RIDGEWOOD UNIFIED PROGRAM
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Sponsored by the Special Olympics, the Ridgewood Unified Program is a club for ALL High School and Middle School students to come together for sports, games, community service, school events, and most of all, to have fun!
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Offers School Clubs, Leadership opportunities, Sports and Clinics, Lunch Bunch, as well as School Wide Awareness Activities.
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Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/113nXKSqFHuXtF87zx6NdaE1OE4ihRLIIt2XuRKwUeX0/viewform?edit_requested=true#settings
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Contacts: Llauro@ridgewood.k12.nj.us or Jbeyer@ridgewood.k12.nj.us.
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THE SQUAD
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Extracurricular club for students in High School and the 18-21 program who have reached a degree of independence and would like to improve their social life
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Events take place twice a month on Fridays and are planned by the District’s Transition Coordinator and club members
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An email is sent out to parents ahead of time providing a descriptions of each activity so everyone can prepare and RSVP
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Some activities include: sampling Ridgewood restaurants, attending RHS games and plays, cooking classes, game nights with other clubs, bowling and arcades
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If interested, contact Michael Kilcullen, the district's Transition Coordinator, at mkilcullen@ridgewood.k12.nj.us or 201-670-2800 X20570
2022 RIDGEWOOD SOCCER ASSOCIATION (RSA)
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Special needs program is open to boys and girls ages 6-14
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Season runs on Saturday afternoons from the first Saturday after Labor Day until November
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Athletes from RHS women's soccer team act as coach-mentors for participants
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Website: http://ridgewoodsoccer.org/programs/in-town-teams/in-town-special-needs/
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Contact: registrar.ridgewoodsoccer@gmail.com
2023 SPECIAL NEEDS ALL-STAR BASKETBALL
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Ages 3+ eligible
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Clinics held Sunday mornings in January and February 2023 (most likely 9-10am at Ben Franklin MS)
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Players receive basketball, official tee shirt and participation trophy
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Clinics led by certified teachers and assisted by HS and MS volunteer “coaches”, including the RHS Boys Basketball Teams!
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Register: https://register.communitypass.net/ridgewood/
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Select “Register for an activity” and select “Ridgewood Rec (Biddy) Grades 3-8” from the drop down
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After selecting the name of the participant (your child), select your child’s grade and select “K-8 Special Needs League - 2023”
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Verify your email and any special requests for your child - complete payment process and you’re registered
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Contact: Cara Murray at murrayc@hlcmail.com
2023 RIDGEWOOD BASEBALL & SOFTBALL ASSOCIATION (RBSA) ALL-STARS PROGRAM
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Four 90-minute clinics that takes place at Vets field over four weeks in Spring
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2023 Tentative Dates and Time: Sundays - 4/23, 4/30, 5/7, 5/14; 10-11:30am; participants also invited to march in RBSA Opening Day Parade, accompanied by high school players.
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Program designed for children with special needs. Players age 5 and up are matched with one or more peer volunteers (ages 12 and up) to assist them through baseball/softball stations
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Players receive t-shirt, baseball hat and a trophy
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Registration: www.register.communitypass.net (select "Ridgewood Baseball and Softball Association" as your organization; then select the "All-Stars Program-Participant" and click "Register Now!")
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Contacts: Kathleen Tavani at kdenicholas@yahoo.com or Mike Kelly at kellymjk@gmail.com
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RIDGEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION (THE STABLE)
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The Village of Ridgewood Department of Parks and Recreation seeks to make every program all-inclusive while offering accommodations as needed.
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This includes a myriad of offerings for preschool through middle school in art, science, nature, STEAM, etc.
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More information: https://www.ridgewoodnj.net/departments/recreation; 201-670-5560, 259 N. Maple Ave, Ridgewood
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Register: www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass (under Village Parks and Recreation)
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RIDGEWOOD PARKS & RECREATION - LEARNING AND EXPLORING THROUGH ADAPTED PROGRAMMING (LEAP)
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Adapted programming for ages 12-24 offered with the help of the State's Recreation Opportunities for Individuals with Disabilities (ROID) grant.
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Class topics change monthly and feature 4 different lesson topics (October - Gardening; November - Cooking; December - Holiday Celebrations; January - Music & Motion; February - STEM; March - Art)
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Tuesdays at 5pm at the Stable (unless noted)
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Register for any/all of the monthly programs: www.ridgewoodnj.net/communitypass
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Contact: For more information or specific accommodations call 201-670-5560
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RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC LIBRARY
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There are numerous programs offered by the library all year for varying age groups - programs are intended to be inclusive.
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The library website contains information on the programs and parents are encouraged to contact the Children’s Department of the library to discuss any specific needs.
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Website: https://www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/
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Contact: 201-670-5600 (Children’s Department)
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SHARING THE ARTS
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A non-profit performing arts program for individuals (ages 8 years through young adult) with special needs
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Classes are led by teachers with support staff to provide redirection and assistance. Pre-teen through college-age volunteers serve as assistants, demonstrators, mentors as well as friends in the class.
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More information/Registration: www.sharingthearts.com
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Contact: info@sharingthearts.com
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ACCESS RIDGEWOOD
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The goal of Access Ridgewood is to increase awareness of those with disabilities and create a more inclusive community.
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2022 Access Ridgewood Events: October 7-9
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Includes Family Concert, Fashion Show, Community Fair and More!
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More Information / Registration: www.ridgewoodlibrary.org/accessridgewood
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RIDGEWOOD SPECIAL MOMS AND DADS
Ridgewood Special Moms and Dads is a private Facebook group where members share information about programs, medical professionals, after-school activities and anything that relates to being a parent of a child with special needs.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1571410723074380/
SAFETY & SECURITY: DID YOU KNOW?
You can register with the NJOEM’s special needs registry, so that emergency responders are aware of your child/family’s needs in case of disaster or emergency:
http://ready.nj.gov/plan-prepare/access-functional-needs.shtml
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You can register your child with Bergen County Sheriff’s office Project Lifesaver:
https://www.bcsd.us/images/pdf/ProjectLifesaverApplication.pdf
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Making a trip to the ER? Alert the reception desk that your child is special needs upon check in . They will take extra care to help them through the emergency room process