Special Needs

• Super Kids

  Super Kids at the Madison Area YMCA is an exciting new program available to children who have special needs. The program is designed to welcome children into the facility to take part in fun, exciting and health-enhancing programs in a safe, nurturing environment.

  
  Our current Super Kids programing includes:

   
  Sunfish

  The Aquatics department offers Sunfish for 3 to 12 year olds, a class designated for children with special needs who require extra attention and may have difficulty working in a group setting. Instructors work one-on-one with swimmers to help them feel comfortable in the water and develop their swimming skills.

  
  Volunteer Aides

  The Madison Area YMCA has a skilled group of volunteers who have experience working with children who have special needs. While we cannot promise the availability of an aide, we will work with you as best as we can to meet your child’s needs. If you are interested in becoming an aide, visit our volunteer information page here.

• Partnerships

  In addition to Super Kids at the Madison Area YMCA programming, we are proud to participate in several partnerships with organizations dedicated to serving children who have special needs:
  
  ECLC
  In partnership with the ECLC P.R.I.D.E Center in Chatham, New Jersey, the Madison Area YMCA provides opportunities for P.R.I.D.E participants to get on a path to healthier living through exercising at the Family Center. For more information about ECLC and P.R.I.D.E. Centers, click here.
  
  Horizon High School
  Through its partnership with Horizon High School, a local school for students 14 to 21 years old with multiple disabilities, the Madison Area YMCA provides weekly volunteer opportunities for students to be engaged in the community. For more information about the Horizon schools, click here.
  
  EPOCH
  In partnership with the Madison Area YMCA, EPOCH has served children 8 to 20 years old who have significant special needs in Madison and neighboring communities for more than 35 years. This unique after-school program offers social and recreational opportunities not readily available to this population. EPOCH programs develop self-confidence, social skills and helps build new relationships. For more information about the EPOCH program, please contact Program Director Eileen Giordano.  
  
  Special Olympics of New Jersey
  The Madison Area YMCA has partnered with Special Olympics of New Jersey to make the Madison Area YMCA facilities accessible to athletes and their families. Athletes and their families are entitled to all of the same benefits as all Madison Area YMCA members. For more information on Special Olympics of New Jersey, click here.