South Shore YMCA Inclusion Motto

“We are all humans with different abilities and stories to tell.
Please listen, be kind and accept me for who I am.”

Mission Overview

Inclusion Modified Programs are for people with Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDD)-includes DSM-5 diagnosis.

• Inclusion Modified Programs are smaller group sizes with low program participant-to-instructor ratios to help ensure that the program participant gets enough one-to-one attention from the instructor to learn skills and then generalize those skills to successfully access other SSYMCA facilities and programs independently.
• Inclusion Modified Programs improve and encourage communication skills, social and emotional development, cooperative interactions, physical well-being, and friendships.

Unified Programs that provide access to all people with or without disabilities with consideration given to reasonable accommodations.

• It is our goal for people with IDD to enjoy, unify, and succeed in accessing all our facilities and participating in all our programs. We understand and welcome the added support of outside organizations, Job coaches, Program/Residential Aids, 1:1 Direct Support Therapists, Applied Behavior Analysis, Peer Mentors, Special Education Teachers, Paraprofessionals, Personal Care Attendants, and Respite Care Providers.

Inclusion Modified and Unified programs include: Unified Sports, Aquatics, Tennis, Fitness, Arts and Education, Youth/Teens & Family, Afterschool Education, Early Learning Centers, Natural Science Center, The South Shore YMCA Family Farm, and Summer Camp.