TOPSOCCER !

TOPSoccer is “a community-based training and team placement program for young athletes with disabilities, organized by youth soccer association volunteers.  The program is designed to bring the opportunity of learning and playing soccer to any boy or girl, who has a mental or physical disability.” (official statement of the U.S. Youth Soccer Association, http://www.usyouthsoccer.org/programs/ ).

TOPSoccer is offered in Pitt County/Greenville area as a partnership with Greenville Parks and Recreation Department, The Arc of Pitt County, and PGSA.  Each season begins in mid-September through early November.  Games are held on Saturday mornings and played on PGSA fields.

Registration is open to any child, ages 5 – 18, with any form of disability, physical or developmental.  The game provides an adapted form of soccer at the level of ability for each child.  Buddies are assigned to each child to provide a safe and worthwhile experience.  

Please check our website’s Calendar of Events for dates, times, locations of TOPSoccer games!

For more information, contact: 

GRPD Special Populations Office at (252) 329-4541

        Or

John Harer at (252) 353-5167 or email harerj@ecu.edu

SPECIAL OLYMPICS SKATING ACADEMY

Inaugural Season

Classes Begin September 8^th, 2008

Since ice skating is an individual sport, skaters can progress at their own rate according to their ability.  Skating is also a safe sport relative to many others.  The curriculum will be geared towards each child’s individual needs.   Finally, skating can be a life-long activity, done individually or with family and friends.

TRY SKATING …. IT DOES THE BODY GOOD!

REGISTER NOW!   Bladez On Ice    (252) 353-8888

Cost $80 for 6 weeks  (financial assistance available – Contact Sara Hara at (704)425-0428.

Have You Attended our

BREAKFAST CLUB SOCIAL??

If you have not attended our Social, you may be asking yourself “What is the Breakfast Club Social”?  There are few social outlets for families with developmental disabilities (DD) in the Pitt County area.   A social club for both the parents/caregivers with their child or family member with DD is very much needed in our community.   The Arc of Pitt County has designed such a social club that brings benefits to our community and families, The Breakfast Club.

A Breakfast Club is filling a void of social outlets in our community.   The club is held once per month on every 2^nd Saturday of the month from 9:30 - 11:00am.  Please check our website’s Calendar of Events for dates of The Breakfast Club Social.

The club always meets at the same location (Immanuel Baptist Church, 1101 South Elm Street, Greenville), however the cooks for the Breakfast Club change from month to month.  Utilizing area civic organizations, ECU college clubs, local businesses, and other groups as the cooks for the Breakfast Club brings about public awareness to those families with developmental disabilities.  As it is now, there is little, if any, public awareness to the needs and lives of families with development disabilities.   If we as a community want inclusion for our loved ones, then we need to ensure some type of public awareness.  The Breakfast Club brings that public awareness and it is being accomplished in a fun, social environment.

The other purpose that the Breakfast Club is to offer fellowship to families with developmental disabilities.  So many times, we as parents/caregivers feel we are alone in this world in taking care of our loved one with developmental disabilities.   Having a social hour over breakfast is bringing parents/caregivers together in a social arena.   New friends are being made; friends that understand the challenges faced in raising and caring for our loved ones.   New bonds are being formed leading ultimately  to parents and  caregivers in knowing that they are not alone and lifting their spirits.

In order to bring community involvement, we have asked local businesses to participate by donating food for our Breakfast Social Club.  The participating businesses receive public recognition for their donations and involvement with making the Breakfast Club a successful, fun social outlet for families with DD.

Our Breakfast Club began in February, 2008.  Attendance is increasing each month and we are getting an average of 40 to 50 in attendance of our socials.  The Breakfast Club has proven to be a success in bringing our community together and offering a social outlet for families with developmental disabilities.