Community Partnerships

YVAP’s Community Partnership program replaces the Special Activity Support (SAS) program.
Community Partnerships provides a trained paraprofessional for children who need 1:1 support to participate in group activities with their peers like skiing, mountain biking, after-school programs, summer camps, and more.
In addition, the Community Partnership program engages activity providers and encourages their active participation. Community activity partners can receive targeted training to help their employees:

• Recognize and understand various developmental disabilities.
• Develop strategies to handle challenging situations and meltdowns.
• Learn to accommodate neurodivergent participants while fostering acceptance.

Neurodivergent children who participate have an opportunity to practice their social skills. Their neurotypical peers have the opportunity to practice inclusion and acceptance. All have an opportunity to learn and grow.

Who is this program for?

• Any child with an IEP who needs 1:1 support to participate in peer group activities.
• Children must be receiving some form of therapy.
• Any community activity provider who would like to include neurodivergent youth in their program, but need extra support to make it fun and safe.

Cost

YVAP provides paras at no additional cost to families. Families are responsible for any standard activity fees.

Community Partners are asked to share the costs associated with providing trained para support.