bubble, tell them to POP it by clapping their hands together!
  1. Slow Rocking on an exercise ball – this activity uses the vestibular system (the little system of tubes and fluid in your ears that helps with balance, sensing the body in space, and understanding movement of the body through space). Lie on an exercise ball with the belly downward. The hands will touch the ground with every forward movement. Make sure the rocking is SLOW, if the rocking is too quick, it may have the opposite effect!

If you tried any of these strategies or if you would like more tips on how to stay calm and focused in the new year, email us at info@kidpt.com or message us on instagram @kidpt or facebook @kidptnj. 

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Northeastern Adaptive Snow Sports Guide

Resources compiled by Dr. Ali

Some of the most fun things to do in the winter with your family are winter sports! I know I always loved skiing down a snowy, snowy slope, surrounded by evergreen trees and breathing in that crisp fresh air. There really is nothing better! The beautiful, outdoor, family fun should be enjoyable and accessible for all families, and it is! Not only can able bodied individuals go skiing or snowboarding this winter, but families with parents or kiddos who have a disability can too. It turns out, there are adaptive sports programs all over the Northeast for you and your children to participate in and we wanted to give you the list:

New York:

Windham Mountain Resort, Windham, NY

The Adaptive Sports Foundation runs its program through Windham Mountain Resort in New York. They pilot a program that gives children and adults with physical and cognitive disabilities as well as individuals with chronic illness the ability to experience winter sports and create a new, empowered identity for themselves! They offer both skiing and snowboarding lessons and instruction and most of their services are currently outdoor only.

Learn more here: https://www.adaptivesportsfoundation.org/winter-programs/

Pennsylvania:

Camelback Mountain, Tannersville, PA

Camelback Mountain is also a great option and not too far of a drive from Middlesex, Mercer, or Somerset counties. Their adaptive winter sports program is run through the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports and they offer skiing lessons to individuals with physical and cognitive disabilities as well from specially trained staff and volunteers. They specify that they want their skiers to become as independent as possible so they can continue to ski with friends and family if possible following instruction. 

Find out more here: https://www.centeronline.com/adapted-skiing

Whitetail Resort, Mercersburg, PA

Whitetail Resort houses another highly acclaimed adaptive winter sports program called Two Top Mountain. They provide year round education and training of sports to disabled veterans and any disabled child or adult who is interested in learning a new sport!  They state that they create a fun atmosphere and experiences which build confidence and self esteem for all participants. They offer both skiing and snowboarding in the Winter.

Learn more here: https://www.twotopadaptive.org/

New Hampshire:

Bretton Woods Ski Resort and Loon Mountain, NH

New England Disabled Sports, Bretton Woods Ski Resort and Loon Mountain, NH

This program has adaptive alpine skiing (downhill skiing), cross country skiing, snowboarding, and snowshoeing. Their website also shows all the different adaptive snow sport equipment options and explains how and why they are used!

Find more information about their program here: https://nedisabledsports.org/programs/winter-programs/

AbilityPLUS, Attitash and Wildcat, NH

This adaptive sports program offers Alpine Skiing, Cross Country Skiing, and snowshoeing. AbilityPLUS also offers special adaptive equipment, like a mono-ski and one-on-one instruction. They offer classes to individuals with physical disabilities and individuals with Autism. Their program venues can be found in Attitash, NH and Wildcat, NH.

Find out mor about their program here:

Adaptive Ski Lessons

Vermont:

Mount Snow, West Dover, VT

Parents rave about Mount Snow’s adaptive skiing program for it’s specialized and affordable adaptive ski, snowboard, and snowshoeing instruction in the winter months.The organization that runs their Adaptive skiing and snowboarding program is called Adaptive Sports at Mount Snow (Adaptive at Snow for short). The program is run by a Special Olympics Ski coach and a Recreational Therapist certified in adaptive skiing with many volunteers who aid in facilitating the overall snow sport experience. 

Find out more here: https://adaptiveatsnow.org/

Smugglers Notch, Jeffersonville, VT

Smuggler’s Notch Adaptive Program also has great parent reviews with reports of caring staff members and an excellent program experience. They offer adaptive skiing and snowboarding single and group lessons that cater to first time learners or individuals who are more experienced at adaptive snow sports. They have the resources to provide two instructors to one student based on need and work with children and adults with both physical and cognitive disabilities. 

Learn more here: https://www.smuggs.com/pages/winter/kids/adaptive-programs.php

We hope all of our families have so much fun and stay safe while hitting the slopes this winter. As many of these programs state, skiing and snowboarding are for everyone and we hope that you and your child get to experience the fun of winter sports if your family is interested.

Info for adaptive programs found at the resources below. Click to read more recommendations for Adaptive Snow Programs:

http://specialneedstravelmom.com/blog/ski-resorts-adaptive-skiing-programs/

Winter Adaptive Sports & Recreation Activities for People with Disabilities
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