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All-Abilities Sports: Things to Consider

  • All-abilities sports empower someone with a disability to engage or re-engage in an active lifestyle
  • Things to consider when choosing an all-abilities sport: Consider the interests of your child before signing up / Focus on their strengths / Consider the social benefits to enrich the sense of community belonging / Keep it Fun
  • Don’t be afraid to try a variety of sports until you find a favorite
  • Special Olympics Missouri is a thorough resource for learning and planning 

Click here to see the full St. Louis Mom Youth Sports Guide!

ATA Martial Arts – Chesterfield

17361 Edison Ave, Chesterfield, MO 63005

  • Helping parents raise confident, strong, disciplined kids equipped to achieve high goals through martial arts training
  • ATA Tigers: ages 4 – 6 | Karate for Kids: ages 7 – 12 | Teen and Adult Martial Arts: 13+
  • Highly inclusive and welcomes students with physical and cognitive disabilities. Training matches individual needs.

 

Barron Swim Abilities

Ballwin: 15425 Clayton Rd, Ballwin, MO 63011

  • Give your student discipline, self-confidence, mental and physical stimulation. While not all children will be able to swim to the same capacity, all children can learn to love the water.
  • Private swim lessons can serve as therapy for children with special needs. Swim Lessons can provide visual, sensory, and physical stimulation. These students do not need to be active in group lessons to participate in our private lesson program.
  • Must be able to participate in swim lessons without a guardian. Assessment may be required.

 

Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA)

  • Through adaptive sports and fitness, DASA empowers individuals with disabilities to find their inner athlete 
  • Suppports athletes with: cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, amputation, visual impairment
  • Serving the greater St. Louis and St. Charles areas

 

Fence St. Louis Parafencing

7527 Ravensridge Dr, St. Louis, MO 63119

  • At Fence St. Louis, we believe everyone can learn how to fence: kids through adults, all genders, all abilities, and all backgrounds.
  • Fencing teaches emotional regulation and release, especially during high pressure situations.
  • Mini Fencers: ages 5 – 6 | Youth Fencers: ages 7 – 12 | Teen and Adult Class: ages 13+ | All-Ages Competitive Class
  • Parafencing (wheelchair fencing): integrated into competitive classes on Monday and Wednesday at 6:30 pm

 

Gateway Region YMCA Adaptive Sports

various locations

  • Adaptive sports programs at the Y provide children and adults with disabilities the chance to play sports and participate in learning opportunities in a safe, fun atmosphere.
  • Sports are offered year-round including basketball, baseball, bowling, and much more!

 

KEEN St. Louis

  • Empower youth with disabilities and impact volunteer coaches through participation in free, non-competitive, one-on-one programs of physical activity and fun, supporting the overall health and well-being of all participants.
  • Accept every child, regardless of the nature or severity of their disability
  • Keen Sports | KEEN Dance | KEEN Swim | Burn Bootcamp | 
  • All programs free of charge
  • Programs are one-on-one and non-competitive

 

 

Legends Karate

2374 A Schuetz Rd, Maryland Heights, MO 63145

  • Gives kids confidence, focus, and realworld self defense in a fun, supportive environment.
  • One-on-one private lessons or small groups
  • Built for busy parents who want something meaningful for their children, whether that’s building discipline, improving behavior, or defending themselves from a bully.

 

Olympia Ellisville: Ninja City

Ellisville + Manchester locations

  • Multiple levels with various skills to master
  • Classes include HUGS! Adaptive Ninja for all abilities (Ellisville location)
  • Private lessons available
  • Ages 6+

 

Parkway / Rockwood Community Ed 

  • Parkway-Rockwood Community Ed actively promotes inclusive practices in programming and strives to provide reasonable accommodations to participants of all ability levels.
  • There are no additional costs beyond registration for the Inclusion Services

 

SPENSA (Special Needs Soccer Association)

  • This program is open to any boy or girl with a disability.
  • Ages 5 – 21
  • Designed to bring the excitement and fun of playing soccer to players who traditionally have not had a place in the youth soccer system.
  • Games typically played at World Wide Technology Park at I-270 and Highway 44

 

Special Olympics Missouri

  • Special Olympics Missouri offers 12 sports for individuals to practice and compete in, each of which are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age, and gender.
  • Track and Field Athletics | Basketball | Bocce | Bowling | Flag Football | Golf | Powerlifting | Softball | Swimming | Tennis | Volleyball | Pickleball
  • Emerging Sports (not available in all areas): Cheerleading | Dance | Soccer | Alpine Skiing | Equestrian 

 

St. Louis Challenger Baseball

  • When we play baseball we don’t count outs, we don’t count runs, all players bat and play the field every inning. We modify the game for the fun of each player. But our goal is to make friends. We encourage our players to make friends with their teammates and other players. And we really want our players and buddies to become friends.
  • Players can register anytime
  • Buddies are welcome (people without a disability between the ages of 10 and 25 interested in volunteering)

 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Cerebral Palsy Center

  • Offering a unique sports program: Physical activity builds self-confidence and strength. That’s why we offer an adaptive sports program where we can help children with cerebral palsy find the right activity for them.
  • The Carol and Paul Hatfield Cerebral Palsy Sports and Rehabilitation Program is designed to promote the integration of young people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities into sports activities.
  • Cerebral palsy sports classes are supervised by physical therapists and other individuals who adapt activities for each participant and continuously monitor each child’s progress. This is a great way to keep your children active and engaged with others.
  • Class Times + Locations

 

Super Swimmers Academy

Creve Coeur + Richmond Heights

  • We offer adapted aquatics for kids with special needs. We pride ourselves in seeing each child’s ABILITIES first.
  • This list includes but is not limited to children on the Autism Spectrum, those students who have Down Syndrome, Fragile X, Cerebral Palsy, ADHD, seizure disorders and emotional disorders Some of my students who have special needs have been paired with typically developing peers. This program has benefitted both the swim student and swim buddy.

 

Team Activities for Special Kids (TASK)

Fenton, MO

  • TASK continues its mission of providing recreational, social, fine arts, and day programs, welcoming all who seek a joyful place to play.
  • TASK activities include: Floor Hockey | Martial Arts | Pickleball | Zumba | Fitness | Basketball | Golf | Kickball | Track and Field | Bowling | Fishing | Indoor tennis | Indoor soccer | Outdoor soccer | Volleyball | Yoga

 

World Class All Star DanceABILITIES

Fenton, MO

  • World Class All Star Dance is thrilled to have a DanceABILITIES Exceptional Athletes team – the Spirits –performing around the St. Louis area! Open to anyone age 12 and up with a disability as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
  • To learn more about the WCAS DanceABILITIES program, call 314-858-6464 or email [email protected]

Disabled Athlete Sports Association (DASA)

  • Through adaptive sports and fitness, DASA empowers individuals with disabilities to find their inner athlete 
  • Suppports athletes with: cerebral palsy, spinal cord injury, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, amputation, visual impairment
  • Serving the greater St. Louis and St. Charles areas

Dreamflight Theatrical Gymnastics

4604 S. St. Peters Parkway, St. Peters, MO 

  • Dreamflight® believes all ages and needs deserve access to creative, rewarding fitness education through inclusive cohesion of Gymnastics, Theatre, Dance, Writing, and Music.
  • Gymnastics | Acting | Dance | Teen-Adult Classes

Special Olympics Missouri

  • Special Olympics Missouri offers 12 sports for individuals to practice and compete in, each of which are grouped in competition divisions according to ability level, age, and gender.
  • Track and Field Athletics | Basketball | Bocce | Bowling | Flag Football | Golf | Powerlifting | Softball | Swimming | Tennis | Volleyball | Pickleball
  • Emerging Sports (not available in all areas): Cheerleading | Dance | Soccer | Alpine Skiing | Equestrian 

St. Louis Children’s Hospital Cerebral Palsy Center

  • Offering a unique sports program: Physical activity builds self-confidence and strength. That’s why we offer an adaptive sports program where we can help children with cerebral palsy find the right activity for them.
  • The Carol and Paul Hatfield Cerebral Palsy Sports and Rehabilitation Program is designed to promote the integration of young people with cerebral palsy and related disabilities into sports activities.
  • Cerebral palsy sports classes are supervised by physical therapists and other individuals who adapt activities for each participant and continuously monitor each child’s progress. This is a great way to keep your children active and engaged with others.
  • Class Times + Locations

Gateway Region YMCA Adaptive Sports

various locations

  • Adaptive sports programs at the Y provide children and adults with disabilities the chance to play sports and participate in learning opportunities in a safe, fun atmosphere.
  • Sports are offered year-round including basketball, baseball, bowling, and much more!

 

Edwardsville YMCA

  • Teaching the concentration, focus, patience, and confidence essential for the safety and enjoyment of the sport
  • Equipment provided
  • Offered in the spring, summer, and fall
  • Little Archers: ages 5 – 6 | Youth Archery: ages 7 – 8 + 9 – 10 | Preteen / Teen Archery: ages 11+

 

 

Restoration Ranch

1644 Hartman Ln, Swansea, IL 62221

  • Offering seasonal archery lessons / camps
  • A Christian camp on a historic 100-year-old farm on 46 acres