Burbank, Culver City, and Santa Monica
(323) 364-7946
Program director: Kenneth Rippetoe, (310) 694-2579 (cell)
One with the Water! shares that they “live to inspire others to do what inspires them.” They love to help create “miracles” in the lives of children and adults, including those with disabilities, by teaching swimming lessons and empowering people to be successful in and out of the water. It is their belief that people should continuously challenge themselves in order to fulfill their physical, emotional, and intellectual potential. They realize many parents struggle to find a swim-lesson provider who is the right fit for their child, and how important it is for the provider to be qualified, experienced, and compassionate. They have over 35 years of experience with teaching individuals of all ages and ability levels, and have experience working with kids with autism. They are open now and all of their pools are ADA accessible. Schedules are listed below, but please check their website for updated hours.
Locations and hours (may be subject to change):
Culver City: 9:00 a.m.–10:00 a.m. Saturday (waitlist)
Burbank: 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. Saturday (available now)
Santa Monica for residents: 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Wednesday and Friday
Session length and cost:
They offer both private and semi-private lessons at a public pool or at the client’s home (30 minutes per session).
For private lessons, participants will be charged monthly with rolling admissions, so you can start at any time. Prices are based on the number of times per week your child attends.
Multiple locations
Program director: Chris Durian
(323) 622-9468
SwimSCAAPE’s mission is to “give swimmers of all ages and abilities, including those with physical and/or cognitive challenges, the support, confidence, and skills necessary to safely experience the joy and healthful benefits of swimming.” They offer one-on-one standard and adaptive private lessons and “sensory swim” therapeutic sessions. This program offers scholarships through the Warrior Hearted Special Children’s Foundation. The director stated that the board members meet once a month to review the financial needs of each child/family, as well as any compelling special circumstances, and to award scholarships.
Locations and hours:
Brentwood (private residence)
Downey
Reseda YMCA
Santa Monica Swim Center (at Santa Monica College)
Session length and cost:
Cost depends on length of session and packages (they offer packages of 6 or 12 sessions or ongoing monthly sessions).
360 N. Arroyo Blvd.
Pasadena, CA 91103
Contact: Amanda Bardwell, (626) 564-0330 ext. 419, therapyinfo@rosebowlaquatics.org
Rose Bowl Aquatics Center offers an adaptive swim program for children with disabilities, aiming to give families the highest level of instruction and therapeutic benefits of swimming. Their mission is to provide quality swim lessons and aquatic therapy through inclusion, consistency, and progress. They have instructors and physical therapists who are comfortable working with a child with significant support needs. Lessons are conducted in their therapy pool, which is heated to 91 degrees year-round and is wheelchair accessible using a hydraulic-powered chairlift.
During COVID, they have been restricted to teaching from the sidelines on the pool deck without any physical contact with their clients, which means that if a swimmer is not independently water safe, a parent or guardian is required to accompany them in the pool while the instructor gives verbal guidance from the deck. They are operating at limited capacity and under restrictions due to the social distancing requirements mandated by the Los Angeles and Pasadena Health Departments. Physical therapists have a little more leeway with physical handling because physical therapy (PT) is a medically prescribed activity. The hope is they will be able to get instructors back into the water before the start of summer, since case numbers are continuing to improve and more people are getting vaccinated.
If you would like more information about their PT services, contact Amanda Bardwell (phone number above). If you are considering PT sessions at the pool, this is sometimes covered by insurance.
Hours:
Tuesday–Friday and Saturday availability for swim lesson instruction
Monday–Friday availability for physical therapy instruction
Session length and cost:
Private 1:1 swim lessons
Culver City (currently closed) and Santa Monica
(310) 821-0963
Recreational Services Manager: Shaun Cochran
Leaps n Boundz offers an adaptive aquatics program that has something for all ages and skill levels. Each swimmer is assessed and given individual, progressive swim goals. They offer lessons year-round at both indoor and outdoor facilities (the only outdoor location is the Santa Monica Swim Center at Santa Monica College). They support and teach children and adults of all ages and abilities. Leaps n Boundz accommodates and develops a lesson that is tailored to each client. While a majority of their clients have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, they do support individuals with a wide range of diagnoses.
While they typically have swim classes at three different locations, they are currently only teaching at the Santa Monica Swim Center at Santa Monica College. Sessions are currently 60 minutes long and are booked on a weekly basis with the same appointment time and same coach. There is not a ramp for a wheelchair when entering the water, but the pool area is accessible by wheelchair. There is a lift to assist with getting in and out of the water, and a wheelchair can easily be rolled up to the edge of the water, at which point the coach can assist the swimmer with getting into the pool. They are currently operating with COVID protocols: One coach is allowed per lane (they rent two lanes at the pool); coaches are required to wear a face mask while teaching (a face shield is optional); and those on the pool deck are asked to wear a mask at all times.
Locations and hours:
Santa Monica Swim Center (at Santa Monica College)
Session length and cost:
2533 Coolidge Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90064
Owner: Kate Polich
(310) 867-9282
Head Above Water was established in 2002 to provide swim lessons in the privacy and familiarity of a swimmer’s own pool. They have since expanded to provide their services to clients who do not have their own pool. They specialize in private, one-on-one swim lessons for all ages. There is only one swimmer in the pool at a time. They customize every lesson to each swimmer’s specific, unique needs. The pool is heated and they offer lessons seven days a week. They have experience working with children with autism.
Locations and hours:
Session length and cost:
2512 Foothill Blvd.
La Crescenta, CA 91214
(818) 583-7134
Blast is a safe learning space where children develop coping skills for stressful environments such as school or home. The owner, Katie Enney, Psy.D., is licensed by the Board of Psychology of the State of California. The staff consists of therapists working on hours toward their license, college students, and educators. Therapy takes place during play, with an emphasis on verbalizing feelings, maintaining friendships, handling frustrations, following instructions, and impulse control. Their La Crescenta location offers in-person services; all other opportunities are online. COVID-19 protocols are implemented for in-person sessions, such as mask wearing, social distancing, hand sanitizing, and temperature checks.
Program:
Ages: In-person: ages 5–10 and 18–24; Online: ages 5–18
Hours: Tuesday through Thursday 4:00 p.m.–5:30 p.m.
Session length and cost:
1932 14th Street
Santa Monica, CA
(310) 344-2276
Buddy Bunch Program Director: Patty Martinez, MA
Therapy Place 4 Kids (formerly called OT 4 Kids) specializes in a variety of therapeutic treatments and programs. They feature an 8,000 square-foot center that creates a safe and inviting atmosphere for all children. In addition to occupational, physical, and speech therapy, they have years of experience holding social skills classes. Buddy Bunch, currently held remotely on Sundays, are offered to three different age groups. Each group is on a different curriculum, based on Mo Willems and the Wellness curriculum. Note that while sessions are currently held via Zoom, they are working diligently to go back to in-person sessions.
Program: Buddy Bunch Social Skills
Ages: Facilitated playgroups: ages 4 and under
Social skills groups:
- Group 1: ages 4–6
- Group 2: ages 7–10
- Group 3: ages 11–14
Times: Sundays (currently virtual) 11:00 a.m.–11:30 a.m., 11:45 a.m.–12:15 p.m., and 12:30 p.m.–1:30 p.m.
Session length and cost:
13130 Burbank Blvd.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91401
(818) 779-5103
The Help Group is offering an in-person enrichment camp this summer for kids ages 10–15 with autism and other social challenges. This “intimate camp experience, based in Sherman Oaks, provides a fun, safe, and stimulating environment specially designed to promote social skills development, stress reduction, new friendships, and re-integration into a social setting following quarantine.” They will staff the camp with experienced counselors who will incorporate evidence-based practices into the daily schedule. The Help Group shared that campers must be able to function independently in a group setting and be able to wear a mask for an extended period of time.
Program: Teamwork building, mindfulness, stress reduction, friendship skills, outdoor games, creative arts, STEM activities, and field trips
Ages: 10–15 years old with autism and other social challenges
Hours: 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
Session length and cost:
2716 Ocean Park Blvd. Suite 1065
Santa Monica, CA 90405
(310) 869-4025
suzanne@socialfoundationsla.com
Social Foundations provides meaningful, practical, and in-depth social development for kids as well as substantive education for parents. It’s a supportive social learning community that helps students develop the skills they need to build, and keep, healthy connections. They offer social development groups (small, well-matched weekly groups), school-based social support, play facilitation, and more. We are highlighting the summer camp program, but they also offer ongoing Social Skills Groups weekly for ages 6–13.
Program: Culver City Summer Camp
Social Foundations’ summer camp program provides a unique, positive experience for children and teens who need “just-right” social learning support in a creative and fun environment. They “help kids build social success from the inside out.” This year, they will be hosting camp outside only with limited enrollment at Veterans Memorial Park in Culver City. You may sign up by the day or for the whole week.
Ages: 5–15
Hours: 9:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m.
June 14–18, June 21–25, June 28–July 2, July 5–9, July 12–16, July 19–23, July 26–30 and August 2–6
Session length and cost:
COVID-19 update:
760 Westwood Plaza
Los Angeles, CA 90095
(310) 267-3377
UCLA offers a social skills training program known as the Program for the Education and Enrichment of Relational Skills (PEERS®). The PEERS® program is “world-renowned for providing evidence-based social skills treatment to preschoolers, adolescents, and young adults with autism, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and other socio-emotional problems.” UCLA offers a wide range of PEERS® programs for all ages. In addition to the year-round social skills sessions, UCLA also offers boot camps, held on weekends for such topics as conversations, dating, friendship, and handling bullying, all hosted at the UCLA campus. While these in-person boot camps are temporarily on hold due to COVID, they are offering PEERS® Virtual Boot Camps, open to all ages, which include 35 pre-recorded episodes covering all PEERS® skills.
Check out the program links below to find the best social skills opportunities for you and your child. Parent participation is a key component to the success of the PEERS® programs.
Programs:
Ages: Varies based on the program.
Hours: Varies based on the program.
Current platform: Zoom (due to COVID-19)
Session length and cost:
50 Narcissa Dr.
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA 90275
(310) 541-4201
Executive Director: Gail Grove
Ride to Fly is a “non-profit organization committed to offering therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with disabilities.” Since 1994, Ride to Fly has been a PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International member-operating center serving the South Bay area. They have three main programs to choose from, including mounted equine activities/lessons, non-mounted activities/lessons, and equine management training. The non-profit organization has been in the media, sharing the successful story about a young girl with disabilities and how the program works.
Participants must fill out an application form and a medical form.
Program: Interactive Horsemanship Program
Mounted equine activities/lessons
Non-mounted activities/lessons
Ages: Ride to Fly does not specify age ranges, but they do have a 175-lb. weight limit for riders to be mounted.
Hours: Tuesday–Friday from 2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.; Saturdays from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m.
Note: Summer lessons are Tuesday–Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. due to heat in the afternoons.
Session length and cost:
1003 W. Carson Street
Long Beach, CA 90810
(310) 350-1311
Founder/Executive Director: Joan Blank
Dream Catcher of L.A. Therapeutic Riding Center is a Certified Center Member of PATH (Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship) International offering equine-assisted activities and therapies. Their mission is “to improve the lives of children, adults, and veterans with cognitive, physical, and emotional disabilities through the benefits of therapeutic horseback riding and other equine-assisted activities, while serving the therapeutic riding profession through training and education.” Dream Catcher offers a wide range of programs. Currently they are requiring everyone to wear a mask, but this could change.
Programs:
Ages: 2 and up for hippotherapy
3.5 and up for therapeutic riding
14 and up for volunteering
Hours: Monday–Sunday (current calendar and sessions)
Session length and cost:
10860 Topanga Canyon Blvd.
Chatsworth, CA 91311
(818) 700-2971
401 Ronel Court
Newbury Park, CA 91320
(805) 375-9078
Contact: Sara@RideOn.org
The mission of Ride On is to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities through fun, creative equine therapy. Staff members include occupational and physical therapists. Ride On is currently in Phase 4 of the reopening process. This means riders who need a volunteer to lead the horse or a spotter are welcome. The rider must wear a mask. There is a waiting list for new riders. An application must be completed to be added to the waitlist.
Programs:
Ages: 4+
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 3:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m.; Saturday 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
Session length and cost:
610 Santa Monica Blvd. #220
Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 435-3047
Marlene Frantz is a Certified Group Psychotherapist through the American Group Psychotherapy Association and is certified with the Equine Assisted Growth And Learning Association (EAGALA) as an Equine Therapist. She offers equine therapy at her personal residence, in Topanga, specifically “experiential equine therapy” as opposed to riding therapy. The exact address is given once Marlene and the family agree to work together.
In addition to being an Equine Therapist, Marlene Frantz has a private practice as a Marriage and Family Therapist that includes individual adults and children of all ages, as well as couples and families. She is particularly interested in working with issues around self-expression, creative blocks, intimacy, grief and loss, anxiety, depression, self esteem and trauma. Frantz therapeutic approach includes using a number of modalities including dream work, sandplay, play therapy, active imagination, and art.
If the rider or person accompanying them is not vaccinated against COVID-19, masks must be worn.
Programs:
Sessions are designed based on the individual’s needs. Parents or 1:1 aides can accompany the child.
Ages: All ages
Hours: Monday–Friday; hours and weekends are negotiable
Session length and cost:
10157 Johanna Ave.
Shadow Hills, CA 91040
(818) 767-6373
Mobile Site: Sullivan Canyon in Brentwood
AHEAD With Horses is devoted to improving the quality of life of all children through equine therapy. Their program sees hundreds of children regularly reach major physical, mental, and emotional milestones—gifts that last a lifetime. The relationship between children, therapeutic riding instructors, and their special therapy horses is the catalyst to meaningful growth. The horses provide a sense of comfort and companionship. They see hundreds of individuals each year, of all ages and disabilities, throughout the greater Los Angeles area with a primary location in Shadow Hills (soon to be Lake View Terrace), and a mobile site at Sullivan Canyon in Brentwood.
COVID Update: AWH is now in Phase 5 of the reopening process. They are able to hold lessons for students that are able to wear a mask, and will teach students who need a little more physical assistance and a spotter, IF a parent or someone who lives in their household is willing to act as the spotter. For specific details, please refer to their reopening plan.
Programs:
AHEAD With Horses (AWH) is a therapy program which utilizes vaulting (gymnastics on a moving horse) to provide various physical, mental, emotional, and social benefits. Many of those they serve previously have not responded to traditional forms of therapy and/or education, or are not eligible for other services.
Ages: 12 and under
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Saturday 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Session length and cost:
34289 Rocking Horse Rd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91390
(661) 268-8010
Executive Director: Denise Redmond
Carousel Ranch has been offering equestrian therapy and vocational training for children and young adults with disabilities since 1997. They started in a small backyard and are now in a ten-acre ranch. At Carousel Ranch, equestrian therapy takes their students into a new, unexplored world, and provides a sense of independence. In addition, the exercises performed on the back of the horse challenges their riders in ways that they have seldom been challenged before. Along with the equestrian therapy, Carousel offers vocational training for adults with disabilities. They serve eighty five children per week in individual therapy sessions and twelve young adults with disabilities in their vocational training program.
Programs:
Age Range: 3 months and older
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m.; Saturday 9:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m.
Session length and cost:
(866) 774-3342 ext. 1
The Reading Specialists at PRIDE offer tutoring to work one-on-one with the student to improve their reading, writing, comprehension, and spelling usually by a grade level. Every reading specialist is trained in the Orton-Gillingham Approach and other methods backed by research to help with learning. As the student progresses, older information continues to be reviewed so it becomes stored in their long-term memory. The program is suited for students with dyslexia, auditory processing disorders, visual processing disorders, dysgraphia, speech disorders, and other disabilities. A family can choose between a Reading Specialist coming to the house or working with the student online.
Note: The website is currently not up-to-date, as there are no summer programs at their normal locations due to COVID. We suggest that to get the most up-to-date information, or for any questions, that you either call or email them directly.
Dates: Monday-Friday
Age Range: K–12th grade
Hours: 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.; parents choose the hours (minimum of three hours per week required)
Cost:
Registration:
From math, reading, to executive functioning skills, Varsity Tutors has an entire section of ongoing classes and events dedicated to helping students meet their academic and educational needs. This summer, students may sign up for the class they need to help fill the education gap. They can select the desired course, most of which run 6-7 weeks, and meet for one hour, twice a week. The class groups are small, with six to nine students, and are based on skill level and grade, with the purpose of meeting the IEP goals. Here is a complete list of courses.
Dates: June–August (class dates and length vary by course)
Age Range: K–12th grade
Hours: Depends on the course
Format: Virtual
Cost: Free–$37 per hour
Registration: Create an account.
9889 S. Santa Monica Blvd.
Suites 207 & 208
Beverly Hills, CA 90212
(310) 951-5761
KAPP offers educational therapy services and they specialize in children with ADHD and executive functioning challenges. The educational therapy services are completely customized and individualized to your child’s learning style and needs. The goal of KAPP is to grow your child’s skills and assist them in applying what they have learned so that they no longer need educational therapy services.
In addition to the Ed Therapy, they also offer virtual learning assistance. Virtual therapy is provided in small groups that meet once a week, including several programs that focus on specific goals such as executive functioning and reading, writing, or math enrichment. Three options are available.
Dates: Ongoing
Age Range: 3+
Hours: Works with the client to determine scheduling
Cost: $150–$225, depending on the service
Registration: Schedule an intake phone call.
Social Skills Classes and Camps