Participation in sport is proven to be incredibly beneficial both physically and mentally; but it can be difficult to find a program a child with special needs can participate in it. From cheer to soccer to fitness programs, there are many inclusive sports in our area. Below is a list of current inclusive sports and fitness activities in Bucks, Montgomery & Philadelphia Counties.
Ballet at the Philadelphia Studio Ballet
The Philadelphia Studio Ballet offers a special education dance program designed for children 10 and up with cognitive and/or developmental delays.
Baseball through the Miracle League
The Miracle League’s mission is to provide opportunities for children with disabilities to play baseball, regardless of their disabilities. The Miracle League serves children and adults who suffer from any physical or mental disabilities, which causes them to be excluded, whether intentionally or not, from conventional Baseball leagues.
The Victory Vipers offer a cheer abilities team named the Snake Charmers. The team is open to all ages. The season runs September through March.
Football & Cheer at Pennsbury Football
Pennsbury Falcons Football offers a special needs flag football and cheer league in the fall. The 10 week program pairs a football player/cheerleader from local high schools with a participant. The program uses the fields on the campus of Neshaminy High School.
Hockey through the American Special Hockey Association
The Bucks County Admirals is a special needs hockey program for children and adults. In its 14th year the team had over 40 participants. The Admirals play at Hatfield Ice located in Colmar, PA.
Special Equestrians located in Warrington offers therapeutic riding lessons for individuals with physical, cognitive, behavioral, emotional or traumatic stress disabilities. Most of the participants are ages 5-18.
Karate at Action Karate
Action Karate offers a special needs program designed by a black belt who wrote a PhD dissertation on the application of martial arts for students with special needs. The program accommodates children with ADD, ADHD, autism, anxiety, depression, speech and learning delays, attention disorders, cerebral palsy and Down’s syndrome. It is also accessible to children in wheelchairs or born without a particular limb or has behavior issues or deals with bullying. Different class options are available including private lessons, mixed ability group classes, assisted classes with an instructor, assistance with a caregiver, or one-on-one with a peer.
Soccer through Eastern PA Youth Soccer TOPSoccer Program
The TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers. The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girls, age four & older, who has a mental or physical disability. The following local clubs house a TOPSoccer program:
- PA Rush
- Harleysville
- Upper Dublin
- Ukranian Nationals
- West-Mont United
- Whitman
Miracle League of Northampton County
The Miracle League offers a variety of programs including softball, basketball, bowling and soccer.
The softball program is located in Churchville, PA and include divisions for ages 5 to adult. Athletes are paired with a buddy.
Miracle League Basketball takes place at the Maureen Welch Elementary School Gym in Churchville, PA from November thru March. Players are grouped into one of two sessions, by age and ability, to allow them to better learn with peers.
The bowling league takes place at Thunderbird Lanes in Warminster, PA. This league is their most popular and it is recommended that you join the waiting list if spots are full.
Blackthorn Barbarians Inclusive Rugby club is located in Wycombe, PA. The program is no-contact and uses a mixed ability model. It is one of the first inclusive rugby clubs in the US.
Fitness Programs
FitMe at Central Bucks Family YMCA – FitMe classes are available for children ages 6-17 with special needs. The program runs on an 8 week cycle and is lead by a pediatric physical therapist.
YMCA Ability Programs– The YMCA in Doylestown, Quakertown, and Fairless Hills offer adapted activities for youth, teens, and adults that include swim lessons, land fitness classes, one-on-one fitness instruction, karate, summer camp, teen nights and after school programs.
West Chester University– WCU’s Department of Kinesiology has three different fitness programs for differing ages.
Yogamania– Offers a Butterfly class for students with special needs. The 45-minute session focuses on releasing tension while helping students keep more mobile. It is a mixed-age class for those with physical needs, medical conditions, and cognitive or developmental needs.
Maddox Special Education Advocacy 