Special Needs Classes and Activities

The YMCA of Greenville has multiple programs and opportunities for children and families with special needs to enjoy. These include Camp Greenville, iCan Bike, RECESS and swim lessons.

Camp Greenville  

Camp Greenville, operated by the YMCA of Greenville for 110 years, offers family camp weekends for families with members who have Down syndrome and Autism. Spectrum & Stargazer Family Camp offers a spring and a fall weekend in a fun and safe environment to have amazing family fun. Enjoy the beauty and adventure of camp with others who understand how amazingly unique and talented we all are in our different ways. 

Spring Spectrum & Stargazer Family Camp is May 6-8, 2022.
Fall Spectrum & Stargazer Family Camp is September 16-18, 2022.
Registration for both weekends is currently open. 

iCanBike 

A vast majority of people with disabilities have never had the experience of independently riding a conventional two-wheel bicycle. Research shows that over 80% of people with Autism and 90% of people with Down syndrome never experience this.  YMCA of Greenville collaborates with iCan Shine to defy these odds by running a 5-day camp called iCan Bike, which teaches individuals with disabilities how to ride a conventional, two-wheel bike. 

Camp host: Eastside Family YMCA
Camp dates: July 25, 2022 – July 29, 2022
Camp location: Taylors First Baptist Church 200 West Main Street Taylors, SC

RECESS

RECESS (Recreation, Education, Community, Exercise, Social and Service) is a signature program of The YMCA of Greenville for post-high school adults with diverse abilities. During programming, participants learn about nutrition, fitness, social responsibility, community outreach, and independent living skills. RECESS allows adults with diverse abilities not only a place to continue to learn new skills, but also gives them a place to connect with friends and gain a sense of belonging.

Swim Lessons

The YMCA of Greenville offers their own swim curriculum for those with diverse abilities. The Caine Halter Family branch and Prisma Health Family branch offer private lessons in addition to a monthly swim with YMCA RECESS participants. Contact your branch to set up an introductory session!

Offers swimmings lessons and classes for athletes diagnosed with developmental challenges, including Downs Syndrome and individuals on the Autism spectrum.

Kids Golf and Fitness Academy offers a variety of fun classes such as golf, Mom/Dad and me, American Sign Language, Art, design, fitness, dance specific fitness, golf specific fitness, sports specific fitness, and more! Ages 3 and up. All skill levels, learning styles, and physical abilities welcome.

Empowering families of children with special needs through hands-on coaching from behavior guidance, skill acquisition to potty training, Personalized support, creative strategies, including family and respite coaching.

Chuck E. Cheese opens two hours early on the first Sunday of the month for Sensory Sensitive Sundays. During these events, lighting and noise will be reduced, while the usual food and games are available.

Whispering Pines offers classes for small ruminant care. They also use their sheep for therapy for children with special needs.

Dance Without Limits serves dance students ages 18 months and up, including adults and students with disabilities. The staff has extensive experience with students of all abilities. They offer a class specifically for students with different abilities called Limitless Friends. Dance Without Limits is also an inclusive dance studio, encouraging dancers of all abilities to participate in any of their dance classes.

Both TCMU- Greenville and TCMU – Spartanburg occasionally offer special sensory-friendly times at the museum. TCMU-Spartanburg holds a monthly Sensory Wednesday session where the lights are dimmed, the water table is turned off, and rotating activities in the classroom are self-guided for learning and play.

Keep an eye on the TCMU calendar for more specific sensory-friendly events.

BlueSprig Autism provides applied behavior analysis (ABA), behavioral services and autism therapy.

Happy Hooves Therapeutic Equestrian Center is located at Eden Farms. They offer horse-centered programs for special needs children and adults. Programs include riding and caring for horses while developing physical, social, and emotional skills.

Dr. Nekita Sullivan provides holistic pediatric house calls for kids with and without special needs-physical, play, and yoga therapy in the home, facility, or playground.

The South Carolina School for the Deaf and the Blind, located in Spartanburg, offers a specialized school for children from preschool through grade 12.  The school provides vision and hearing services in communities and schools throughout South Carolina.

The Bon Secours Wellness Arena has an enclosed Sensory Suite that blocks out the noise of a typical arena show that might cause difficulty for sensitive individuals. The suite has soft seating, low lights, and a quiet space with sensory accessories.  Tickets can be purchased in the sensory suite for selected shows. This is located in section 105.

Additionally, the arena offers a Sensory Kit that is free and available at all arena events. The kit includes noise-reducing earmuffs, antiglare glasses, a sensory fidgit toy, sanitizing wipes, and more.

The Carolina Dance Collaborative is a mobile dance outreach 501(c)3 organization that seeks to make dance accessible to all people regardless of location, ability, or resources. They aim to serve the whole student and provide enriching dance education opportunities beyond the classroom and into their lives. They offer the Connect Class for ages 5-11 and 12+.

Through Evely’s Eyes is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting families with children facing rare medical conditions. Their mission is to provide comfort, guidance, and practical assistance to these families as they navigate their unique journeys.

The ImmUnity Play Circle program offers safe and inclusive playdates for families with immune-compromised children.

A special Easter event for those in the Spartanburg community with mental and/or physical disabilities. Hunts are divided into age groups, and a Parent Buddy is allowed for children under 6.

Organized baseball designed for children with mental and physical challenges. A specially equipped field called “Miracle Park” is utilized to maximize the experience for those involved, including wheelchair accommodations and walking assistance devices.

ABLE Kids offers a full-day immersive program for children between the ages of 2 -6 who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder level 2 -3 and who require 35 or more hours of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services. In addition to ABA therapies, ABLE Kids also provides occupational and speech therapies.

Designed for children aged 3.5 through 19, Brain Balance works with students who may have ADHD, Asperger’s, processing challenges, trouble making friends, and/or a learning disability like dyslexia. Brain Balance identifies academic, social, and/or behavioral, then sets a plan to help address specific needs.

Camp Spearhead is Greenville County Recreation’s camp for children and adults with special needs ages 8 and up. They offer 8 one-week-long residential camps in the summer and two different seasons of a weekend program throughout the school year.

An educational academy offered through Project HOPE Foundation, the school offers education for children on the autism spectrum, preschool through high school. ABA therapy services are provided, with classes Monday through Friday.

Einstein Academy is a non-profit private school for 1st-8th graders who have been diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, Autism and/or similar challenges.

The City of Fountain Inn’s Miracle League is an inclusive youth sports program that gives every child the chance to experience the joy of playing baseball. Games take place at the Miracle League field at the Emanuel Sullivan Sports Complex.

Camperdown Academy is a special education school located in Greenville that offers education and support for students with dyslexia and language-based learning differences in grades 1-8.

Summer camp for special needs and children in foster care.
Cost: $175 per child (contact if there’s financial hardship you’d like them to consider)

Camp runs from 9 am – 4 pm
Camp is a week-long and is organized by the Selah Grey Foundation.

Upstate Carolina Adaptive Golf offers adaptive golf therapy for individuals with special needs.