The YMCA of Metro Atlanta is grateful for our partnership with the Children’s Brain Diseases Foundation and for its generous investment supporting people with special neurological needs. People who are neurodiverse are often considered “different” and sidelined, marginalized, even bullied by others, having a detrimental impact on self-esteem, confidence, and mental health. At the YMCA, we celebrate every person as unique and recognize individual differences as strengths. We believe in building inclusive communities where all people, regardless of ability, can participate and engage in a full range of community activities. Guided by our strategic priorities of Mind, Body, and Spirit, with equity at the heart of everything we do, the Y stands committed to ensuring everyone has the unique support and resources they need to thrive, grow, and flourish.
The Children’s Brain Diseases Foundation’s support of YMCA adaptive programming has been instrumental to fulfilling the Y’s vision of inclusion and ensuring those with neurodiverse abilities have access to programs that uplift and empower them. Specifically, with the Foundation’s grant of $50,000, the Y has been able to significantly expand and enhance our adaptive swim program and to create health and wellness programs and workforce development opportunities for neurodiverse youth.
Adaptive Swim
Investment from the Children’s Brain Diseases Foundation has
allowed the YMCA of Metro Atlanta to provide:
• 189 adaptive swim lessons across 7 Metro Atlanta YMCAs
• 75 scholarships to participants in adaptive swim programs
• Certification of 18 instructors through Swim Whisperers
Drowning Prevention
Children with neurodiverse capabilities are 160 times more likely to drown than their neurotypical peers. Through YMCA adaptive swim programs, certified instructors accommodate diverse learning styles and abilities to teach critical water survival skills including “jump, push, turn, grab” and “swim, float, swim” which help swimmers survive if they are in danger.
Socialization Through Swim
Individuals with neurodiverse abilities often struggle with sensory overload. The rhythmic, repetitive movement of water and feeling of weightlessness provide a calming environment that promote behavior self-regulation so swimmers may engage with peers, take turns practicing new skills and learn to appreciate physical boundaries. Studies show that swimming has the power to boost self-esteem, improve coping skills and heighten interest in peer relationships.
Wellness & Workforce Readiness
The Y leveraged the generous investment of Children’s Brain Diseases Foundation to partner with two Atlanta based schools – The Lionheart School and Cumberland Academy – specializing in serving children on the autism spectrum and with other neurodevelopmental differences. In partnership with these schools the Y provides health and wellness programs and workforce development opportunities.
Health & Wellness
The YMCA believes that every child can benefit from out of school experiences including afterschool and summer day camp programs. In partnership with The Lionheart School and Cumberland Academy, the Y curated a health and wellness program to teach neurodiverse youth yoga, Pilates, weight training, and other physical fitness routines to relieve stress, improve physical fitness and promote overall wellbeing. Through mental and physical focus on targeted exercise, students learn to have increased control over their bodies and minds; to exercise and improve self-discipline; and, to build social bonds with others.
Workforce Readiness
The Y’s program with Lionheart and Cumberland Academy also promotes workforce readiness through volunteer and internship opportunities. The Y provides entry-level positions for neurodiverse students to develop vocational skills, build social confidence, learn self-advocacy skills, and practice social engagement in a safe and supportive environment. Intern and volunteer roles include greeting guests, completing equipment checks, and participating in community engagement events such as packing food for hunger relief programs serving Title 1 school students.
Impact of Your Investment
Each year, the Y offers adaptive programs to hundreds of individuals with differing abilities, including water safety lessons, wellness courses, and workforce readiness training. These programs celebrate the unique gifts of every individual and promote a more inclusive community. The generosity of the Children’s Brain Diseases Foundation has allowed the Y to expand and enhance our program reach and impact and ensured that financial circumstances are never a barrier to participation. Your support ensures our ability to advance equity and provide opportunities for individuals with neurodiverse abilities to reach their full potential. Thank you for your trust and partnership in this critical work.
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