South Shore YMCA February Inclusion Highlights
Life, Animated
Join us for a free screening of
Life, Animated, an Oscar Nominated Autism Documentary at Laura’s Center for the Arts this Saturday, February 4th.
For more information, click here.
Limited space is available. Register here. 
Save the Date
Inclusion Awareness Week 2017
This year we will celebrate our inclusion initiative at the South Shore YMCA the week of April 16th – 22nd.  Look for more information about the events and offerings featured that week coming soon!
Share Your Story
We are looking for feedback about the impact of our programs.

How has inclusion impacted you or a family member?
Click here to share your story!
  Statements will be used to help spread the word about the benefit and impact that our inclusion initiative is having on our Y community.
Community Happenings
South Shore Family Network to Host the 18th Annual Early Childhood Fair
Saturday, March 11th
10:00am - 12:00pm
Laura's Center for the Arts
Learn more
Quincy Unified Basketball Team Looking for Players
Our Hoopstars Team features members with and without disabilities practicing together for 8 weeks before competing in a tournament against other unified teams from local Y’s. Practices begin tomorrow, February 2nd at 7:00pm at the Y's Quincy Branch. Come check us out!  For more information, click here. 
Exploring Disney Animation
In partnership with the Autism Resource Center of the ARC of the South Shore, our popular Exploring Disney Animation class will be offered on select Sundays at the Y's Quincy Branch for teens ages 13-18 years old.  Our adult group will continue with differing Sundays at the Y's Emilson Branch in Hanover. For more details, click here. 
Join us For a New Session of Teen Adaptive Fitness
After a successful first session, Adaptive Teen Fitness will continue on Saturday afternoons starting February 18th, at the Y's Emilson Branch. Grab a friend and join in on the fun! This class will explore circuit training, cardio and strength elements in a fun and engaging setting. Ideal for teens ages 13-21 with developmental disabilities, this offering will also review class etiquette and strategies that will help prepare students to appropriately integrate into typical fitness classes at the Y or other group fitness settings. Learn more here.  
Make 2017 the Year You Try a New Sport
Athletes of all ages and abilities are welcome to join our Wheelchair Golf or Basketball clinics at the Y's Quincy Branch, or Wheelchair Tennis at the Y's Emilson Branch in Hanover. For more information, click here to visit our website or contact Lisa Drennan at ldrennan@ssymca.org.
It's Not Too Late to Register For Winter 2 Programs
Visit our website to check out all of our inclusion programs taking place during the Winter 2 Session at the Y's Quincy and Emilson Branches! For a full listing of offerings at the Y, click here and register today!
Did You Know?
We offer Building Bridges Social Skills for ages 4 years old through adult. These offerings have a focus on teaching participants functional social skills to help access the Y independently. Ideal for those with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD or anyone who could benefit from social skills coaching. Interested in trying out a class? Contact Emmy Casagrande at ecasagrande@ssymca.org or 781-829-8585 ext. 8349 to learn more.
Health Education Highlight:
Successful Living Series
Join us for the next installation of our Successful Living Series on Thursday. February 9th at 3:00pm! Manel DesVallons and Steven Higgins from the Boston Center for Independent Living will lead an educational presentation on Job and School Resources at the Y’s Quincy Branch, located at 79 Coddington Street in Quincy. Our Successful Living Series includes free monthly community seminars designed to improve education and quality of life among people with chronic physical disabilities. For more information, contact Sheryl Rosa at srosa@ssymca.org or 617-479-8500 ext. 4762.
Inclusion News
South Shore YMCA and South Shore SNAP Partner to Host Pilot Swim Program
The recent partnership between the South Shore YMCA and South Shore Special Needs Athletic Partnership (SNAP) resulted in the launch of a new pilot swim program at the Y’s Emilson Branch – one that has been met with great enthusiasm. For the children, the excitement to play in the water and explore the elements of swim is evident. Equally as apparent is the enthusiasm from Y staff and mentors from Notre Dame Academy to teach the children how to be comfortable and safe in the water. The ‘peer mentor model’ used in the program allows for participants to receive swim instruction and enjoy a fun, recreational experience in a supportive environment.
“South Shore SNAP is excited to partner with the Y,” stated Pamela Berigan, a member of South Shore SNAP. “This partnership will allow SNAP to broaden program offerings for the special needs community. The swimming program is just the first of many programs we look forward to offering jointly with the Y.”
With the Y’s emphasis on providing an inclusive environment for all, the partnership with SNAP, an organization with the goal of providing children with special needs and their families the opportunity to participate in athletic programs that are designed and tailored to their disabilities, is a natural fit.
2nd Annual Afterschool Professional Development Day Explores New Strategies & Techniques Within the Afterschool Setting
On Monday, January 16th, educators became the students for a day of training, teambuilding and networking at the Y’s 2nd Annual Afterschool Professional Development Day. Comprehensive training opportunities including Calm Classroom Curriculum and Inclusion in the Afterschool Program Setting helped educators learn meaningful strategies and techniques to introduce into the afterschool setting which align with the Y’s mission of strengthening families in Afterschool Programs. The South Shore YMCA’s Professional Development Day meets the needs of educators’ MA Professional Qualifications Registry through EEC.
Cardio, Strength Training, Stretching and More in Adaptive Teen Fitness at the Y’s Emilson Branch
The pilot Adaptive Teen Fitness program that launched at the Y’s Emilson Branch in January is off and running, with teens ages 13-21 engaging in a variety of fitness activities every Saturday afternoon. Under the instruction of Lauren Clarke, Personal Trainer and Inclusion Specialist, teens have fun and engage in a mixture of exercises, including cardio, strength training and stretching, which creates a positive overall attitude toward health and wellness.
When asked about the program, one participant stated, “I love it! Lauren makes exercise fun.  We use the ball and small weights to work our muscles. I love running around with my friends.”
For inquiries regarding these or any other inclusion programs at the South Shore YMCA, contact Lisa Drennan, Association Director of Inclusion, at ldrennan@ssymca.org or visit our website.


South Shore YMCA 91 Longwater Circle Norwell, MA 02061
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