Afterschool program for children with disabilities

Updated: September 17, 2012 6:08AM

BURR RIDGE — An afterschool program at Elm School in Burr Ridge is available for children with disabilities. The program debuted last year and will be offered again by the Gateway Special Recreation Association starting Aug. 24.

“I want people to be aware of it,” said Gina Hassett, Hinsdale’s director of parks and recreation, and president of Gateway.

Hinsdale is one of eight communities that are members of Gateway, which provides sports programs and recreation activities to people with disabilities.

Many afterschool programs are not prepared for children with autism, Down Syndrome or a physical disability, Hassett said. Parents of children with special needs may think there is no organized activity for their children after the school day ends, because they need more skilled training.

The Gateway staff for the Elm School program is trained to work with specific disabilities, Gateway Superintendent Brian Alexander said.

“We are there to provide that extra help,” he said.

Children with physical or developmental disabilities are welcome to attend.

Transportation will be provided to Elm School from any of the District 181 schools in Hinsdale. Children without disabilities may enroll in the program, too.

The program hours are 3-6 p.m. Monday through Friday. Children will participate in arts and craft activities and games, have time to do homework, and get a snack.

Jill Backus of Clarendon Hills said her son, who is in second grade in Prospect School, wants to go back after attending the afterschool program last year.

Backus enrolled her son, who has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, because the program was in “a safe environment with specially trained teachers. And I thought it would help with his socialization.”

“They had student volunteers who helped with art projects,” Backus said. “The kids did physical activity in the gym and had homework time and outdoor time. Those teachers have a lot of patience.”

The cost for the Gateway program, which will run from Aug. 24 to Dec. 21 is $751 for families who live in a Gateway member community. Burr Ridge, Hinsdale, Oak Brook, Oakbrook Terrace, the Pleasant Dale Park District, Westchester, Willowbrook, and Elmhurst are Gateway members. The cost for families in a non-Gateway community is $1,527 for the 17-week program. Payment plans are available.

A minimum of five children is needed to hold the after-school program. The deadline to register is Aug. 31. For more information, call Carolyn Strasen, Gateway sports and recreation coordinator, at (630) 325-3857, Ext. 108, or email her at carolyns2@raygraham.org.

“If we don’t get enough registrations, there won’t be a program,” Hassett said.

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