New Balance Foundation Adaptive Sports Program at Franciscan Children’s

Preregistration is required for all programs: For more information, please contact info@FranciscanChildrens.org

Adaptive Sports Camp

Camp sessions run for 2-3 hours/day for two weeks in August.  Children participate in a variety of adaptive sports and are grouped according to their age and abilities.  There are both morning and afternoon sessions.

Adaptive Skating

Adaptive skating runs for one hour per week in the fall.  We use equipment such as skate walkers and sleds to help teach children skating skills.  Helmets are mandatory.  Rental skates are available at the rink at no charge to participants.

Adaptive Hockey:

Adaptive hockey runs for one hour per week in the fall.  Children will learn the basic skills of hockey and skates or sleds will be used.  Hockey helmet with cage is required.

• Adaptive Skiing at Mt. Sunapee
• Wheelchair Basketball (2022-23 season)
• Adaptive Basketball (2022-23 season)

Adaptive Swim Lessons

In coordination with the Oak Square YMCA we are piloting an adaptive swim lesson program.  For inquiries, contact paward@franciscanchildrens.org.

Adaptive Track and Field

In coordination with Fast Feet we are piloting an adaptive track program.  The program will meet once a week for 8 weeks during the spring, summer and fall of 2022.

Outdoor Adventure

(These activities are provided through the outside organizations below.)

• Waypoint Adventure
• Mass Audubon Society

Community Rowing Inc.

The purpose of our Adaptive Sports Programs are:

• To provide children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in sports and active recreation in a fun, safe environment
• To provide training to students and rehabilitation professionals on implementing and developing active recreation and sports activities for children with special needs
• To provide activities at little to no cost

Specific objectives of the programs are to provide an opportunity for children with disabilities:

• To learn sport-specific skills
• To socialize and engage in active play with other children their age
• To get moderate to vigorous physical activity and to maintain and improve their health and physical fitness

• Adaptive Sport Equipment Grants:Adaptive sports equipment can be costly and typically isn’t covered by insurance.  With that in mind, below are several individual grants that could assist you with funds.
  • Challenged Athletes Foundation

  Kelly Brush Foundation

Media:

• Watertown Youth Participates In Adaptive Skating Program With Franciscan Hospital For Children
• Brookline Youth Participates In Adaptive Skating Program With Franciscan Hospital for Children
• Arlington Youth Participates in Adaptive Skating Program with Franciscan Hospital for Children
• Children With Disabilities Get Chance To Play Baseball In Boston
• 5-Year-Old Boy Creates ‘Bug’s Bikes’ For Kids With Special Needs
• Student Spotlight: Adapting on the Ice (page 3, in the Northeastern University Service Learning Newsletter)
• Adaptive Skating with the Bruins
• Adaptive Ice Skating helps build strength for children with special needs

• Fragala-Pinkham M, O Neil ME, Lennon N, Forman JL, Trost SG. (2015 – epub) Validity of the OMNI rating of perceived exertion scale for children and adolescents with cerebral palsy. Dev Med Child Neurol. Jan 27. doi: 10.1111/dmcn.12703.
• Rowland J, Fragala-Pinkham MA, Miles C, O’Neil ME. (2015) Scope of Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice in Health Promotion and Fitness for Youth with Disabilities. Pediatr Phys Ther; 27(1):2-15.
• Fragala-Pinkham MA, Smith HJ, Lombard KA, Barlow C, O’Neil ME. Aquatic aerobic exercise for children with cerebral palsy: a pilot intervention study. Physiother Theory Pract. 2014 Feb;30(2):69-78.
• Balemans AC, Fragala-Pinkham MA, Lennon N, Thorpe D, Boyd RN, O’Neil ME, Bjornson K, Becher JG, Dallmeijer AJ. (2013) Systematic review of the clinimetric properties of laboratory- and field-based aerobic and anaerobic fitness measures in children with cerebral palsy. Arch Phys Med Rehabil.;94(2):287-301.
• O’Neil ME, Fragala-Pinkham M, Ideishi RI, Ideishi SK. (2012) Community-based programs for children and youth: our experiences in design, implementation, and evaluation. Phys Occup Ther Pediatr; 32(2):111-119.
• Fragala-Pinkham MA, O’Neil ME, Bjornson KF, Boyd RN. (2012) Fitness and physical activity in children and youth with disabilities. Int J Pediatr; 162648. doi: 10.1155/2012/162648.
• Fragala-Pinkham MA, O’Neil ME, Haley SM. (2010) Summative evaluation of a pilot aquatic exercise program for children with disabilities. Disabil Health J 3: 162-70.
• Fragala-Pinkham MA, Haley SM, Goodgold S. (2006) Evaluation of a community-based group fitness program for children with disabilities. Pediatr Phys Ther, 18:159-167.
• Fragala-Pinkham MA, Dumas HM, Boyce M, Peters CY, Haley SM. (2009) Evaluation of an adaptive ice skating programme for children with disabilities. Dev Neurorehabil, 12(4):215-223.