Since 2014, Endeavor in Westchester County, NY, has empowered children and adults by providing the highest quality equine-assisted services in an inclusive and welcoming environment.
Able Athletics is committed to fostering a more inclusive world for youth living with developmental disorders and others with needs for accommodations by imparting the importance of inclusivity through education. They strive to create an inclusive environment for children of all abilities, actively addressing the challenges encountered by those with learning, attention, physical, and intellectual differences.
BluePath provides autism service dogs, offering safety,
companionship, and opportunities for independence. A BluePath service dog’s primary role is to provide safety for a child out in public. The dogs are trained to prevent a child from bolting, either into the street or away from parents in a crowded area. They also provide children with much needed companionship, increased social acknowledgment from peers, opportunities for independence and increased levels of confidence.
The Katonah Village Library has hosted 3 of our Inclusive Initiative trainings, has created a wonderful social story that is available online and in person, has sensory sensitive kits on hand in the children's rooms, offers several quiet areas including a sound resistant pod, offers monthly sensory sensitive story time, and always provides an inclusive atmosphere.
The Bedford Playhouse has hosted Inclusive Initiative meet ups, screenings connected to neurodiversity issues, has rolled out a monthly sensory sensitive screening series, and always has a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere both to patrons and employees.
A 501(c)(3) charitable organization created to improve lives of children with multiple disabilities and complex medical needs. They have wonderful inclusive events planned for the year like their inclusive dance, inclusive gardening with Westchester Land Trust, and inclusive trick or treating which was a huge success in 2024 when they launched it.
The Bedford Police Department has had nearly all officers and administration trained in neurodiversity as of 2024, has launched a neurodivergent registry, has brought on board BluePath service dog named Maverick, has hosted events to connect police officers with the neurodivergent community, and they are committed to this initiative.
The Pound Ridge Library has recently renovated the Children's room and launched a sensory room, designed with insight and care, especially with neurodivergent children and families in mind. Library director, Jennifer Coulter, is a parent of a child with autism, so she personally understands the needs of the community. The library serves as a welcoming space for people of all ages and backgrounds, with monthly inclusive programming.
After owners attended our neurodiversity training, ROAM immediately hosted Sensory family events, and afterwards, programming for neurodivergent children. Their newly launched Sensory classes focus on reinforcing children’s inherent curiosity for movement; refining it through the fundamentals of Parkour. An athletic pursuit for anyone of any ability, Parkour is all about learning how our bodies move—especially relative to the world around us. It refines strength, balance, and body awareness regardless of how much or how little a student begins with.
North East Westchester Special Recreation, Inc. strives to provide community-based therapeutic recreation programs that enhance the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning of children, teens and adults with developmental disabilities. They provide confidence building experiences that foster and cultivate meaningful relationships.
The Katonah Museum of Art welcomes all visitors, both on-site and online. We strive to make our website, buildings, galleries, and programs accessible to all of our patrons. They work to assist visitors with disabilities in obtaining reasonable and appropriate accommodations and in supporting equal access to their services, programs, and activities. They have a Sense backpack on site that includes noise-reducing headphones, fidget toys, an art activity, and some special books, as well as a social story listed on their page as well as in our Social Stories section.
Please support these local businesses and organizations that have taken the first step of attending our Inclusive Initiative Neurodiversity Training: