Click Here for the 2023 GLRS Special Needs Directory- Activities, Recreation, and Respite 

Summer GVRA Grow Programs for Pre-ETS students

Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) contract with multiple vendors to provide summer opportunities for individuals ages 14-22. Only requirement is the individual must be a Pre-ETS student to participate in one of the summer GROW programs. How do you become a Pre-ETS student? Click the above tab for VR, complete the permission form and submit to your child's teacher. The permission form, along with a copy of the student's IEP and psychological, will be submitted to the local VR agency by the school system. Once VR receives the referral, the individual has now become a Pre-ETS student and will have access to receive pre-employment services/classes while still in high school. Only returning students can participate in the summer GROW programs. If your young adult is graduating this school year, you are no longer eligible to receive Pre-ETS services and cannot participate in the summer GROW programs. You need to contact the local VR office to schedule a "in-take" appointment to become a Client of VR to receive services as an adult.  

 Additional GROW  Workshops are listed below.  You can attend both the Warm Springs & another local vendor program covered by VR if you are signed up as VR Pre-ETS student. For more information on any of the GVRA GROW Programs call each vendor for additional information. Note: some vendors target different populations, so ask what population is their target audience. For example, HSHT (High School High Tech) is designed for high-functioning IRR or average to above average IQ's.  

Waves Summer Day Camps, Workshops, and Groups

For information- 

call: 478-733-2597 

or click link HERE

County Recreation & Parks Departments: Your county Parks Department may offer special programs through their office of Therapeutic Recreation. Each County can vary on what they do or do not offer. 

Jasper County Parks and Rec.- https://www.facebook.com/jasperrecdept/ 

Butts County Parks and Rec.- https://www.facebook.com/bcdls/

Henry County Parks and Rec. - Therapeutic Rec- https://www.facebook.com/HenryCountyParksRec 

Georgia Association of Child Care Resource and Referral Agencies    http://decal.ga.gov/ChildCareServices/CCRRSystem.aspx  

Collaborates with families, community and state partners, GACCRRA advocates to support the early care and education community by responding to their needs in building capacity for safe, healthy and nurturing community environments for child development. Parents can search for childcare programs in their area.  

Childcare and Parent Services Program(CAPS)   http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/subsidized-child-care-assistance 

Subsidized child care in Georgia is provided through the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program to help low income families afford quality child care. The CAPS program is administered in all 159 Georgia counties through the county Department of Family and Children Services.   

Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS)   www.bbbsheartga.org  Contact: 478-745-3984 or agency@bbbsheartga.org                                                                             Big Brother Big Sister makes a positive difference in the lives of children by promoting their self-esteem, expanding their awareness of life opportunities, and providing them with guidance and support through long-term, one-to-one mentoring with caring adults. 

Boy Scouts of America ~ Central GA Council   www.centralgeorgiacouncil.org   Contact: 1-800-272-9386  

The Boy Scouts of America provides a youth program of character development and values based leadership training. Boy Scouts of America prepares young people to make ethical and moral choices throughout their lifetime. 

Girl Scout Council ~ Historic GA    https://www.gshg.org/   Contact: 478-935-2221  

Girl Scout is an organization dedicated solely to girls in an accepting and nurturing environment. Girls develop character and skills for success in the real world. 

Junior Achievement of Georgia (JA)   www.georgia.ja.org  

Junior Achievement is the world’s largest organization dedicated to educating students in grades K-12 about entrepreneurship, work readiness and financial literacy through experiential hands-on programs. All programs align with Georgia's Performance Standards, while equipping students with the tools to be personally and professionally successful.  JA brings the real world to students, opening their minds to their full potential by bridging the business and education communities. 

Georgia 4-H    https://georgia4h.org/4-h-centers/summer-camp/     Contact:  ga4h@uga.edu                                                                                                                The mission of Georgia 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. This mission is accomplished through "hands on" learning experiences, focused on agricultural and environmental issues, agriculture awareness, leadership, communication skills, foods and nutrition, health, energy conservation, and citizenship. Each county has an extension agent. 

The Adopted Teen Empowerment and Mentoring Program (ATEAM)    

https://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/adopted-teen-empowerment-and-mentoring-ateam-program   Contact: 707-965-9336 

The Adopted Teen Empowerment & Mentoring Program (ATEAM) provides the opportunity for adopted teens with special needs to interact with other adopted children. Ages/grades are 6th – 12th. Monthly meetings occur in each of the 12 regions across the state. 

Special Olympics of Georgia     www.specialolympicsga.org    Contact: 770-414-9390 ext. 120 (Middle GA is Area 7)                                                           Special Olympics is a global organization that serves more than 4 million athletes with intellectual disabilities working with hundreds of thousands of volunteers and coaches each year. There are numerous and diverse opportunities right here in middle Georgia for young people with a wide array of challenges to participate in sports teams, events, and other types of activities. 

Miracle League      www.mlmacon.org   Contact: 478-731-3215                                                                                                                                       

Founded in 2003. Miracle League of Macon is a baseball league for children and youth with disabilities, physical and/or mental, boys and girls, ages 5-20. 

Newton County Miracle League- https://www.co.newton.ga.us/436/Miracle-League  Contact: 770-786-4373 

Buddy Baseball Buckhead formerly known as Challenger Baseball is a program that enables children with disabilities to play the wonderful game of baseball.

Miracle League – North Metro

Miracle League – Forsyth

Miracle League – Newton County

Miracle League – Fayette County

Miracle League – Rockdale County

Challenger Baseball Peachtree City

Christopher League is a baseball program for children with various disabilities that will not allow them to compete in NYO’s baseball or softball program.  Atlanta/Buckhead

Horizon League Acworth, Georgia

Grayson Athletic Association focus is to give players a chance to SHINE among friends and family, have FUN, establish new FRIENDSHIPS, and enhance SELF-ESTEEM by giving them the opportunity to concentrate on their abilities rather than their disabilities.

Henry County Sunshine League provides children the chance to play baseball regardless of their limitations.

Little League Challenger Division An adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Players 4-22 years, if still enrolled in school.

Senior League Challenger Division An adaptive baseball program for individuals with physical and intellectual challenges. Any individual age 15 years or above with physical or intellectual challenges.

Camp Little Shot    http://camplittleshot.com/     Contact: 478- 746-8626                                                                                                                                                           This is an annual one week for camp for children with diabetes, ages 6-18. Location is at Rock Eagle 4-H, Eatonton, GA.   

Camp Big Heart   http://campbigheart.org/about/     Contact: 678-294-1916 or campbigheart@bellsouth.net                                                                   

Headquarters is in Stone Mountain, GA. Locations vary year to year.  It is a week-long, summer residential camp opportunity for children and adults with mild to moderate disabilities. 

Camp Twin Lakes   www.camptwinlakes.org      Contact: 404-231-1916 or contact@camptwinlakes.org                                                                                        For the past 21 years, Camp Twin Lakes has provided life-changing camp experiences to thousands of Georgia’s children with serious illnesses, disabilities, and other life challenges. Camp Twin Lakes provides week-long summer camps and year-round weekend retreats at three fully-accessible and medically-supportive campsites, day camps, and through hospital-based Camp-To-Go program. 

GOAL Special Needs Ministry Group at Lizella Baptist Church  http://www.lizellabaptist.net/   and “like” them on Facebook.                                        They have a special needs ministry, monthly social gatherings, and a spring formal dance for individuals with disabilities.