For individuals with disabilities, isolation can be especially devastating to mental health and education. Organizations like Extreme Kids & Crew are overcoming this reality by bringing their supportive network online, so no one feels alone.
Original article posted by Nonprofit New York
Membership Director Taina Sanon spoke with Caitlin Cassaro of Extreme Kids & Crew, a member organization of Nonprofit New York. We will continue to highlight the work of our members, like Extreme Kids & Crew, because we believe when your nonprofit is stronger, all of us are stronger.
Tell me about the organization and what you do.
At Extreme Kids & Crew, we cultivate welcoming, accessible spaces where kids with disabilities and their people create a supportive community through the arts, play and conversation. We play, we create, we follow the children's lead and listen to their parents and caregivers. We work together to advocate for and with people with disabilities, and with families fighting for their and their child's rights. We celebrate the differences disability brings, and recognize much of the hardship felt by those living with disability is due to discrimination rather than the disability itself.
How many are on your team?
With 2 new hires, we have 8 full-time staff and 4 part-time staff.
Servicing how many of the nonprofit population?
We serve approximately 500 families.
Where do you see your organization in the next five years or ten years?
Extreme Kids will expand its after-school and camp program throughout NYC, by partnering with larger, in-school community based organizations not providing this experience to their children with autism and other developmental disabilities. Extreme Kids will have a large home-base location from which school-based programs will be managed. This location will be completely accessible and sensory friendly, with different rooms for different activities, including a performance space.
How has partnering with Nonprofit New York helped you succeed?
Nonprofit New York has been a valuable support to Extreme Kids in assisting the organization in building the necessary skills needed to grow and sustain an organization.
What are you currently working on that you want us to mention to our membership?
We are currently working on piloting the expansion of our popular after-school and summer camp program so that we may serve more children with developmental disabilities throughout NYC. With that we are further developing our program evaluation protocol and front-line staff training module.
KIDS WITH DISABILITIES SHOULDN’T HAVE TO FIT INTO SOCIETY’S MOLD
Originally posted by INCLUDEnyc
At the upcoming INCLUDEnyc Fair on Saturday, January 26, families can meet face-to-face with over 80 summer camps, afterschool, weekend, arts, sports, social, and recreational programs, including Extreme Kids and Crew, who offers weekend programs and summer camp to kids with disabilities.
Located in Red Hook and Ridgewood, Extreme Kids has weekend, weekly and monthly programs, including music classes, parent support groups and social clubs for girls and teens. During Open Play on Saturdays and Sundays in Red Hook and Saturdays in Ridgewood, kids can play in a sensory gym on play equipment that is normally reserved for therapy.
Many of these programs embrace the participation of families, encourage socializing, and help build community. “Extreme Kids is an open, welcoming place. We believe society can learn a lot from the children and families coming into our space. Kids with disabilities shouldn’t have to fit into society’s mold. Instead, classrooms and the broader community should be more open to neurodiversity,” says Executive Director Caitlin Cassaro.
Extreme Kids’ summer camp, based out of the Red Hook location, typically is for a small group with a 1:3 staff ratio for six weeks. Children enjoy field trips and participate in various activities, including art, music, dance and movement. “We want our summer camp to be accessible to those who need it, so we use a sliding scale and is completely free to eligible families,” Caitlin explained. This August, they will also present a two-week summer camp based out of the Ridgewood location designed for children with higher-needs.
Extreme Kids will be attending the upcoming INCLUDEnyc Fair. “The Fair has been valuable for us. We can reach new children and families and have the opportunity to connect with other partners,” Caitlin said.
To learn more about Extreme Kids, visit www.extremekidsandcrew.org or swing by their table on January 26th.
- Carly Wolff