Special Needs Programs

JumpStart at the JCC

Serving children ages 2 - 3½

Part of our family of early childhood education programs, JumpStart is a therapeutic early childhood classroom experience for 2- and 3-year-olds with special needs. The only program of its kind in the greater Fairfield County area, the JumpStart classroom follows the pattern of a typical nursery school classroom, offering invaluable social and educational experiences in a group setting for children who typically get one-on-one services at home, in a more isolated setting.

Our early childhood development teachers encourage children to practice acquired skills at critical developmental stages, and to practice emerging language and motor skills in a safe, fun and accepting environment. Encouraging exploration and experimentation enhances individual problem solving and skill development. Within the group, each child is allowed to grow comfortably, learning at his or her own pace. A typical half-hour session will include time for free play, circle time, a project (which may be art, cooking or a sensory-motor activity), snack, music and outdoor play.

For more information, please contact JumpStart Director Sue McGraw at 203.487.0980 or jumpstart@stamfordjcc.org.
 

Hand in Hand

An Inclusion-based, therapeutic summer program

Hand in Hand (Yad B’Yad in Hebrew), is a division of O-la-mi, offers a unique summer program for rising 3rd-6th graders with communication-spectrum disorders, including: high-functioning autism, Asperger’s syndrome, ADD/ADHD, and individuals with sensory motor integration challenges. The mission of this (two sessions) three-week program is to improve each child’s ability to develop and maintain positive relationships with peers, and to build a solid foundation for making and keeping friends within a relaxed, fun, and creative environment.

What is a typical day?
• Morning flagpole (sing songs, receive the day’s updates and activities)
• Morning sessions of yoga and therapy (social skill building: initiation of friendships, joining conversations, self- control, feelings and empathy, taking turns and sharing with CGC clinician)
• Picnic lunch under a tent
• Afternoon electives (singing, swimming, sports, dance, robotics, gardening, acting and much more)
• Afternoon flagpole (sing songs, Best Spirited Team announcement and other news)
• Pick-up by tent

Each potential participant should call for an interview by trained staff from both CGC and the JCC. Families will be notified of acceptance into the program based on this process. Please contact Dinushka De Silva at 203.487.0946 or ddesilva@stamfordjcc.org with any questions.

Inclusion specialists and programming are partially funded by The Kuriansky Foundation, in Memory of Morton R. Shapiro. Scholarship assistance for this program is partially funded by the First County Bank Foundation, Inc.