Recreation
Year Round Opportunities
Adapting Massachusetts
Adapting Massachusetts has a lot of info to help keep your loved ones active and fit. Click here to learn more.
Everyone Outdoors
Everyone outdoors has useful information and year round recreational opportunities. Marcy Marchello designed this blog to be a “go-to” resource for people with disabilities, their friends and family. Here you’ll find accessible places to visit and things to do, from a quiet nature walk to adventurous excursions such as sailing in Boston Harbor or hiking in a state park. Personal stories, program opportunities, equipment reviews and more are featured, covering a wide range of disability and recreation experiences.
Sports for All
This guide provides information on resources for including children of all abilities in sports and recreation activities.
MA Conservation & Recreational Universal Access Program
This program provides outdoor recreation opportunities in Massachusetts State Parks for visitors of all abilities. Accessibility to Massachusetts State Parks is achieved through site improvements, specialized adaptive recreation equipment, and accessible recreation programs. Click here for more information.
Special Olympics Massachusetts (SOMA)
SOMA provides year-round sports training and athletic competition for all persons with intellectual disabilities. Minimum age requirement is eight years of age. There is no maximum age requirement. SOMA summer games offers aquatics, athletics, gymnastics, sailing, tennis and volleyball. Learn more here.
Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers
Spaulding Adaptive Sports offers adaptive sports and recreation activities in Boston, Cape Cod, and the North Shore. The activities include wheelchair tennis, hand cycling, adaptive rowing, water skiing and windsurfing. For more information, click here.
Piers Park Sailing Center (PPSC)
Piers Park Sailing Center’s mission is to foster inclusive empowerment through marine science and community sailing. PPSC provides inclusive and accessible recreational, educational, and personal growth opportunities for people of all ages, abilities, and identities. Click here for additional information.
AbilityPLUS Adaptive Sports Programs
Tailored to the needs of participating individuals. Staff and volunteers have backgrounds in education, special education, physical and occupational therapy as well as the legal and medical fields. There are three main program venues: Attitash New Hampshire, Mount Snow Vermont and Wildcat New Hampshire, each of which offer the full menu of available AbilityPLUS activities year-round. Click here for more information.
AccessSportAmerica Adaptive Water Sports Program (Pictured)
Located in Boston, Canton and Duxbury. Offered to children on the Autism Spectrum by The Doug Flutie, Jr. Foundation for Autism. Activities include windsurfing, canoeing, surfing, water-skiing, and more. For more information, click here.
Adaptive Rowing Camp on the Charles River
Located in Brighton, for ages 12-18. Coaching and equipment for a broad range of abilities, an via an introductory non-competitive program, rowers will learn rowing terminology, how to handle the equipment, and develop a basic set of rowing skills. Time will be spent inside on ergs and outside on the Charles. For more information, click here.
Adaptive Climbing Group
Adaptive Climbing Group is a community for people with disabilities to have opportunities to inclusively participate in the sport of climbing. Adaptive Climbing is taking the already existing abilities of a person and helping them participate in the sport. Learn more here.
Self-Guided Family Hikes
Explore the State Forests and Parks of Northeastern Massachusetts.
Click here for more information.
Indoor Activities
Inflatable Play Centers
Boston:
Boston Jump On In
100 Holton Street
Boston, MA 02135
617.789.5867
Danvers:
Monkey Joe's
10 Newbury St., Danvers Crossing Mall
Danvers, MA 01923
978.739.8099
Haverhill:
Jump On In
Rogers Rd, Ward Hill
Haverhill, MA 01835
978.372.3220
Lowell:
Jump On In
100 Phoenix Ave.
Lowell, MA 01852
978.453.9700
Leominster:
Hop On In
217 Hamilton St.
Leominster, MA 01453
978.537.0235
Marlborough:
Hop N Jump
72 Jefferson St.
Marlborough, MA 01752
508.305.2646
Peabody:
Pump It Up
5B Webster St.
Peabody, MA 01960
978.532.5867
Shrewsbury:
Pump It Up
810 Boston Turnpike Road, Route 9 East
Shrewsbury, MA 01545
508.845.5867
Stoughton:
Kidsports
57 French Street
Stoughton, MA 02072
781.344.2332
Watertown:
Inside Playground
100 Parker Street
Watertown, MA 02472
617.923.1772
Westford:
BB Kidz Klub
364 Littleton Road
Westford, MA 01886
978.496.1813
West Roxbury:
Kids Fun Stop
1580 Veterans of Foreign Wars Pkwy
West Roxbury, MA 02132
617.325.0800
Woburn:
Jump On In
470 Wildwood Ave.
Woburn, MA 01801
781.939.5867
The Klubhouse
90 Cummings Park Dr.
Woburn, MA 01801
781.937.5582
VinKari Safari
10 Micro Drive, Rear of Building
Woburn, MA 01801
781.933.1818
Trampoline
Billerica:
Altitude Trampoline Park
700 Boston Road
Billerica, MA
978.663.5867
Danvers:
Sky Zone - Danvers
Liberty Tree Mall, 100 Independence Way
Danvers, MA 01923
978.252.3000
Everett:
Sky Zone
69 Norman Street
Everett, MA 02149
617.387.1000
Hyde Park:
Sky Zone
91 Sprague Street
Hyde Park, MA 02136
857.345.9693
Norwood:
Launch Norwood
570 Providence Hwy
Norwood, MA
781.255.5867
Westborough:
Sky Zone - Westborough
290 Turnpike Road, Route 9
Westborough, MA 01581
508.870.5867
Gyms for Kids
The Sunday Open Gym
218 Speen Street
Natick, MA within the Academy MetroWest
Open Sundays, December to March. This is a large open space with natural light and filled with loads of sensory based equipment. For younger visitors the gym has six suspended swings, a Tarzan rope, table top games, Velcro darts, scooters and lots more. For teens and young adults, we the facility offers age appropriate exercise stations with a stair stepper, a fishing hole, basketball hoops, tabletop games, a rebounder (mini trampoline), a suspended platform swing, and more. You must call 508.655-9200 between 9:30 am and 3 pm on weekdays to arrange an initial interview.
Boston Ability Center (BAC) Open Gym (Pictured)
49 Walnut Park, Building 3
Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
Open on Saturdays. This is a sensory gym with therapeutic equipment. BAC staff members are on hand to show you the many ways play at the BAC. Register by phone at 781.239.0100 and learn more here.
Museums
Boston Museum of Science (Pictured)
Imagine…play…question…discover…there’s so much to experience at the Museum of Science. A trip to the Museum will appeal to every one of your senses. And to your sense of wonder most of all. Visit the Museum's website here.
Discovery Museums in Acton
The Especially for Me event series offers dedicated hours and free admission for families with disabilities. During these events, we offer accommodations that increase access to Museum exhibits and provide an opportunity for families to network with one another in an understanding environment. All events are free, but require pre-registration online. Learn more and register here.
Boston Children’s Museum
Morningstar Access offers children with special needs/medical needs the opportunity to visit the Museum at a time when there are only a few other visitors. There is a limit of 100 guests, and children and their families can explore the Museum with less concern about viruses and large crowds. Learn more here.
The Butterfly Place
Located in Westford, this is a great place for a family or a small group field trip. See New England butterflies and tropical species from all over the world. Walk along a winding pathway. Observe butterflies sipping from flowers, basking in the sunshine, and flying freely in a natural habitat. Enjoy Koi fish and quail birds which live among the butterflies. For more information, click here.
Wenham Museum Autism Spectrum Express
Wenham Museum welcomes families with members on the autism spectrum to enjoy the model railroad trains and their other favorite exhibits at a special time. On the first Sunday of each month, the museum opens exclusively for these families at 9 am at regular admission prices or free for members. The museum opens to the general public at 10 am. For more information, click here.