Adaptive Pickleball is the latest addition to a catalog of Adaptive Offerings at the YMCA

West Chester, PA – The YMCA of Greater Brandywine (YGBW) will host three Adaptive Pickleball clinics for adults with developmental disabilities. Clinics are free to YMCA members and the community alike and will be held at the West Chester Area YMCA on April 22 and May 20 and at the Upper Main Line YMCA on June 24.

“We hosted our first adaptive pickleball clinic in January and saw a tremendous response both in terms of attendees and volunteers,” shares Erin Lacotta, Director of Behavior Support & Adaptive Programs at YGBW. “So often people talk about how pickleball combines physical activity with social elements, and we really saw that at our first event. It was a fun and rewarding experience for everyone involved and I look forward to hosting more classes this spring.”

Registration is required for these events and interested parties should visit the event calendar on the YGBW website at ymcagbw.org/events. YMCA staff will provide instruction and required equipment. Attendees should dress for physical activity and wear sneakers.

A Commitment to the Adaptive Community
The YMCA offers a wide variety of adaptive offerings including dance classes, social groups, gymnastics and swimming classes and more. These programs are available for various ages and are tailored specifically to the adaptive community.

“The term ‘adaptive’ may be new to some folks,” continues Lacotta. “Adaptive programs and events have been tailored specifically to meet the needs of individuals with physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities. Our adaptive community wants to participate as much as the rest of us – and I am proud to work for an organization that is committed to tailoring and adapting our curriculum to meet the needs of all.”

The YMCA makes every effort to ensure that their offerings are open to all members of the community and is offering Bumblebee Day Camp this summer, an adaptive summer camp for children with developmental delays and disabilities, held at the Upper Main Line YMCA. With smaller ratios, this camp will promote independence, social skill development, communication and self-confidence. This camp group will be included with their day camp peers whenever possible for activities such as opening and closing ceremonies, daily swim, arts and crafts, nature, music and sports.

To support their growing catalog of adaptive offerings, YGBW has hired additional behavioral specialists to work alongside Lacotta, supporting those with diverse needs. Behavioral Specialists provide training, resources and support to teachers and program directors across YGBW.

For more information about adaptative offerings, please visit ymcagbw.org/adaptive.

A Growing Pickleball Community
Pickleball has taken off at YGBW with more than 2,000 active members engaging in pickleball play across the association’s 43 courts.

"Part of the reason that pickleball has gained popularity so quickly is that the sport is friendly to players of all abilities,” comments Jackie Canan, Senior Director of Pickleball at YGBW. “The sport is fun to play and easy to learn no matter your age, abilities or prior experience. Because pickleball is so accessible to all types of players, the demand for court time is off the charts!”

To help support the growing need, YGBW is opening a dedicated pickleball facility – YMCA Pickleball Center at Downingtown – with nine indoor courts. The facility is targeting a summer 2023 opening date and memberships and presale specials are available on the YGBW website.

To learn about Adaptive Pickleball at the YMCA https://ymcagbw.org/events/adaptive-pickleball-0
To learn more YGBW Adaptive Programs https://ymcagbw.org/adaptive-programs-ymca
To learn more about YMCA Pickleball Center at Downingtown https://ymcagbw.org/locations/ymca-pickleball-center-downingtown