SNAP Spring 2020

About the SNAP Program

We invite children of determination between the ages of 8-12 years and who fit the below criteria to apply for the program. 

The program will run once a week on Mondays for a period of six consecutive weeks.

Our hope is to help participants achieve progress in improving social skills through sport and mentorship with NYUAD student buddies under the guidance of professional athletic instructors.

Eligibility Criteria

• Must be a child with an intellectual disability between the ages of 8–12 years
• Must be physically comfortable moving up and down a basketball court 
• Participated in group activities before and comfortable with receiving instruction from multiple buddies
• Needs to be available to join all six session dates on Mondays beginning on February 10 till March 17 2020. Session dates are outlined below.
• Children need to be transported to NYUAD’s Saadiyat Campus each session and parents/guardians are required to stay for the duration of each session.

Important Dates

• Monday, February 10, 2020
• Monday, February 17, 2020
• Monday, February 24, 2020
• Monday, March 2, 2020
• Monday, March 9, 2020
• Monday, March 16, 2020

Time

4:30–5:30pm

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What is SNAP?

SNAP (Special Needs Adaptive Programs) at NYU Abu Dhabi provides inclusive adaptive recreational sports coaching to children with special needs in the Abu Dhabi and UAE community. This popular program was co-founded by NYUAD’s Office of Community Outreach and NYUAD Athletics with community partner Goals UAE in spring 2015. SNAP pairs NYUAD volunteers with young participants of determination as ‘buddies,’ mentoring the children under the direction of NYUAD physical education instructors. The goals of the program are to provide a safe inclusive environment, using recreational sports as a means to improve social communication skills and integration with children of determination. Since its launch, the NYUAD SNAP program has hosted iterations across football, basketball, aquatics, and artistic movement. 

Formerly a popular volunteer program, the SNAP program has now been developed into a credit bearing Physical Education (PE) course as part of NYUAD’s wider efforts towards inclusion and legacy efforts from the Special Olympics World Games 2019.