Adaptive Skating
Publication > October E-Newsletter > Adaptive Skating
Franciscan Hospital for Children is running the adapted skating program again this year for children ages 4 - 18 years, thanks to a grant from the Boston Bruins Foundation.
The goals of the program are to introduce children with special needs to basic ice skating skills or to improve skating skills in children who have some skating experience and for children to experience the fun of ice skating.
Four professional figure skating instructors will lead the group lessons and each child will have a volunteer coach to help him/her during the lesson.
Information for participants: A physical therapist will supervise all skating sessions. Each child will have a coach to help him/her while on the ice. Professional skating instructors will provide group lessons. Ice walkers and ice sleds will be available. We will measure skating skills at the beginning and end of the program.
We will also ask parents to complete questionnaires about their child’s mobility, social skills and their perspective of the program. We will also measure heart rate during some of the sessions to determine if children are getting moderate to vigorous exercise while skating.
Volunteer Coach Responsibilities: College students studying in fitness and health professions (physical and occupational therapy, nursing, athletic training, exercise physiology) who are able to ice skate are needed to assist children with special needs ages 4-18 years during the ice skating lessons.
Volunteers will help children put on and remove skates and assist children during the skating sessions. Ice walkers or ice sleds will be available as needed. A physical therapist will supervise the program and provide assistance or program modifications. A mandatory training session for all volunteers will be held before the program starts.
Where: Simoni Skating Rink 155 Gore Street in Cambridge, MA
The rink is about a 15 minute walk from the Lechmere T stop on the green line. Possible bus routes: 69, 80, 88, and CT2. Parking is available at the rink.
When: Wednesdays from 3:45 - 5:00 PM for volunteers. Participant skate time from 4:00 - 4:50PM.
September 15th to November 17th, 2010 (10 classes).
Free skate rentals are available at the rink.
Equipment: Children must wear a helmet to participate.
If you are interested in having your child participate or volunteering, please contact: Maria Fragala-Pinkham, MS, PT, Franciscan Hospital for Children at (617) 254-3800 x2280 or mfragala@fhfc.org
Download information form for children
Download information form for volunteers