Treasure Valley Resources For Kids With Special Needs

This list of Treasure Valley resources for kids with special needs is something I’ve been hoping to create for a long time. With the help of so many in our community who shared their recommendations, here is a list of local businesses and organizations that serve our local kids with special needs. If you have more to add to this, please let us know. We’d love to continually update this throughout the years!

A Treasure Valley Roundup: Resources and Recommendations for Kiddos with Special Needs

Families with special needs children in the Treasure Valley are fortunate to have a variety of resources, businesses, and organizations dedicated to inclusion and support. Here’s a curated list of standout options:

Sensory-Friendly Businesses and Organizations

  • The Sensory Playce
    • Website: thesensoryplayce.com
    • Location: 1471 S Vinnell Way, Boise, ID 83709
    • Description: A gym designed specifically for kids with sensory needs, offering specialized equipment, adjustable lighting, and tailored activities. It’s also listed in our blog post of indoor play areas in Boise.
  • Sit Still Kids Salon
    • Website: Eagle.sitstillkids.com
    • Locations: Eagle and Meridian
    • Description: A modern kids’ salon providing sensory-friendly appointments, including quiet time options.
  • Special Steps
    • Website: specialsteps.org/
    • Description: This organization focuses on inclusive dance camps and has a mission to foster kindness and inclusion for all children. The founder also wrote a book, Darla & Belle Becoming Best Friends, about friendship inclusion. Proceeds go to Special Steps. 
  • Whole Child Feeding Therapy
  • Sweet Zola’s Candy Shop
    • Website: https://sweetzolascandy.com/
    • Description: Sweet Zola’s Candy is a non-profit candy shop that hires and trains individuals with developmental disabilities in order for them to gain real world experience and refine their professional skills.
  • The Sensory Project
    • Website: https://thesensoryproject.com/
    • Description: Pediatric Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and founder of The Sensory Project, LLC, Rachel is dedicated to helping children and adults with all abilities feel confident in their own skin.
  • Molly and Me Counseling
    • Website: https://mollyandmecounseling.com/
    • Description: Idaho’s first agency to solely focus on the use of Play Therapy when treating children from 2-18 years old.
  • Caravel Autism Health
    • Website: https://caravelautism.com/
    • Description: “Caravel Autism Health has been devoted to helping families navigate the challenges of autism since 2009. Our team of expert clinicians specializes in the evaluation and diagnosis of autism, and our research-based and data-driven therapy programs help children with autism reshape their development and embrace new ways of interacting with the world.”

Special Needs Related Programs and Aid

  • Katie Beckett Program
    • Website: Health and Welfare Idaho
    • Description: An insurance option for families who may not qualify for Medicaid. Note: The application process is extensive but worth pursuing.
  • Infant Toddler Program
    • Website: Health and Welfare Idaho
    • Description: Idaho’s Infant Toddler Program (ITP) coordinates a system of early intervention services to assist Idaho children from birth to 3 years of age who have a developmental delay or who have conditions (such as prematurity, Down Syndrome, hearing loss) that may result in a developmental delay.
  • Treasure Valley Down Syndrome Association
  • Boise City/Ada County Housing Authorities
  • Idaho Parents Unlimited
    • Website: https://ipulidaho.org/
    • Description: We help families of children with disabilities thrive by providing special education, health, arts training, information, and support.
  • Idaho Council on Developmental Disabilities
    • Website: https://icdd.idaho.gov/
    • Description: ICDD leads the way in our state in advancing issues that improve the lives of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) and their families
  • Adaptable Foundation
  • Belong Co. – Idaho
    • Website: https://www.belongco.org/
    • Description: Social events each month for the adult disability community & a coffee cart & ice cream cart that proudly employs adults with disabilities.

Special Needs Related Programs and Aid Continued

  • Idaho Access Project
  • Blue Path
    • Website: https://blue-path.org/
    • Description: BluePath is an accessibility website for people with ALL kinds of disabilities. It connects local consumers and their families with local businesses who want to work together towards a more accessible world by providing the tools needed to identify barriers to accessing a business and their goods and services.
  • Northwest ADA Center – Idaho
    • Website: https://nwadacenter.org/idaho
    • Description: The Northwest ADA Center-Idaho is a cooperative project in Idaho providing statewide ADA technical assistance and support.
  • Findhelpidaho.org
    • Website: https://www.findhelpidaho.org/ 
    • Description: findhelpidaho.org connects Idahoans seeking help with resources in their local community. It’s free, confidential, easy to use, and provides up-to-date information in more than 100 languages. Through community collaboration and support, findhelpidaho.org works to improve health and social outcomes throughout Idaho. 
  • Council for the Deaf & Hard of Hearing
    • Website: https://cdhh.idaho.gov/
    • Description: To create an environment in which Idahoans of all ages, who are deaf or hard of hearing, have an equal opportunity to participate as active, responsible, productive, and independent citizens of Idaho.

Community Activities 

  • City of Boise’s Idaho Youth Adaptive Sports Camp
    • Website: City of Boise
    • Description: Offers adaptive sports opportunities for kids with disabilities, focusing on fun and inclusivity. Volunteers aged 16+ are welcome to support these programs.
  • YMCA THRIVE/Adaptive Activity
    • Website: YMCA Idaho
    • Description: THRIVE camps encourage participants of all ages and abilities a chance to experience various activities at the YMCA in a safe, supportive environment. Explore sensory camps, STEAM, dance, cooking, arts, and more.
  • Courageous Kids Climbing
  • Game Changers Idaho
  • Camp Rainbow Gold
    • Website: https://camprainbowgold.org/
    • Description: Camp Rainbow Gold provides camps and year round free programs to Idaho children diagnosed with cancer and their families.
  • Challenged Athletes Foundation – Idaho
  • Open Arms Dance Project
    • Website: https://www.openarmsdance.org/
    • Description: Open Arms Dance Project is a community of dancers with diverse bodies, ages, and abilities, creating powerful art together in Boise, Idaho since 2008.
  • Power Music and Dance Studio – Creative Dance for Special Needs
    • Website: https://www.powermusicdancestudio.com/
    • Description: This 45-minute weekly class is geared for those with physical limitations and/or developmental disabilities. This studio is located in Kuna. 
  • Ride For Joy
    • Website: https://www.rideforjoy.org/
    • Description: Ride for Joy in Middleton, Idaho promotes physical, cognitive, social, and emotional well-being through life-changing equine-assisted services.
  • Higher Ground
    • Website: https://www.highergroundusa.org/
    • Description: Helping give people of all abilities a better life. With recreation, therapy and continued support, we bridge the gap between disability and belonging.

Community Activities Continued

  • Boise Adaptive Snowsport Education (BASE)
    • Website: https://baseidaho.org/
    • Description: To safely facilitate winter sports opportunities for individuals with disabilities through professional ski and snowboard education which increases physical, social, and functional skills.
  • City of Boise AdVenture Seeker Program
    • Website: City of Boise Parks and Rec
    • Description: Recreation opportunities specifically designed for people with physical disabilities and their friends and family.
  • Gem State Falcons professional National Wheelchair Basketball Team
    • Website: Gem State Falcons
    • Description: The Falcons are proud to be part of Idaho Adaptive Sports. The Gem State Falcons now have a junior prep team with kids aged 6-15.
  • Idaho Adaptive Sports
    • Website: https://idahoadaptivesports.org/
    • Description: Created to enhance the lives of individuals with physical disabilities through adaptive sports and recreation.
  • Darby’s Dancers
    • Website: https://www.danceartsboise.com/
    • Description: A program at Dance Arts Academy in Meridian that teaches adaptive dance classes for children with special needs.
  • Proud to Be Me Dance Therapy
    • Website: Proud to Be Me
    • Description: Free, at-home beginner-level dance and movement class via Zoom, designed for elementary and middle schoolers with special needs.
  • AWeSOMe – Adaptive Wilderness Sports of McCall
    • Website: AWeSOMe!
    • Description: Empowering people of all abilities through outdoor experiences. Open to anyone needing adaptive equipment or 1:1 instruction due to a permanent physical or cognitive disability. 
  • Idaho Sled Hockey Association
  • Northwest Association for Blind Athletes
    • Website: https://nwaba.org/
    • Description: Dedicated to improving the quality of life for youth and adults through sports in communities across Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana.
  • People Need People
    • Website: https://peopleneedpeople.co/
    • Description: Created for people of all abilities to experience the beauty & wonder of nature together. Whether you walk, skip, dance, or roll, we would love to have you join us!

Local Places with Accommodations

  • Ridge to Rivers Trails
    • Website: Ridge to Rivers
    • Description: Accessible trails with various accommodations to ensure families of all abilities can enjoy Boise’s outdoor beauty.
  • Cherie Buckner-Webb Park
    • Description: A serene park in downtown Boise, offering a calm and inclusive environment for all kids to explore and play.
  • Bowden Park
    • Description: The playground at Bowden Park was built with accessibility in mind.
  • Settlers Park
    • Description: Settlers Park in Meridian has a universally accessible playground. 
  • Guerber Park
    • Description: Accessible play area with a splash pad. 
  • The LEGO® Store Village at Meridian
    • Website: Learn more here
    • Description: The Lego Store has KultureCity sensory bags dedicated to enhancing accessibility in public spaces for individuals with sensory needs and non-visible disabilities.
  • The Children’s Museum – First Friday Sensory Awareness & Accessibility
  • National Parks Pass

Local Places With Accommodations Continued

  • Adaptive Evening at the Zoo
    • Website: https://zooboise.org/event/adaptive-zoo/
    • Description: Join Zoo Boise for an afterhours zoo experience designed for individuals with disabilities and their families and friends! Designed for fewer crowds and a less stimulating environment. 
  • Boise WaterShed
    • Website: https://www.boisewatershed.org/
    • Description: The WaterShed welcomes visitors of all ages and abilities. Please alert staff of any special assistance needed in advance of your visit so we are best able to serve you. We have a sensory bag available for those with sensory needs as well as an app to assist those with vision difficulties.
  • Super Sensory Story Time
    • Website: Meridian Library District
    • Description: Meridian Library District at the YMCA Thrive center hosts Super Sensory Storytime for children with sensory needs who do not thrive in a traditional library story time environment.
  • Discovery Center of Idaho Sensory Hours
    • Website: https://dcidaho.org/sensorydays
    • Description: The Discovery Center of Idaho is thrilled to provide Sensory-Friendly Learning Hours each month for visitors who may become overstimulated by the bustling atmosphere of the everyday visitor experience. They also have a Sensory Guide Map designed to support visitors by identifying sensory input in spaces throughout the Center. Also available at the front desk on a first-come, first-serve basis, are Sensory Kits which include noise-reducing headphones, sunglasses, and various fidget toys. These items are designed to support comfort during your visit.
  • Chuck E. Cheese Sensory Sensitive Sundays
  • Urban Air Sensory Friendly Play

Support Groups

Additional Tips and Suggestions

  • Families new to navigating support services should consider connecting with seasoned parents in local Facebook groups for firsthand advice and emotional support.
  • For sensory-sensitive outings, plan visits during quieter times (early mornings or weekdays) to minimize overstimulation.
  • Many Walmart and Target locations have sensory-friendly hours/days when lights are dim and auditory input is limited. 
  • Many theaters offer sensory-friendly movie times where lights are on, the sound is lower, and people are free to move around.
  • Extra Mile Arena, Ford Idaho Center, and the Morrison Center provide a full range of accommodations for guests with accessible needs including booster seats, noise-cancelling headphones, weighted lap pads, fidget toys, and verbal cue cards. Available to check out during events through guest services.

This list is by no means exhaustive, but it’s a starting point for families seeking Treasure Valley resources for kids with special needs.

If you have more recommendations, feel free to share!

,
| |