Greater Massachusetts Special-Needs Events Newsletter for February & March 2021
Newsletter Massachusetts' Special-Needs Events August 25 8 2021 2
The disability events we share are most often are hosted by Greater Massachusetts organizations serving Greater Massachusetts families. We find that they are usually the best resources that help with local support for local families.
For August & September Events, Find:
• Assistive Technology Expo for Massachusetts
• Lack of Progress & Compensatory Services workshop
• Direitos Básicos na educação especial
• Accessible Beaches/Wheelchairs, Spray Decks & Pools
• Sensory-Friendly Days with Mass Audubon
• Deaf & Hard of Hearing Night with the Boston Red Sox
Transition to Adult Events Include:
• Transition Planning for Youth with Special Needs
• Guardianship & Alternatives for Special-Needs Families
• Planning a Life: Considerations for Your Child’s Future
There's still plenty of time to enjoy summer events before back-to-work and school begin. Let's go! Sharon Marie
Assistive Technology Training & Expo for Massachusetts Families
Assistive Technology Expo for Massachusetts: Virtual Event, September 17th, with Easter Seals Massachusetts. Free. For people with disabilities of all ages, family members and professionals. Explore a variety of workshops, plus an Assistive Technology Expo will highlight approximately 20 vendors/providers in the areas of hearing, learning, motor and visual impairments....Read more
Adaptive Summer Sports in Massachusetts:
Adaptive Summer Sports until August 31st: In Acton, Boston and Waltham, with Adaptive Sports New England. Find seated and standing adaptations or adaptive paddles for Cycling, Hawaiian Outrigger Canoeing, Kayaking, Stand-up Paddling, Tennis and Windsurfing. Not all sports available at all locations. Each sport is adapted to fit every individual’s needs, certified trainers on site...Read more
Ask an Expert  with a Local Disability Consultant
"Ask an Expert" with a Local Disability Consultant: Online event, August 31, hosted by And Still we Rise of Boston. Free Q &A event. Ask an Expert with Disability Consultant, Callie Goldrick, LCSW. * Callie has training in Acquired Brain Injury, Alzheimer’s Disease/other dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, and Cochlear Implants/hearing loss...Read more
Worried About Back-to-School Learning Challenges? Commonwealth Learning Center offers 1:1 Virtual AND In-Person Tutoring for Students with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Executive Dysfunction. In Danvers and Needham Massachusetts. Contact us today Danvers 978-774-0094 or Needham 781-444-5193 or visit www.commlearn.com
Webinar for families with Autism in Massachusetts
Lack of Progress & Compensatory Services Webinar, September 1st, with the FCSN Massachusetts. Many families are concerned that their student may have lost skills or was not able to fully access the services provided. Hear about lack of effective progress, the legal standard for compensatory services , dispute resolution....Read more
Direitos Básicos na educação especial
Direitos Básicos na educação especial: Webinar, 29 de agosto de 2021, com a Federação para Crianças com necessidades especiais em Massachusetts. Informações sobre as leis e procedimentos da educação especial. Participe dos Cursos em Português...Read more
Down-Syndrome Autism Connection with the MDSC
Down-Syndrome Autism Connection with the MDSC: Virtual Support Group, August 31st. The Down Syndrome-Autism Connection™ is dedicated solely to co-occurring Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder. The DSAC invites all families affected by Down syndrome and autism, including families who recently got an autism diagnosis, to join...Read more
PLAN for the Future...Now! PLAN of Massachusetts & Rhode Island is a Special-Needs Trust Started by Parents of Children with Special Needs. Contact us today to plan the future of your child. VISIT https://www.planofma-ri.org/request-a-consultation/
Floating Beach Chairs Available at Massachusetts & New England Beaches
Floating Beach Chairs Available at Massachusetts & New England Beaches: SMILE Mass has donated Floating Beach Wheelchairs to public beaches in Massachusetts. These wheelchairs roll from the parking lot, across the sand, and right into the water, allowing those with special needs to access the beach...Read more
Massachusetts Accessible Pools & Spray Decks: Outdoor Swimming Pool Lifts are at all of the State Parks and Recreation's pools to provide access to the water. Several pools also have ramps into the water or offer zero-depth entry. Select pools and spray decks also have beach wheelchairs for use. Contact the pool or spray deck to reserve a beach wheelchair or for...Read more
Massachusetts Accessible Pools & Spray Decks:
Accessible Beaches/Beach Wheelchairs in Massachusetts: Find sand and sunbathing beach wheelchairs in Massachusetts state parks with the DCR Universal Access Program. You will need to bring your own Coast Guard certified personal flotation device to use a floating beach wheelchair. It is best to call in advance to make a reservation to use a chair, especially... Read more
Accessible Beaches/Beach Wheelchairs in Massachusetts

Special-Needs Recreation

Sensory-Friendly Days with the Massachusetts Audubon Society
Sensory-Friendly Days with Mass Audubon: Many locations offer "All Persons Trails" with wide, flat, ADA-accessible paths. August 30th & September 13th - Lincoln, MA, Drumlin Farm Wildlife. September 15th, Habitat Education Center and Wildlife Sanctuary, Belmont...Read more (scroll through the page find the date/location of each
AMC Sensory Friendly "Paw Patrol" Movie
AMC Sensory Friendly "Paw Patrol": August 28th, Boston, Braintree, Burlington, Danvers, Dorchester, Framingham, Methuen, Somerville, and Tyngsboro. The auditoriums have their lights up, the sound turned down and audience members may dance, walk, shout or sing. ** Check with individual theaters for specific times....Read more
Berklee School of Music classes for youth teens and young adults with special needs PAINT RESIZE BLOCK Lighter BIAESN DigitalAd 300X350 2021 (2)
Ecotarium Social Saturday for Families with Special Needs in Massachusetts 2
Social Saturday at the Ecotarium: Worcester, September 11th, with Bridging Independent Living Together, Inc. Geared toward teens and young adults with special needs. The Ecotarium is an interactive museum with both indoor and outdoor exhibits. The group will enjoy a picnic...Read more
Open Swim for Special-Needs Families in Western Mass
Open Swim for Special-Needs Families in Western Mass Holyoke, Bureau for Exceptional Children and Adults at JERICHO, August 2021. Free. Family pool times for people with disabilities and their families. Picnic tables on the grass and a playground with wheel chair swing and Mommy and Me swing are also available. Read more
Adaptive Recumbent Trike Rentals in Western Mass
Adaptive Recumbent Trike Rentals in Western Mass Northhampton, Summer 2021. Trikes will be available for rent to use on the nearby Manhan Rail Trail. Appointments only - no walks ins. Accessible cycles available include hand cycles, tandems, adult tricycles, and cycles offering more significant seating support...Read more
Ellie Bloom Special Olympics
Ellie Bloom Special Olympics: Needham, September 18th, with the Charles River Center. Free. This event welcomes athletes of all ages and abilities to participate in track and field events such as running and wheelchair dashes, basketball throws, ladderball, and relay races. Every event is modified so that all who participate will be... Read more
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Night at Fenway Park
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Night at Fenway Park: September 19th. The Red Sox are hosting a Deaf, DeafBlind, Hard of Hearing and Late-Deafened awareness day. The Red Sox will host the Baltimore Orioles. ‘Run the Bases’ Day - after this game, kids can go on the field with their parents/guardians and run on first, second, third bases and home...Read more

Transition & Adult Events

COMPASS College Success Program at Perkins in Watertown. A Virtual Enrichment Program for Blind and Visually Impaired High Schoolers, Their Families and TVIs. LEARN MORE TODAY visit https://www.perkins.org/college-success/compass/
Sharing Space for Siblings During COVID-19 -Adult Siblings Virtual Get Together
Sharing Space for Siblings During COVID-19 -Adult Siblings Virtual Get Together: Virtual Event, August 26th, 2021, 7:00 PM, with the Massachusetts Sibling Support Network. Join in on their Sharing Space for adult siblings to share joys and concerns related to having a sibling with ....Read more
"Visions of Employment" for Those Who are Blind & Visually Impaired
"Visions of Employment" for Those Who are Blind & Visually Impaired: Webinar, September 10, with the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind (MCB). Learn how MCB can help make hiring easy. Meet successful employers who worked with MCB to hire people who are blind and visually impaired...Read more
Social Networking for Adolescents & Young adults on the Autism Spectrum in Massachusetts
Social Networking for Adolescents & Young adults on the Autism Spectrum in Massachusetts: September 2nd. Held online and potentially in person. An opportunity for young adults on the autism spectrum to meet others who they may have things in common with and who they can connect with. * Meeting online, chat, and playing Jackbox games....Read more
On Campus College Experience for Students with Diverse Learning, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities - in Cambridge, MA, with Threshold Program At Lesley University . Learn more at this link https://lesley.edu/events/threshold-program-virtual-information-session-may
Epic Community Service for Disabilities: Boston & Worcester
Epic Community Service for Disabilities: Boston & Worcester. Application deadline - September 3, 2021. EPIC Service Warriors is a service learning and leadership development program for youth with disabilities between the ages of 16-23. EPIC meets for one year to participate in community service projects in the cities of Boston and Worcester...Read more
Worcester Regional Authority Paratransit Services Workshop
WRTA Paratransit Services Workshop Webinar, September 13, with THRIVE of Marlborough, MA. Learn more about the complementary paratransit service in the Worcester area for individuals with a disability that prevents them from using the accessible fixed bus routes. Riders must apply for ADA service and be...Read more
Planning a Life: Considerations for Your Child’s Future
Planning a Life: Considerations for Your Child’s Future Webinar, September 23rd, with THRIVE Advocacy of Marlborough. This workshop offers a holistic perspective on benefit programs, ways to bridge funding gaps, and legal considerations. Figure out a plan for your child's future that incorporates government benefits and gives you an idea of how to make the most of your own financial...Read more
Guardianship & Alternatives for Special-Needs Families
Guardianship & Alternatives for Special-Needs Families: Webinar, September 22nd, with Open Sky Community Services of Worcester. For parents and family members of persons with an intellectual or developmental disability. Hear about the legal consequences of reaching the age of emancipation at 18, the powers and duties of a guardian, the procedure of initiating a guardianship, how Supported Decision Making is used as an alternative....Read more
An Inclusive College Experience for Students with Learning Differences. The EXCEL Program at Bridgewater State College, in Bridgewater, MA. Bridgewater State University,  Bridgewater, MA. Visit Our Website to Sign Up for an Info Session! • August 10th, 2021 - 9 a.m. • September 14th, 2021 - 2 p.m. • October 29th, 2021 - 9 a.m.  www.bridgew.edu/EXCEL
Transition Planning for Youth with Special Needs in Massachusetts
Transition Planning for Youth with Special Needs in Massachusetts: Webinar, September 29th, with the FCSN Massachusetts. This presentation provides an understanding of the transition planning process, why transition planning is important, services that could be included, the role of student’s vision, prepare for...Read more
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There's just not enough room! Find lots more events and recreation on our category tabs on our website. Below are our pages dedicated to specific disability challenges and needs. Something for everyone!

Special Needs Camps & Camp Fairs Massachusetts

Recreation for Families with Special Needs in Massachusetts

Special Needs Financial & Legal Help in Massachusetts

Autism & Asperger Workshops & Events in Massachusetts

Down Syndrome & II/ID Events in Massachusetts

Assistive Technology/Medically Complex Events in Massachusetts

Family Mental Health Workshops in Massachusetts