Special Needs Sports Programs in Nassau County, Long Island

Find sports programs that cater to children with special needs in Nassau County, including Plainview, Port Washington, Syosset, and Melville. 

 

Be The Best Sport

30 Beechwood Ave., Port Washington
516-453-0990; [email protected]

Be The Best Sport is 501(c)(3) adaptive sports program for children who have intellectual disabilities as well as physical impairments.  At Be The Best Sport we offer a variety of sports and programs that focus on exposing the children to the world of sports and to help develop and strengthen their motor, cognitive, and social abilities. Our athletes have the opportunity to learn the basics of each sport, through a hands-on multi-sensory approach. The program helps facilitate the building of sport skills, confidence, self-esteem, and sportsmanship, while meeting the needs of each individual. Our motto is to “Have FUN, make FRIENDS and always leave with a SMILE” and is what motivates us each week to provide a great experience that our athletes will remember for a lifetime.


East Meadow Baseball/Softball Association

30 Merrick Ave., East Meadow
516-794-8965; [email protected]

The Challenger Division, with Lee Cook at the helm of an amazing crew of volunteers, provides an extraordinary program for special needs children in the community, often integrating players from other leagues to act as “buddies” to assist the kids.

 

KISS (Kids in Special Services)

Mid-Island Y JCC, 45 Manetto Hill Road, Plainview
516-822-3535

Sports (and other activities) for high-functioning children with developmental and/or learning disabilities such as language delay, ADHD, Asperger’s and autism spectrum disorders. 

 

Gymboree Play & Music

Plainview, Woodbury, Westbury, Oceanside, East Northport, Oakdale, St. James
631-266-1114

Their Sensoree Kids class, led by an occupational therapist and a Gymboree teacher, places an emphasis on helping children 3-6 with sensory processing difficulties to cope with sensory stimuli in their everyday lives. Parents participate and are invited to bring their child’s own therapists.

 

Gymnastique

10 Aerial Way, Syosset
516-827-0500

Offers a special needs gymnastics program for children 4-12 with learning disabilities involving autism, speech or occupational and physical delays. Participants gain strength, agility, flexibility and improve social and gross motor skills in a positive and nurturing environment.

 

My Shine Program

Sweet Hills Riding Center, Melville
516-551-1491

A therapeutic equestrian program for ages 3 and up that includes a half-hour group lesson, riding, grooming, tacking and games on horseback. Riders consist of individuals on the autism spectrum, with Down Syndrome, Fragile X-Syndrome, mild forms of Cerebral Palsy, learning disabilities, ADD/ADHD, Sensory Integration Dysfunction, emotionally fragile, hearing- and vision-impaired, and low muscle tone.

 

SURF2LIVE

Long Beach
516-432-9211; [email protected] 

Dedicated to teaching children and young adults with special needs, who might not otherwise engage, to surf. They also hold periodic free one-day events for special needs individuals.

 

 

Find special needs sports programs in other areas.