NET BENEFITS: Tapping the Collaborative Benefit of Networks
Inclusion in Out-of-School Time Programs
The After School Inclusion Network is a resource for after school professionals dedicated to inclusion and providing meaningful programming for youth of all abilities in the Out-of-Shool Time field. This Network is divided into the following network topics:
- Behavior and Inclusion (coming soon)
Click on either of the above topics to go to that area. Each topic area provides different resources and information. In addition, the Inclusion Network provides an email group for members to communicate ideas, latest trends, resources or ask questions and create partnerships. You can join this group by using the subscription box below or by going to http://groups.google.com/group/bostnetinclusion
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| Subscribe to BOSTnetInclusion |
Arts and Inclusion
The purpose of the Arts Inclusion group is to allow professionals who are connected and/or care about after school, the arts, and the inclusion of youth with all abilities in after school programming, to share ideas, communication success and challenges, and to learn about resources and opportunities that can enhance arts programming in after school for youth with and without disabilities.TIPS and TOOLS:
Arts Inclusion Roundtable Tool KitUPCOMING EVENTS:
RESOURCES:
Other resources for Arts and Inclusion:
Boston Institute for Arts Therapy
Sports and Inclusion
There is no denying that obesity, including child obesity is on the rise. In addition, study after study shows the great benefits of physical activity and it's lasting impact on youth when they start early. For most youth access to sports and physical activity is through the after school programs. But for youth with disabilities, there is limited opportunities for getting involved in sport and recreational opportunties in after school. The Sports and Inclusion section tries to provide resources to after school programs and opportunities for staff development. Please use the Inclusion Google Group to post ideas and opportunities. We will then post these on our website.
Tips and Tools:
Literacy and Inclusion
Homework is a reality of after school and before school programming. With more and more emphasis on achievement gaps, schools and parents are putting greater emphasis on homework, which in turn means that many parents are looking to after shcool as the place for youth to finish their homework and supplement their in school education. The reality that many after schools are facing is that with kids from many different schools, grades, and abilities, it is difficult to meet the demands of homework, especially when there are youth that have learning difficulties.
The Literacy and Inclusion section of the Inclusion website is meant to share tools that can help homework time become successful for all kids, regardless of their abilities. Below are some tools from recent roundtables and also from other sources. If you have a specific activity or tool that you would like to add to this page please email info@bostnet.org We will be happy to review the tool and post it on our website.
Tips and Tools
Resources:
National Center for Learning Disabilities
Inclusion Referral and Resource Network
This network provides the Out-of-School Time community with access to information on disability resources. Out-of-School Time program staff and others serving children and youth may use the Inclusion Referral and Resource Network to find appropriate resources for families with children with disabilities. Through BOSTnet's Inclusion Referral Network, you may :
- Find a disability resource based on the specific disability a child has
- Find disability resources in your neighborhood through a map
- Find a program that offers specialized services to children with disabilities
MAPS and DIRECTORIES: Locating Inclusion Resources in your neighborhood
- Boston Out-of-School Time Programs with a Priority of serving Disabilities (Map and Directory)
Find a program that offers specialized services to children with disabilities - Boston Disability Resource Organizations (Map and Directory)
Find disability resources in your neighborhood through a map- Boston Disability Resource Organizations: By Disability (Map and Directory)
Find a disability resource based on th specific disability a child has
*** New Interactive Map!*** - Boston Disability Resource Organizations: By Disability (Interactive Map and Directory)
Find a disability resource based on th specific disability a child has
- Wheelchair Accessible Out--of-School Time Programs
View wheelchair accessibility information in neighborhoods
4th Annual Statewide Conference |
Friday, October 3, 2008
Northeastern University Curry Student Center
This conference is co-sponsored by:
Build the Out-of-School Time Network (BOSTnet)
The Boston Foundation
The Center for the Study of Sport in Society
The Croll Foundation
The Dammann Boston Fund
The Disability Inclusion Initiative of the Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family Foundation
This conference will focus on building the skills of Out-of-School Time programs to include children and youth with physical and intellectual disabilities through sharing of best practices, workshops and resources.
Below is an overview of workshops, for full registration details click on the links below.
Division of Developmental Medicine at Children's Hospital Boston; Harvard Medical School:
* The Reading Brain
Project Joy:
* Keeping our Children Playful in Scary Times: An Examination of Play as a Healing Tool for Children Exposed to Traumatic Events
Access to Theatre Program:
* Making Creativity (Theatre & Dance) Universally Accessible to All
Piers Park Sailing Center:
* Inclusive Recreation for Kids with Disabilities-The Ocean is Barrier Free
Outdoor Explorations:
* Breaking Down Barriers to Adventure
Read Boston:
* Engaging Literacy Activities: Fun, Hands-on and Inclusive
Special Olympics of Massachusetts:
* Bringing Inclusion to Schools Through Sports
REGISTER TODAY!
For full conference information and workshop descriptions, CLICK HERE to download the Registration Packet.
For easy Conference Registration, please complete this Online Registry. After making workshop selections online, please mail the completed registration form (the last page in the Registration Packet) with check payment, made payable to BOSTnet.
If you would like to exhibit a Resource Table at this event, please download the Resource & Exhibit Registration form.
Back to Top 3rd Annual Statewide Conference
"All Means All"
Welcoming and Supporting Children of All Abilities within Out-of-School Time Programs
Firday, September 21, 2007
8:00 am - 4:00 pm
Norteastern University Curry Student Center, Boston , MA
This Conference is Co-Sponsored by:
Build the Out-of-School Time Network
The Center for Study of Sport in Society
The Dammann Boston Fund
Thank you to everyone who made the 3rd Annual BOSTnet All Means All Conference such a huge success! A special thanks to Commissioner Ann Reale of the Department of Early Education and Care for her wonderful Keynote address, The Boston Dammann Fund for underwriting this year's conference, Eli Wolff from Center for the Study of Sports in Society at Northeastern University for hosting this conference, and Dr.Gil Noam for presenting the Behavior and Emotional Support Assessment tool that came out of BOSTnet's Afterschool for All Project. Because of you, this conference was a success.
On Friday, September 21, 2007 over 170 out-of-school time professionals attended the 3rd Annual All Means All Conference to learn about inclusion and promotion of positive behavior in OST programs. The participants left the conference with a large array of tools and ideas to create a more inclusive environment in their programs. Here are what some participants said about the conference and the workshops:
"Excellent! Great techniques and ideas not only for special needs children but all"
"Many different inclusion activities to use inside and outside the classroom"
"Very useful to discuss behavior problems and how to make a lasting impact"
"Great morning speaker [Ann Reale] and excellent presenters"
"Workshops were great and very informative"
"Felt very inspired"
"The keynote address, workshop, and opportunities to collect resources and connect with colleagues left me inspired and even more committed to inclusive programming."
The All Means All Conference is one of the many ways that BOSTnet promotes Inclusion in the OST field. In addition to this annual conference, BOSTnet also holds three Leadership Roundtables on Inclusion every year and provides technical assistance to OST programs to increase inclusion and promote positive behavior through such projects a Lead to Opportunities for Youth with Disabilities (LOYD) and the Afterschool Access Project.
For more information on creating more inclusive activities visit www.bostnet.org or call 617- 720-1290.
Click Here for the All Means All One Page Information
Maryellen Coffey Eli Wolff
Panelists
Commissioner Ann Reale
