Recreation Opportunities For People With Disabilities
Recreational opportunities for people of all ages, abilities and skill levels.
Wheelchair accessible beaches on Cape Cod.
Accessible Pools & Spray Decks
Outdoor swimming pool lifts are available at all of the State Parks and Recreation Department’s 20 swimming pools. The pools are free. Contact pool directly for information about other site factors affecting accessibility.
National, non-profit organization dedicated to the discovery of higher function, fitness, and fun for children and adults with disabilities through high-challenge sports, which include kayaking, windsurfing and water skiing.
119 High Street in Acton
Phone: 978-393-1143
Contact form: https://goaccess.org/contact/
Adaptive Sports New England is a Massachusetts non-profit organization dedicated to increasing participation in sports among New England youth and young adults who have visual or mobility impairments.
Phone: 617-982-2763
Email: joe.walsh@adaptivesportsne.org
Provides outdoor accessible recreational opportunities throughout Massachusetts for people of all abilities, their families and friends. Summer programs include accessible kayaking, canoeing, hiking and cycling. Winter programs include snowshoeing, x-country skiing & sit-skiing, ice skating, sled skating and snowmobile rides.
297 Pleasant Street
Northampton, MA 01060
Phone: 413-584-2052
Email: info@alloutadventures.org
Local Arcs provide a variety of social and recreational activities for children and teens with developmental disabilities.
Offers nine miles of walking trails guiding through a variety of field, woodland, and wetland habitats. A quarter-mile, handicap accessible trail and boardwalk along the bank of Indian Brook. Universally accessible facilities: Nature Center, Restrooms, All Persons Trail.
280 Eliot Street
Natick, MA 01760
Phone: 508-655-2296
Email: broadmoor@massaudubon.org
Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers
Offers adaptive sports & therapeutic recreation activities to local residents and vacationers to the Cape, North Shore, and Boston.
Phone: 877 976-7272
Email: spauldingadaptivesports@partners.org
Wheelchair Accessible Beaches on Cape Cod
Cape Organization for the Rights of the Disabled (CORD) has a listing of accessible beaches.
Email: cordinfo@cilcapecod.org
Offers noncompetitive sports and recreation opportunities for children with disabilities.
Phone: 508-420-6950
Email: info@capecodchallenger.org
Some towns have challenger teams. The goal of the challenger team is to play with no pressure and to educate typical peers and their parents about sportsmanship. The program is available for boys and girls, ages 3 – 19 with all types of physical and developmental disabilities. Call your local town recreation department to find out if they offer challenger sports or visit the Massachusetts Little League Challenger Program website. If you have any questions, please e-mail the Information Officer at MassLittleLeague@gmail.com.
- Massachusetts Little League Challenger Program
- Lincoln Sudbury Little League, ages 6-22, at Upper Featherland Field on Concord Road in Sudbury.
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- Carole-Ann Baer-Commissioner, caroleannbaer@gmail.com,
- Brendan Kelly, Coach bmoc2823@gmail.com
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- North Leominster Little League
- General information email: information.officer.nlll@gmail.com
A variety of adaptive sports provide barrier-free recreational and competitive opportunities for people of all skill levels and age groups, as well as their family and friends. The athletic programs run year-round and include wheelchair basketball, soccer, hockey, cycling, golf, swimming and more. Equipment is available to borrow for a nominal fee, such as: hand-cycles, sport wheelchairs, bi-ski, mono-skis, and bowling equipment. Social outings include movies, dinners, or concerts.
Children’s Physical Developmental Clinic at Bridgewater State University
The aim of the clinic program is to improve the “total development” of children with disabilities by enhancing vital physical, motor, and aquatic skills and patterns. In addition, the program stresses the improvement of children’s self-esteem by strengthening emotional-social aspects of their personalities through successful involvement in play, recreation, and sport activities.
Phone: 508-531-1776
Email: cpdc@bridgew.edu
South Shore Conservatory Community Voices
An inclusive chorus designed for singers of all abilities, age 16 and up.
Groups meet Wednesday evenings at both our Duxbury and Hingham campuses. Repertoire includes master works, folk and traditional, seasonal, and popular tunes. These groups perform 2-8 times per year. They also offer Creative Arts Therapies.
Contact: Kasey Sheehan
Phone: 781-749-7565, ext. 14
Email: k.sheehan@sscmusic.org
Genesis Foundation Therapeutic Programs
Therapeutic Programs allow children and young adults with special needs the opportunity to participate in various arts and recreational programs. In addition to receiving therapeutic benefit from these fun activities, the children also gain new and rewarding experiences from which they develop self-confidence and increased motor function. Classes are taught by certified instructors and therapists. To learn more about Therapeutic Programs please email office@thegenfound.org.
Phone: 617-367-7070
PATH International Centers in Massachusetts Horseback Riding
Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, PATH International was formally known as North American Riding for the Handicapped Association (NARHA). Though PATH Intl. began with a focus on horseback riding as a form of physical and mental therapy, the organization and its dedicated members have since developed a multitude of different equine-related activities for therapeutic purposes, collectively known as equine-assisted activities and therapies (or EAAT).
Kids In Disability Sports (K.I.D.S)
Several specialized athletic programs are available. K.I.D.S. hosts dances, sports banquets, social activities and recreational events throughout the year. Serves individuals and families throughout Eastern Massachusetts and Southern New Hampshire. Participants range in age 5-40 and have varying disabilities.
Phone: 866-712-7799
Contact: https://www.kidsinc.us/contact
Mass Audubon Society Accessibility
Mass Audubon strives to create a welcoming presence for a wide range of visitors, including making our sanctuaries and nature centers more accessible. We’re working hard to ensure that everyone can enjoy the nature of Massachusetts. The public facilities at most of our staffed wildlife sanctuaries are universally accessible, and we have many fully accessible trails. Plus, thanks to a generous grant from the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), many of our sanctuaries now feature a multi-sensory interpretive trail.
Accessibility information:
208 South Great Road
Lincoln, MA 01773
Phone: 781-259-9500
Toll free: 800-AUDUBON (800-283-8266)
Mass Dept of Conservation & Recreational Universal Access Program
Provides outdoor recreation opportunities in Massachusetts State Parks for visitors of all abilities. Accessibility to Massachusetts State Parks is achieved through site improvements, specialized adaptive recreation equipment, and accessible recreation programs.
Phone: 413-461-7126
Email: DCR.UniversalAccess@mass.gov
Pappas Rehabilitation Hospital for Children
Wheelchair sports and recreation program for children ages 9 to 21. Horseback riding, swimming and, Wheelchair Athletes Program. Call for more information. Located at 3 Randolph Street in Canton.
Phone: 781- 828-2440
Miracle League of Massachusetts
Provides baseball for special needs children. Free to participate (includes uniform). Located at Blanchard Memorial Elementary School Ball Field in Boxborough. For addition information or to register a 5 to 18 year old, contact Lauren Richardt.
Phone: 978-263-3043
Email: info@miracleleagueofma.com
Partners for Youth With Disabilities
Provides mentoring programs that assist young people reach their full potential. Partners provides several types of mentoring programs including one-to-one, group mentoring and e-mentoring. Offers Access to Arts inclusive program for teens and adults.
Phone: 617-556-4075
Email: info@pyd.org
Provides programs for disabled youth and adults aboard 23-foot sonar sailboats on a no charge basis. Serves those with amputations, paralysis, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy, autism, hearing impaired, sight impaired and other disabilities. Successfully integrates youth with disabilities into summer youth sailing programs.
Phone: 617-561-6677
Email: info@piersparksailing.org
Offers adaptive sports and recreation activities in Boston, Cape Cod and the North Shore. Includes wheelchair tennis, hand cycling, adaptive rowing, waterskiing or windsurfing.
Phone: 877-976-7272
Email: SpauldingAdaptiveSports@partners.org
Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA)
Provides year round sports training and athletic competition for all persons with intellectual disabilities. Minimum age requirement is eight years of age. There is no maximum age requirement. SOMA summer games offers aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, sailing, tennis and volleyball. Go to above link to search SOMA region that covers your town.
Phone: 508-485-0986
Email: Ops@SpecialOlympicsMA.org
Resources include listings of camps, recreation opportunities for special needs children and teens.
Sudbury Adaptive Sports & Recreation
Programs for all ages and abilities.
Phone: 978-639-3257
Email: inclusive@sudbury.ma.us
INDEX Fact Sheet for summer camp resources.
Our unique program uses soccer as a vehicle to teach life skills to individuals with developmental disabilities. Our innovative curriculum, designed by licensed educators and therapists, promotes the complete growth and development of each player. Our low player-to-coach ratios encourage and empower players to increase social potential with teammates, build self-awareness and confidence and advance gross and fine motor skills — all while each individual improves at his or her own pace! Located at 1 Thompson Square, Suite 301 in Charlestown. Call for information. Low pricing options and scholarship applications available.
Email: boston@supersoccerstars.com
Phone: 781-777-7171
At TILL, we believe in connections through shared interests and community resources, finding innovative ways of bringing people together, across town and across the world.
Email: info@tillinc.org
TopSoccer Program / Outreach Program for Soccer – Massachusetts
A community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with a mental or physical disability. Find your local TopSoccer Community. For additional information or if you would like to start a TOPSoccer Program in your community, contact Tamie Endow, Massachusetts Youth Soccer’s Coordinator for TOPSoccer Program at topsoccer@mayouthsoccer.org.
Town Recreation Departments
Most programs are open to participants from neighboring towns. Call your local area city or town recreation department to find out if it has special programming for children with disabilities.
Listing of wheelchair accessible trails in Massachusetts
YMCAs are accessible and offer a range of classes. Call your local YMCA to find out what programs are available.
South Shore YMCA Swim Programs
YMCA of the North Shore Adaptive and Inclusion Activities
Wendell P. Clark Memorial YMCA Swimming
West Suburban YMCA Adaptive Swim
YMCA of Central Massachusetts Swim Programs
Find Your local YMCA by zip code
A water-taxi program at Dyer Street Dock in Providence Rhode Island which provides an unforgettable experience of the art work for children and adults with disabilities to assure that they can join in the most popular arts event in the state and share the experience with their families and friends. Reservations are required. Each Water Fire Access passenger can bring along one companion.
Waypoint Adventures programs are uniquely adapted to accommodate people with a wide range of disabilities. All programs are custom tailored to be responsive to the diverse needs of individuals and groups.
Contact: Julia Spruance, Communications Manager, for programs and volunteering information.
Email: info@waypointadventure.org
Phone: 781-325-7980
Wheelchair Sports & Recreation Association
Offers information about beach wheelchairs, biking, boating and more!
Phone: 850-333-7318 (Florida)
Email: wheerus@aol.com
Offers movement, art, recreation, and music programs for infants, children and teens of all abilities.
Contact: Maggie Rice, Director
Phone: 413-585-8010
Email: info@wholechildren.org
Additional Links
Connecting people with disabilities to accessible recreation opportunities
Franciscan Children’s Adaptive Sports and Active Recreation Resource Guide (.pdf)
Fact Sheet last updated on: 10/7/2024
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Disclaimer: INDEX is pleased to provide you this information. Please note, this information is not comprehensive, nor is it intended to take the place of professional advice. We encourage you to check other resources of such information. No endorsement by the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, DisabilityInfo.org, INDEX, or affiliates, should be inferred. We reserve the right to remove, to modify, or to add any information at any time, for any reason, and without notice.
