We are excited to announce that, in conjunction with ongoing virtual programs, we will be offering in-person programs again beginning Monday, July 20! Session I programs will run for five weeks and be limited to ten individuals per program, including staff. Full details regarding our new safety and wellness guidelines, participant eligibility and our registration process will be emailed to families Monday, June 15. Below is NSSRA's timeline for Sessio n I programs:

  • Monday, June 22: Session I program opportunities released
  • Monday, June 29: Registration for Session I begins
  • Friday, July 10: Registration for Session I ends
  • Monday, July 20: Session I begins
  • Saturday, August 22: Session I ends

Please note: both in-person and virtual programs will follow the same schedule beginning July 20, and all registrations must be completed through WebTrac  ​or an online registration form . The current sign-up process on our website for virtual programs will be removed and all programs must be registered for between Monday, June 29 and Friday, July 10 by one of these methods. For a refresher on how to register for programs via WebTrac , click the links below:


We will continue evaluating in-person program opportunities on a month-to-month basis. Information about additional session start and end dates through the end of 2020 will be provided in the coming weeks. Thank you for your patience as we navigate offering as many services as possible safely.

For more information regarding Session I programs, contact Recreation Manager Dani Kern at dkern@nssra.org .

For details on cancellations announced last week, click here .
With both one-on-one video calls and virtual group programs available, we have plenty of options for you to stay connected with #teamnssra and your friends! Click the links below to sign up for the next 4 weeks of virtual programs:
Need help with the tech-side of signing up for or joining virtual programs? We've got you covered! Click here to learn how to sign up for virtual programs on our website, and then how to join them via Zoom. We also put together a couple printable handouts, for both NSSRA and ELA programs, for you to organize your Zoom IDs and passwords. Download here.

Video programs and calls are conducted over Zoom, a free app that can be downloaded on your phone, tablet or computer.  Click here to download Zoom.
Hey, Gators! We've got a weekly challenge starting for you next week! Click here for details and join us as we keep moving from home!
Don't forget to follow us on  social media ! We are posting new videos, activity ideas and more each day, and we'd love to see your faces pop up in the comments!

NSSRA's full-time team has put together several resources to support participants and families at home. Click the links below for offline activities and pre-recorded programming, a collection of social stories to help participants understand COVID-19, resources and more. Need a little extra support or a sounding board? We're here to help! Click the staff support option and make an appointment with one of NSSRA's recreation managers or specialists. These pages will be updated regularly with additional resources.
 
Community Resources
Project SEARCH High School Transition Program

The Project SEARCH High School Transition Program is a unique, one-year school-to-work program that takes place entirely at the workplace. The business host site is Sedgebrook Senior Living in Lincolnshire. Interns participate in employment-related instruction and are assigned internships in up to three departments within the business host site.
 
The program provides real-life work experience combined with training in employability and independent living skills to help young adults with significant disabilities make successful transitions from school to productive adult life. The goal for each intern is competitive employment.

Project SEARCH at Sedgebrook is now accepting applicants from any school district. SEDOL students will still have priority but when extra spaces are available, as are now, applicants from other districts will be accepted. For more information, view brochure and application materials here and here .
For those of you that miss NSSRA's Music Speaks program with Music Speaks, LLC, check out their free, weekly livestreams on Thursdays! Join Music Speaks Music Therapy each week at 6:30 pm for an interactive music session with a board-certified music therapist! Wind down from the day and learn new techniques to use at home each and every day.

You can view these videos anytime on the Music Speaks Youtube Channel, as well as follow all events and announcements here .
Join A.B.L.E.’s teen ensemble for a reimagining of Shakespeare’s classic comedy, "Comedy of Errors," about mistaken identity! Beginning Monday, May 18, the ensemble - 20 young adults with Down syndrome and other developmental differences - will release a new episode each week, filmed entirely over Zoom.

A.B.L.E. (Artists Breaking Limits & Expectations) is a Chicago nonprofit that creates theatre and film projects for, with, and by individuals with Down syndrome and other developmental differences. Click here for details.

If you've run across a great virtual resource for participants with disabilities and their families, we'd love to hear about it! Email info@nssra.org and share it with us!
Have you followed us social media yet?

Every week we're posting new activities, workouts, storytime readings, games and more!

Special Olympics Illinois State Summer Games (CANCELLED)
Friday, June 12 - Sunday, June 14
Cancelled per Special Olympics Illinois

Northbrook Days (CANCELLED)
Saturday, August 8
Cancelled per Northbrook Civic Foundation
Summer Bash (CANCELLED)
Wednesday, August 12

Shining Stars Awards & Recognition Banquet (RESCHEDULED)
Friday, October 30, 2020
Originally Friday, April 24, 2020
We will communicate further updates as we have them. With questions or for more information, please contact Recreation Manager Blair Hill at bhill@nssra.org .
U pcoming Board Meetings

Thursday, June 25 at 10:00 am
This meeting will be held virtually.

Monday, September 14 at 7:00 pm
This meeting will be held virtually.