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Share Your Y Story
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We are looking for feedback about the impact of our programs.
How has inclusion impacted you or a family member?
Click here to share your Y story! Statements will be used to help spread the word about the benefit and impact that our inclusion initiative is having on our Y Community.
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Share the News!
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Love our newsletter? Why not share it with a friend or colleague! Forward this link and ask them to join our email distribution list to stay updated with what's going on at the South Shore YMCA! |
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| Rodman Ride for Kids 2016 |
 The South Shore YMCA's 'Team Inclusion' is gearing up to ride in support of inclusion programs across the SSYMCA Association at the Rodman Ride for Kids on Saturday, September 24th. Please consider making a donation to support Team Inclusion; With your support, we will develop new and greater inclusion programs that ensure every child has the opportunity to participate in our Y programs. Click here to make a donation today! |
| Fall Session Begins This Week! |
We have more offerings than ever! Click here to check out our snapshot for an overview of our inclusive classes this fall. There are still openings, so register today and start the fall off right! Featured fall classes:
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Emilson Branch:
Building Bridges Kid Connector - Designed to help kids learn and apply appropriate social skills with their peers and in the larger community of Kids' Night Out. Ideal for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD or social challenges. Children will preview the schedule, expectations and self-regulation strategies then use these skills to integrate into the Kids' Night Out group with inclusion supports. Participants must register 48 hours prior to the event to ensure proper staffing.
Building Bridges Teen Connector - Designed to help teens learn and apply appropriate social skills with their peers and in the larger community of Teen Saturdays. Ideal for teens with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADD/ADHD or social/emotional challenges. We focus on learning functional social skills, then generalize the social skills by integrating into Teen Saturdays with same age peers. During integration into Teen Saturdays inclusion supports will be available, however, teens should be able to safely navigate within the larger group ratio.
Click here to learn more about Building Bridges Kid or Teen Connector. Adaptive Fitness & Fun - This class uses movement based exercises to improve daily focus and productivity, increase social interaction and meet sensory needs for youth with diverse abilities. Ideal for children with Autism, ADD/ADHD or other developmental disabilities. |
Quincy Branch:
New! Building Bridges Sensory Family Fun Outing - Looking for fun activities to do as a family where all can participate together without the concern of overstimulating sights and sounds? If a member of your family struggles with sensory, social or engagement issues this might be the perfect opportunity for you to get out together to enjoy favorite family past times with other kids and their families. We'll start out with a family friendly sensory movie and then a sensory friendly activity like yoga, cycling, rhythmic drum circle or hands on arts exploration. Parent/caregivers are welcome to join along or take advantage of a little "me" time within the Y. Siblings and friends are also encouraged to sign up for the fun. Participants must register 48 hours in advance to ensure proper staffing. Click here to learn more. New! Wheelchair Basketball Clinics - New this fall in partnership with Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers - Wheelchair Basketball Clinics occurring Wednesdays at the Y's Quincy Branch. All ages and abilities are welcome. Come learn wheelchair basketball in a fun and supportive setting! This clinic runs October 5th - November 30th and is free, however, registration is required. For more information, contact Tom Healy at thealy@ssymca.org. |
| Health Education Highlight: Partnership Program |
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Meet Ed Goldstein.
Ed Goldstein joined the Emilson Y with every intention of focusing on his swimming. A former competitive swimmer, Ed had an outstanding career; he was highly ranked with the New England Masters swim program and national YMCA champion in 1988. Soon enough, Ed's time swimming at the Emilson Y led him down a new path, one that would allow him to help others and share his knowledge of swimming; he joined the Emilson Y's Aquatics Partnership Program as a volunteer.
Taking place both on land and in the pool, the Y's Partnership Program is designed specifically for people who need assistance and are interested in a structured exercise program. Volunteer training partners assist participants with workouts designed to improve or maintain physical ability.
"Ed has been a great addition to our group," stated Bill McCormick, Aquatics Partnership Program Coordinator. "He is always there to lend a hand and put people at ease. We are very fortunate to have him on our team."
As Fred McPeck, Aquatics Partnership Program Participant, put it, "Ed exemplifies the quality volunteers we have in our program."
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SSYMCA Provides Hands-on Learning and Valuable Work Experiences
Over the course of the summer, the South Shore YMCA was fortunate to have two wonderful interns from the Mass Commission for the Blind Student Internship Program assisting in a variety of capacities at our SSYMCA branches.
Looking for real world work experience applicable to her career interests, Lindsay Hale, a student at Eastern Nazarene College in pursuit of Psychology degree, began interning in the Emilson Y Playroom in June. Lindsay quickly became a valuable asset in the Playroom, interacting with the children as well as supervising them along with other staff members.
With an interest in health and fitness, Michaela Flaherty, a student at Assumption College, split her internship hours among several SSYMCA branches. Michaela assisted in the Aquatics Partnership Program and Camp Gordon Clark at the Emilson Y, at the South Shore Natural Science Center with events and within 'Healthier You!' a Medical Wellness class at the Emilson Y.
On Thursday, August 11th, South Shore YMCA Staff joined both Lindsay and Michaela at a ceremony hosted by Mass Commission for the Blind at the State House, which recognized and celebrated all of the interns within the Student Internship Program and their employers.
"This is a fantastic program that allowed these students the opportunity to explore and experience work related functions within their field of interest," stated Lisa Drennan, Association Director of Inclusion at the South Shore YMCA. "Both girls provided valuable support to the programs they worked in."
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Team Member and So Much More!
Alan Gersony became a member at the Y's Quincy Branch in 2006, and soon after joining, became a well-known, welcoming and friendly face among Y staff and members. In May, Alan began working in the Health and Well-being Department 10 hours per week, assisting in a variety of capacities. "It feels great working here," stated Alan. "My team is awesome and they have made me feel so welcome."
"Alan has been a member of the Y for a long time," stated Kim Driscoll, Director of Health & Well-being at the Y's Quincy Branch. "Now he is a member of the Health & Well-being Family."
Alan's strong work ethic, welcoming demeanor and willingness to help have made him a valuable asset at the Y. "I'm really proud of Alan," stated Lisa Drennan, Association Director of Inclusion at the South Shore YMCA. "He is a strong self-advocate who has taken his love for the Y and turned it into a part time position where he is valued and a tremendous asset to not only the team, but the Y Community."
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South Shore YMCA Day Camps Celebrate Friendship on 'Inclusion Day!'
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"Friendship is someone who laughs at your jokes. You can always count on your friends to be respectful, kind and trustworthy."
-Jackson, SSYMCA Day Camp
| Tatianna enjoys playing hand games with her friends during her free time at camp! |
At camp, children of all ages and abilities have the opportunity to form lasting friendships and build unforgettable memories. That's why the South Shore YMCA's Camp Gordon Clark and Quincy Day Camp joined organizations and people around the world in National Inclusion Project's daylong celebration of friendship on 'Inclusion Day,' July 20th. Using the hashtag #FriendshipIs, National Inclusion Project invited everyone around the world to share their stories of what friendship means to them on social media.
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Long Time Y Community Member Making News
In addition to being an inspiring member of the Quincy Women's Softball League, she is also on the South Shore YMCA's Lobstars Adaptive Tennis team and a volunteer within the Y Community! Click here to read more. |
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Free IEP Clinic
Do you have questions or concerns about your child's IEP? South Shore Support Services is pleased to provide parents with the opportunity to meet with an experienced Special Education Advocate to discuss their IEP concerns and leave with a written plan of action. Preregistration is required. Click here for more details and to complete a registration form.
| Place: | South Shore Support Services | | Address: | 317 Libbey Industrial Parkway Suite B300 Weymouth, MA 02189 | | Time: | 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. | | Date: | September 22nd |
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