Parent & Community Resources
In the list below, you will find some of the Parent Advisory Group's recommendations for activities and facilities for children with special needs. If any parent has a recommendation they would like to add to this list, please send us an email and we would be happy to add your recommendation to this list. You are welcome to give any of these activities or facilities a try and let us know how they work out for you and your child. Remember, we are all on this journey together and supporting each other is what we need to do.
Please use the tabs below to find resources
Family Activities
The Little Gym of Roxbury (Ledgewood)
Age: 12 months to 12 years
Recommendation from our parent: "High energy environment particularly for preschoolers, integrated classes, individualized attention from facilitators with special needs training, never seen a kid left behind... it was recommended by my child's Early Intervention OT and my child has been going since October 2017."
Learn more about The Little Gym
Sensory Movies at AMC Theaters (Various Locations)
Films shown at AMC Theaters on the 2nd and 4th Saturday (family friendly) and Tuesday evenings (mature audiences) of every month. AMC offers unique movie showings where they turn the lights up, and the sound down, so kids can get up, dance, walk, talk, sing, etc. It is called a “Sensory Friendly Film Program.” AMC Brick, AMC Clifton, AMC Freehold, AMC Loews Jersey Gardens, AMC Mountainside, AMC New Brunswick, AMC Rockaway, AMC Wayne, AMC West Orange. You need to check your local listings for movie times.
Learn more about AMC Sensory Films
Skyzone (Mount Olive)
Skyzone is “promoting awareness and acceptance for all individuals.” According to their website, it states, “Join the Jump as we dial down the music and dim the lights to create a welcoming and inclusive environment to be enjoyed by all. Sky Zone, where common ground is a trampoline that allows everyone to jump high. -We will dial down the noise, increase the staff ratio and limit the capacity. -One companion may participate for FREE with each paying jumper.-Regular Open Jump pricing applies.
British Swim School (Mt. Arlington)
15 Howard Blvd, Suite 100 | 973-957-3111
Swimming instruction "premier water safety and learn to swim program in the Morris County area and located inside the Marriot." Parent notes that her special needs child seems to enjoy her lessons, however she is not aware if there are any provisions specifically designed for special needs children.
Learn more about British Swim School
School of Royal Yoga (Chester)
Center for Special Needs
Sarah Carapezzi, Director
38 Main Street, Chester NJ 07930
908-879-9648
All ages welcome
Learn more about School of Royal
Quest Karate Martial Arts (Long Valley)
Sensei Thomas Kately
59 E. Mill Road, Long Valley NJ 07835
908-876-9494
Parent made this recommendation: "It's a great school that focuses on not just winning the competition but on respect of others and social responsibility. Sensei Kately has a special way with kids to be able to talk to them and motivate them."
Dance Dynamics (Long Valley)
Laura Gay
59 Mill Road, Long Valley NJ 07853
Learn more about Dance Dynamics
The Miracle Project (Mayo Performing Arts Center)
Cathy Roy, Education Director
100 South Street Morristown NJ 07960
"The Miracle Project is a fully inclusive theater, film, social skills, and expressive arts program for individuals with autism and all abilities."
Freedom Horse Farm (Long Valley)
158 Flocktown Road, Long Valley NJ 07853
Freedom Horse Farm offers the services of adaptive riding and physical therapy including the treatment strategy of hippotherapy and aquatic therapy.
Learn more about Freedom Horse Farm
Chuck E. Cheese (Various Locations)
Sensory Sensitive Sundays
The first Sunday of every month, Chuck E. Cheese opens 2 hours early for children with autism or other special needs. Bridgewater and East Hanover locations both participate.
Sensory Activities
NJKidsOnline.com provided some additional things to do for special needs families. Please visit www.njkidsonline.com for more activities that may be suitable, including:
1. Visit a Planetarium: The Raritan Valley College Planetarium featuring “The Sky Above”. Show about planets, moon, and constellation synced to music and laser lights. Doors are open, lights are dimmed, and audio is lowered. Upcoming dates @5PM: Nov 3, 2018, Dec 1, 2018, 118 Lamington Road, Branchburg, NJ, 908.231.8805.
2. Relax and enjoy a Waterpark: Sahara Sam’s Oasis Indoor & Outdoor Waterpark Special Needs night - judgment free evening for individuals with special needs and their families. Zero entry, transfer lift into pool, modified lighting, reduced noise, relaxed dress code. Book your ticket. Upcoming date: Fri, Nov 16, 2018, 6-9PM. 535 North Route 73, West Berlin, NJ, 856.767.7580.
3. Jump at an indoor trampoline park: Quieter and toned down jumping experiences can be had at:
- Sky Zone Allendale - sensory hours 4th Monday of each month, 4-6PM, 201.574.1800
- Sky Zone Mt Olive - sensory hours 3rd Monday of each month, 4-6PM, 973.527.7000 (our parents have recommended Sky Zone in Mt. Olive - see above for next inclusion day)
- Sky Zone Pine Brook - sensory hours 2nd Monday of each month, 4-6PM, 973.396.4001
- Sky Zone Springfield - sensory hours 1st Monday of each month, 4-6PM, inquire 973.671.5100
4. Visit animals at the zoo or wildlife center: Most have guide maps to accessible exhibits. Inquire about special programs and tours. Popular zoos: Bergen County Van Saun Zoo, Bronx Zoo, Cape May County Zoo, Central Park Zoo, Philadelphia Zoo offers KidZooU quiet spaces and Universal Design Graphics, Turtle Back Zoo. Rizzo’s Wildlife World offers Special Needs group programs where you can feed, touch, and hold select animals. 1 Gold Mine Rd, Flanders NJ, 973.586.0444.
5. Experience rides and shows at a theme park: Storybook Land holds a Special Abilities night for Special Needs Families in the Fall. 6415 Black Horse Pike, Egg Harbor Township, NJ, 609.646.0103. Sesame Place in Langhorne PA is the first theme park designated as a Certified Autism Center. Extensive sensory guide of services, rides, & shows. Meet Julia, a sweet 4-year old Muppet with Autism. Upcoming themes: Halloween & Christmas, 215.702-ELMO.
6. Visit an aquarium and see aquatic life: Pick a time, either early in the day or later in the evening, when the crowds are less for a more relaxed experience. Adventure Aquarium in Camden, NJ has accessible viewing areas, sound reducing headphones, weighted blankets, shark shack tour, tactile maps, and sign language interpreters.
7. Visit a museum with special needs accessibility and programs: Museums are open and welcoming to all in general, but on select days, the special needs community is made to feel extra welcomed:
- The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia offers Sensory Friendly Sundays. Exhibits modified for a comfortable environment for all. Special adapted exhibits throughout the museum 8AM-12:30PM
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC offers Discoveries Families Programs on select days. Take a Gallery tour plus do an art activity in studio, 212.650.2010.
- The Museum of Natural History in NYC offers special needs Discovery Squad Tours for ages 5-14 on select Saturdays. Depending on child’s age, you will take a 40-minute paleontology tour or see dioramas of animals and ocean life, plants, and rocks. Reservations required, 212.769.5200.
- Whitney Museum of American Art in NYC offers “Family Fun: For Families with Kids on the Autism Spectrum” - sensory-friendly guided tour and create a hands-on studio activity. Free but Registration required, 212.570.3600.
- Queens Museum in Flushing Meadows NY offers Drop-in Family Art Workshops for children with special needs, diverse learners, and those on the autism spectrum. Led by art therapists. Third Sunday of each month. Free with museum admission, 718.592.9700.
- Liberty Science Center in Jersey City, NJ: Special Needs days
8. Enjoy a sensory friendly or autism friendly performance or show: Check for events at BergenPac, Mayo Performing Arts, Paper Mill Playhouse, State Theater of New Jersey, Union County Performing Arts Center, or NYC Broadway shows
9. Play and enjoy all-inclusive playground: also known as playgrounds for everyone, barrier free playgrounds or all access playgrounds. Central Park of Morris County in Parsippany, Jake’s Place in Cherry Hill, Challenger Place in Colts Neck, Votee Park in Teaneck.
Healthcare
West Morris Psychological Associates (Chester)
245 Main Street, Chester NJ 07930
908-955-7754
Dr. Alisha Thom-Hayes is a clinician at West Morris Psychological Associates in Chester. West Morris is offering multiple groups detailed below that the practice offers. One group of note is STRONG Girls coping skills group, which focuses on improving coping skills in middle and high school-aged girls. Other group offerings include:
-
Parenting for ADHD: Support and Strategies for Parents:
This 10-week group provides parents of children with ADHD and other behavioral concerns (ages 2-12) with a supportive community to learn effective child behavior management skills and strategies. -
Circle of Security Parenting Group:
During the course of this 8-week group, parents will learn strategies to help understand and manage their child’s behavior in a mutually respectful way, developing tools to enhance self-esteem, foster independence, and strengthen the parent-child relationship. This group is designed for parents of children from infancy through adolescence. -
Strong Girls: A Coping Skills Group:
This is a group for preteen and teenage females (grades 5-12) who are experiencing challenges related to middle school or high school. The goal of this 8-week group is to provide girls with effective, healthy coping skills to help manage emotions and improve relationships. -
Social Skills Program:
Our social skills groups run on an 8-week cycle and the curriculum is tailored to meet the particular needs of the children (preschool through high school) in the group. Some topics covered include anger management, conversation skills, and good sportsmanship.
Learn more about West Morris Psych
Dental Practices
General Resources
- Morris Sussex Resources: Check out their events. The events are updated regularly and include webinars, presentations, recreational events, and more for children with special needs and their families
Travel
The International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards recognizes the following resorts that have obtained certification as "Certified Autism Centers":
- Beaches Resorts - Jamaica and Turks and Caicos
- Grand Palladium Bavaro Suites Resorts and Spa - Dominican Republic
- Nickelodeon Hotels and Resorts - Punta Cana
- Sawgrass Marriott Gold Resort and Spa - Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
- Villa Key - Orlando, Florida
For more information on vacationing with children with special needs, visit AutismTravel.com