- Mobility: No assistance needed to maneuver rugged terrain and extended distances.
- Personal Care: Can maintain personal hygiene without assistance.
- Cognitive: Can follow multiple step instructions without assistance.
- Behavior: Will stay with group without assistance. Manages transitions and changes to schedule well. Can independently manage the sensory stimulation of a frequently large, loud, and energetic group environment.
- Communication: Able to convey feelings, desires, and needs without assistance. Demonstrates age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, communication, stress, and conflict.
- Mobility: No assistance needed with level surfaces. Needs assistance on steep inclines, stairs, and uneven surfaces. Often needs breaks during physical activity. May use assistive device (manual wheelchair, canes, walker, crutches, etc.).
- Personal Care: Can maintain personal hygiene with verbal cues.
- Cognitive: Can follow single or two-step instructions.
- Behavior: Will stay with group with the help of verbal prompts. Needs assistance and forewarning of transitions and changes to the schedule. Can manage the sensory stimulation of a frequently large, loud, and energetic group environment with some assistance.
- Communication: Able to convey feelings, desires, and needs with picture cues, or alternative communication device. Demonstrates age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, communication, stress, and conflict with some assistance.
- Mobility: Difficulty with terrain. May use assistive and/or self-propelled device as listed in Level 2, plus powered wheelchair or scooter.
- Personal Care: Maintains personal hygiene with some assistance.
- Cognitive: Can follow instructions with assistance. May need verbal or visual prompts.
- Behavior: Will stay with group with continuous supervision. Emotional dysregulation during transitions and changes to schedule resulting in unsafe behaviors, elopement and/or executive functioning deficits. Can manage the sensory stimulation of occasionally large, loud, and energetic group environment with assistance.
- Communication: Able to convey feelings, desires and needs with picture cues, or alternative communication device. Demonstrates age-appropriate social and emotional skills in managing personal boundaries, relationships, communication, stress, and conflict with assistance.
- May be required to come with an aide for support.
- Mobility: Full assistance and/or self-propelled device as listed in Levels 2 and 3.
- Personal Care: Personal hygiene with full assistance.
- Cognitive: Limited comprehension.
- Behavior: Will stay with group with continuous supervision. Emotional dysregulation during transitions and changes to schedule resulting in unsafe behaviors, elopement, and/or executive functioning deficits.
- Communication: Able to convey feelings, desires, and needs with full assistance.
- Must come with an aide for support.
YMCA staff does not provide hands-on assistance with personal care or behavior intervention. Staff will provide assistance with verbal cues or visual aids. If a participant needs assistance during a program, it is the responsibility of the caregiver or individual to arrange for an aide.
Individuals serving as a 1:1 aide are welcome in programs free of charge, but are required to follow YMCA policy and procedures and complete necessary paperwork.
For outdoor adventure-based programs: Participants must be comfortable in a rustic, outdoor environment (e.g. exposure to extended periods of direct sun, varying weather conditions, insects/animals, grass/dirt/mud). Must be comfortable in water using a PFD (personal flotation device).
Adaptive Programs emphasize participants’ unique abilities and provide trained staff, higher staff-to-participant ratios, and adapted spaces, materials, and activities to ensure successful participation. We offer a wide variety of classes, programs, special events, and community outings. These programs promote individual choices, develop leisure and life skills, and enhance socialization.
The Adaptive Participant Form must be completed and on file prior to attending adaptive programs.
Programs include:
- Adaptive Sports
- Fitness, Health, and Wellness classes
- Social Groups
- Enrichment and Special Interest Classes
- Sensory-Friendly Programs
- Summer Camps
- After School Programming
- Community Outings
If you are new to the Y, please see our DAXKO NEW USER GUIDE>>
Click here to view and register for programs>>
Programs are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants must meet the following essential eligibility criteria:
• Follow program rules (with or without support).
• Communicate basic needs and follow simple directions (with or without help).
• Engage in scheduled activities most of the time.
• Independent in personal care- staff will provide assistance with verbal cues or visual aids, but cannot directly assist participants in using the bathroom or reclothing after using the bathroom.
• Independent in eating- staff will provide assistance with cutting up food and monitoring allergy needs, but cannot assist with direct feeding needs or feeding tubes.
• Manage their own behaviors with minimal staff intervention. Sensory areas will be provided on most programs and staff can follow behavior plans for individuals that utilize them. Participants with consistent tendency to elope or exhibit aggressive behaviors must come with an aide.
• Must have a desire to participate in programming. Staff will provide adaptations and modifications to meet a wide range of abilities.
• Must have a completed Adaptive Participant Form on file.
Participants needing assistance are welcome to come with an aide, free of charge. Aides are required to follow YMCA policy and procedures and complete necessary paperwork.
FAQs
No, you do not have to be a YMCA member to attend programs. Adaptive Programs are open to all.
Yes. To apply for a YMCA scholarship for programs, download and complete the YMCA Financial Aid form [PDF].
- Attach required documents (including your 1040 tax form).
- Email your application to membership@piedmontymca.org or drop it off at the front desk.
- If you are interested in a membership at the Y (not required to attend programs), we offer income-based options. Click HERE to learn more.
Adaptive Programs are for individuals with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities who choose to participate in activities alongside others with diverse abilities. We adapt programs as needed and strive to provide a variety of options for participants to choose from.
Inclusive Programs are for individuals with and without disabilities to participate in activities and classes together. These programs and events are designed to create an environment where all can thrive.
Reasonable accommodations are offered to support participation while keeping the program’s purpose intact.
Examples of accommodations may include:
- Attendance of an aide, free of charge (arranged by the participant or caregiver; required paperwork must be completed)
- ASL interpreters for participants who use American Sign Language
- Visual supports (picture schedules, cue cards, social stories)
- Staff training to promote understanding and inclusion
- Adaptive equipment or supplies to support participation
- Activity modifications (small changes to rules or teaching style that do not change the purpose)
- Individualized strategies for success (for example, sensory breaks or visual cues)
What is not included:
- Separate or alternate activities for most of the program time
- Exceptions to safety rules or the Code of Conduct (including elopement, harm to self or others, aggression, or property destruction)
- Therapy or medical services
- Personal care assistance
Participants who need 1:1 support are welcome to attend programs with an aide. If using the facility, the participant must be a current member.
For required paperwork and next steps, contact Caitlin Marcotte at cmarcotte@piedmontymca.org or (434) 270-0969.
Yes. Donations to Adaptive Programming help create and sustain program development, implementation, participation, and growth.
To donate, contact Caitlin Marcotte at cmarcotte@piedmontymca.org or (434) 270-0969.
Yes. Volunteers are welcome and essential to our programming. Experience is not required, training is provided. We ask that volunteers be enthusiastic, patient, and empathetic.
To get involved, contact Caitlin Marcotte at cmarcotte@piedmontymca.org or (434) 270-0969.
We send a monthly Adaptive Programs newsletter through Constant Contact.
Sign up to stay up to date HERE.