The concept of a holistic approach in the care of all children is the importance of addressing ALL the needs of a child in order to help each achieve his/her full potential for recovery and well-being. The FAC at Miami Children's Hospital encourages parents to actively pursue their child's emotional well being with all the vigor with which they pursue physical health for their child. The following list was compiled to guide parents of disabled children in finding programs, which might be helpful in refocusing such children on their abilities and not their disabilities. We wish for you happy and healthy children.

Basketball - Miami Heat Wheelers has a children's team. Call Bill Allen at (305) 232-2212 for more information about this program.

Boggy Creek Gang Camp provides therapeutic camp programs for children with chronic illnesses, including special programs for those entering adolescent years. Also offered are educational and supportive programs and services for the parents, siblings, and other family members of chronically ill children. For more information call (352) 483-4200 or visit www.boggycreek.org.

Bubbles Dive Center has an age requirement for participation and provides the dive experience to the disabled. For more information contact George Perez at (305) 856-0565.

Camp Coral Kids is a camp facility for diabetic children and offers two-week sessions with recreational activities geared especially for the diabetic child. For more information call (954) 796-3990.

Challenged Air offers a special flying program for disabled children. For more information contact Jeff Shaffner at (954) 527-4661.

Community Committee for Developmental Handicaps (CCDH) advocates and provide support services to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families, and is available to assist parents and children in a variety of ways, including locating recreational activities, which will suit their individual needs. Advocacy is provided to those parents seeking additional assistance in meeting their child's needs in the community. More information is available by calling (305) 596-1160.

Dancing - contact Karen Peterson for more information at (305) 378-6903.

Fencing - for more information about this program contact Mike Elder at (305) 665-1040 or email melder@neptune.com

4-H is a fun educational program for young people ages 5-18. This program has something for everyone and anyone can join. Joining a 4-H club is a great way to learn new things and meet new people. There are many ways to become involved and to participate. To determine what is right for you and your family, contact Carol Retter at (305) 592-8044.

Homestead's VIP Program for physically and mentally disabled children offers soccer programs in season. Contact Tony Agrait for more information at (305) 242-3002.

Kiwanis Horses & Handicapped has programs for children with disabilities to enable them to experience and interact with horses in a safe and supportive environment. For more information, contact (305) 271-2210.

Lighthouse for the Blind offers a children's summer camp program. Call (305) 856-2288, email INFO@MiamiLighthouse.com or visit www.miamilighthouse.com for more information.

Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department assists in mainstreaming qualified children with disabilities into all appropriate summer aquatic and camp Park programs. For more information call (305) 755-7848.

Miami Power Team Foundation, Inc. is an organization dedicated to helping children with physical disabilities. The team helps these children to participate in karate, baseball, skating, basketball, tennis, and bowling (on wheelchair) as physical therapy and fun. For more information, call (305) 380-8759.

One Arm Bandits - One-handed Softball has a children's team. For more information contact Victor Rosario at (305) 552-1494.

Parent to Parent of Miami provides training, information, support, advocacy and emergency assistance to families who have children and adults with disabilities. For more information, contact (305) 271-9797.

Peer Link Programs, Inc. provides supervised travel and recreation for individuals of all ages with developmental and physical disabilities. Contact (305) 408-0166.

Shake-A-Leg Miami offers a post trauma rehabilitation program to help persons with physical or developmental limitations reach his or her fullest potential. Their programs include sailing, rowing, swimming, scuba diving, and snorkeling. The facility is specifically designed to allow disabled people easier access to water activities. For information call (305) 858-5550.

Swim Gym offers swimming lessons and aquatic exercise for disabled children and pediatric cardiac patients. For more information contact Jennie Straus at (305) 271-9000.

Talking Book Library is a special service of the Miami-Dade Public Library System that loans Talking Books, along with the necessary tape and record players, FREE of charge to eligible patrons. All services are available by mail postage free. View the catalog list of available titles at www.klas.com/talkingbooks/florida. Contact the regional office at (800) 226-6075 for more information, or the sub-regional office in Miami-Dade at (305) 751-8687.

United Fishing Foundation has organized "Help America Fish," an annual event in Islamorada which pairs a physically challenged child with an able-bodied person together to compete against others in fishing events. For more information contact Cynthia Ryan at (914) 949-8849.

Wilderness Inquiry offers trips for families with disabled children. Contact (800) 728-0719 or (612) 379-3858.

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