Kids with Special Needs: Schools, Churches & Activities

If you have a child with special needs your search for a school and church can take a different path.  While some kids do well in a “regular” school with specific tutors or programs, others need to be a program that is focused on their needs.  Here are some options in the area, recommended by the moms.  For more reviews check out the Mom Support Groups post for some special needs support groups.

Pre-School Kids

Tennessee Early Intervention Systems (TEIS)
Free services for children with delays up to age three.   EMM Review

Shelby County Schools
preschool programs throughout the city for children with special needs beginning at age 3 (free).

SRVS Kids & Families Play Do Learn Preschool
18 months – 5/6 years
Formerly kknownas Special Kids and Families – located in Independent Pres. Church.
My son went to school there and we loved it! It’s an inclusive preschool and they now take children from 18 months to 5/6 in the preschool program.

Lindenwood Christian Childcare Center
6 weeks – 4 years
I’m the Director at Lindenwood Child Care and we welcome children with special needs! We were the first child care in Memphis to form a partnership with LeBonheur to help us care for children with daily medical needs. Our teachers are really passionate about helping each child progress at their own pace and be successful. We also have an Inclusion Facilitator on site who supports children with special needs and their teachers. I would love to give them a tour!

Le Bonheur Early Intervention and Development (LEAD) program
up to age three
How old is the child? Have them call le bonheur early intervention and development. We have a program that places kids with special needs to day cares! 901.287.4900 ask to speak to Beverly Cannon.

SEED Program at Buntyn Preschool
The S.E.E.D. (Spectrum Educational Enrichment & Development) is for children 3-6 years old. Children may be diagnosed with autism, display undiagnosed symptoms of autistic behavior, or are traditional children in need of behavioral support in the classroom setting.

The Angel Program at Holy Rosary
Preschool for kids with autism, ages 3-7

Harwood Center
children from birth to three years of age with developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorders, down syndrome, cerebral palsy, visual and hearing impairments, prematurity, behavioral disorders, and spina bifida.

Germantown United Methodist Preschool (GUMP)
2 – 5 years
GUMP will began offering its first class for children with special needs in August 2016. The program, called GUMP Recognizes All Can Excel (GRACE), will partner with Le Bonheur’s Early Intervention and Development (LEAD) service to provide teacher support along with hands-on specialists in the classroom.

The University of Memphis Institute on Disability / TigerLIFE program
4050 S. Loop Park Bld/lot 29 South Campus
Memphis TN, 38111
UMID/TigerLIFE is sponsoring is a pre-transitional career development program. Consisting of workshops and job shadowing for high school seniors students with any disability, between the ages of 14-22, with an individualized educational program (IEP), and does not have an open case with the vocational rehabilitation with the state of Tennessee. There is no cost to families, and it is not associated with attending the theTigerLIFE program at University of Memphis. This is a program for helping all interested students and their families really make an informed career choice. Please contact Patrick Krolik.

Janna Hacker & Associates
Preschool Language Groups for 3 hours each morning. Children do not need a specific diagnosis and range from 2-5 years of age. Children can attend from 1-5 days/week. They improve pre-academic skills, language, motor, social, & behavior.

Harwood Center
Our program consists of specialized education and therapeutic services for children age 18 months through the transition to kindergarten who have a diagnosed developmental disability or are experiencing delays in their development or have behavior challenges.
My son attends Harwood. They actually start kids at 18months and go to 5 years. They are AMAZING. They take kids with ANY disability. There are no more than 6 kids in a class with two/three teachers in each class. My son has begun to thrive and their help has been exactly what we needed. They have 4 locations around Memphis!

School-Aged Kids

The Bodine School
Germantown
dyslexia and other reading-related disabilities, school and an after-school program

Janna Hacker & Associates
Social groups are available for one hour per week for 3-13-year-olds (no diagnosis required but many have ADD, anxiety, or autism).

The Phoenix School
Germantown
Grades 1-12
all types of learning disabilities (A.D.D., A.D.H.D., and verbal Autism Spectrum Disorder)

Shady Oaks School
Cordova
Ages 7-14
ADD, ADHD, Dyslexia and other learning difficulties

The Bowie Center
Memphis
Grades 1-12
Focused on issues related to reading, including Dyslexia

St. Francis of Assisi Plus Program
Cordova
Multi-sensory approaches including auditory, visual, and kinesthetic learning

St. Benedict High School Plus Program
Cordova
Grades 9-12
The program serves students with a diagnosed learning disability and an average to above average intelligence in preparation for college.

Madonna Learning Center
Germantown
individualized academic and therapeutic education to students and young adults with intellectual disabilities starting at age 5

ABA
7953 Stage Hills Blvd #101, Bartlett, TN 38133
ABA Development is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of children with developmental delays. Our goal is to provide behavioral treatment utilizing the principles of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) in order to help individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder of all ages and developmental levels reach their full potential. We offer a variety of ABA-based therapy programs and social skills classes to children with autism or similar conditions, addressing challenges in the following areas: Behavior, Communication, Daily Living, Social Skills, and Academics.

Concord Academy – Independent Boarding and Day School
4942 Walnut Grove Rd, Memphis, TN 38117
Concord Academy is a private, state-approved, non-profit school for students with special needs such as learning disabilities, attention deficits and many other problems that prevent students from learning in a regular class setting or school.

Churches with Special Needs Ministries

• Hope 4 Macky and Friends at Hope Presbyterian Church (they offer an Egg Hunt annually too!) Named for Macky Oates, our first child with a disability. Our ministry has expanded so that classrooms will be age-appropriate. We have classrooms for younger students, Tweens/teens /or school age, and adults. We also have a quiet room available for students who need a break from sensory input and/or could benefit from sensory integration.
• Highpoint Church
• Special Friends at Second Presbyterian Church
• The Life Church Champions Club
• Bellevue Baptist Church
• Germantown Presbyterian Church – PEACE Program
• St. Elisabeth’s Episcopal Church – “Our 9am Sunday morning service is geared toward families with young children and is very open and accepting to those with special needs. The service is shorter, with child-friendly songs and prayers, a story time instead of an adult sermon, and a congregation that is tolerant of children moving around and making noises. We are a welcoming, joyful, and liturgical church.”

Special Needs Activities

TOPSoccer
Germantown
Ages 5 – 19
Free program for children with physical and or intellectual disabilities to play the game of soccer. Part of the Germantown Legends organization.

Old West Special Trails
Eads
The Trail Blazers class is specifically designed for children with special needs.

Camp Conquest
A Christ-centered, week-long, overnight camp for children and adults (ages 6-60) with special needs and disabilities

Urban Air
A Special Time Just For You
Saturday – 8 AM to 10 AM
Big Air – $15, Little Air – $10
We offer a dedicated time just for jumpers with special needs. Music is played at a lower volume and the park’s atmosphere is calmer. One parent or guardian can support jumpers on the trampoline for free. Siblings of jumpers are welcome to jump for the same price, but should be more careful during this time.
*A Special Time Just For You is not available during blackout dates or holidays.

rEcess PNO at Independent Presbyterian Church
First Friday of the month.
Special children 12 and under, plus their siblings.
Fun activities, crafts, movies.

Night To Shine Prom (Tim Tebow Foundation)
Union Avenue Baptist Church
2181 Union Ave, Memphis, TN 38104
Usually in February.

Trinity Farms in Lakeland
10365 Monroe Rd, Lakeland, TN 38002
Trinity Farms is a hunter/jumper horseback riding facility in Lakeland, TN. We offer board, lessons, therapeutic riding, teambuilding, and summer camps.
As part of our lesson program, we offer therapeutic horseback riding lessons and equine facilitated learning (EFL) sessions for children and adults with a PATH Int’l. certified instructor. Participants in our therapeutic riding and EFL program learn equestrian based skills and have the opportunity to ride and compete in our hunter/jumper program. Leaders and sidewalkers are provided as necessary for stability and safety.