Sports and physical activity are such an important part of growing up. They help kids develop social skills, teach the value and importance of teamwork, help with self-confidence, and so much more. Sports also teach respect for others, cooperation, and independence. That’s in addition to all of the physical benefits of sports.
For kids with differences and disabilities, sports and activities are even more important. Skills learned from sports are transferred into every area of life.
This guide is brought to you by ABA Pathways, a service provider with a team committed to helping families find the optimal treatment program to meet each individual’s needs.
ABA Pathways focuses on autistic children. They provide center-based services, home-based services, and behavioral consultations.
They take NM Medicaid as well as private insurance.
Contact them today at 505-366-0560 or [email protected].
Check out this list of sports programs in Albuquerque for kids with disabilities.
Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico
Adaptive Sports Program New Mexico has offered therapeutic recreational activities to children and adults with disabilities. Today, ASPNM proudly offers a wide variety of adaptive sports year-round, including skiing, snowboarding, watersports, river rafting, yoga, rock climbing, and more. Programs are open to children and adults with disabilities at locations throughout New Mexico.
AYSO EPIC Program
The mission of the AYSO EPIC Program is to provide athletes with disabilities the additional support they need to fully participate in a quality soccer experience. Volunteer buddies help our athletes not only participate but excel in this wonderful program.
Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation
The Carrie Tingley Hospital Foundation provides adaptive programs, resources, and assistance that allow children with permanent disabilities to discover their independence and creativity despite their physical limitations, as well as financial support to the UNM Carrie Tingley Hospital for equipment and research.
Corrales Soccer Club Top Soccer
US Youth Soccer TOPSoccer (The Outreach Program for Soccer) is a community-based training program for all athletes with intellectual, emotional, and or physical disabilities. The program strives to provide soccer opportunities (the opportunity of soccer) for players to develop at their own pace in a safe, fun, and supportive/inclusive environment.
Keshet Dance Company
Everyone can dance!
Keshet classes are available to all levels, ages, and abilities from age 2 to 102.
To break down economic barriers to dance, Keshet offers unlimited, non-competitive scholarships through a sliding scale payment structure.
While many of Keshet’s dance education opportunities are multi-generational, they also offer specific programs for young dancers, pre-professional students, professional dancers, novice adults, older adults, dancers with disabilities, and more.
Lobo Little League Challenger Division
Lobo Little League Challenger Division offers disabled children the opportunity to play youth baseball on a real team, to learn the game, and to create lasting friendships. No score is kept. Every player is a winner. Everyone has a turn at bat, advances through the bases, and takes a turn in the outfield. The wide range of abilities of Challenger participants will necessitate variations not only in the rules, but also in the philosophy of conventional baseball.
Mountain Dojo
The Mountain Dogo exists to provide an inclusive creative space for people with and without disabilities to connect through art, movement, employment, and community projects. To set up sustainable systems so people (ages 13 and up) are able to take classes and learn new skills free of barriers that may exist.
Nose to Toes Yoga
Nose to Toes Yoga Studio Owner, Liz Fitzgerald, is an experienced Kids Yoga Teacher, who guides kids in Summer Camps, Afterschool classes, Birthday Parties, Private and Group Classes. They teach kids how to move their bodies in coordination with their Super-Power Breathing. KIDS LOVE YOGA BECAUSE IT IS FUN! In this studio, kids of all abilities learn to bend and stretch to build strength, flexibility, and focus. They create works of art and learn to work together and make new friends.
Ski Apache Adaptive Sports
Ski Apache Adaptive Sports’ mission is to provide snow-sports instruction for any person with a permanent disability, regardless of the severity of the impairment or financial limitations.
Special Olympics New Mexico
Special Olympics New Mexico works towards building inclusive communities, transforming lives through sport, and improving the quality of life for people with intellectual disabilities (ID). Through programs in sports, health, education, and leadership, Special Olympics is creating a world where each person is included, respected, and celebrated for their abilities.
Albuquerque Sled Hockey
Sled (also known as “sledge”) hockey is the same game you know but designed to accommodate our disabled community here in Albuquerque and surrounding communities. The wonderful thing about Sled Hockey is that anyone can play. This sport is played by males and females, youth and adults. It is a sport that totally integrates players with mobility limitations and able-bodied people with knee, leg, or hip injuries that limit their participation in traditional hockey. Friends and family are welcome to play. What a great way to share a sport!
Global Opportunities Unlimited
GO Unlimited is a nonprofit organization that creates adaptive sporting and outdoor adventure opportunities so that people experience freedom from their disabilities. We also provide therapeutic recreation, SCI support groups, peer mentoring, and a variety of New Mexico adaptive sports programs.
Kayak New Mexico
Kayak New Mexico believes Adaptive Kayaking will transform lives, not just through recreation, but through paradigm shifts of what an individual believes is possible, through quality of life, and through health and wellness, while proving to themselves and others that their identity is not related to their abilities.
North New Mexico Tennis Association
The mission of the North New Mexico Tennis Association is to promote and develop the growth of tennis and to get everyone to experience the thrills of this great sport. Life skills developed through tennis cannot be learned in other sports. Try tennis today and find out why.
These are all incredible opportunities for any child with differences and disabilities. Your kids will love them, and you are sure to love them as well. Sports are such a fun part of growing up!
Are we missing any sports programs you know of? If so, send us an email at [email protected].
