This is brilliant and innovative…….
Let me tell you a little bit about this new FREE App that I just discovered….
Jooay is an app that was made to help children and youth with disabilities and their families find leisure activities that are adapted to their needs and are close to where they live. This free mobile and web-based App is available for iPhone and Android and currently lists more than 1,200 adapted leisure activities in all provinces across Canada! Jooay is also an App where parents, youth and other users can exchange information, rate and comment on activities, creating a community bound by a passion for leisure!
The activities are classified under several categories:
- Arts
- Sports
- Camps
- Others – support groups, cooking classes, adapted parks and playgrounds.
Activities are sorted by distance using your phone’s GPS.
Jooay is meant to build a community around adapted and inclusive leisure activities.
This App is amazing for families new on this journey. It’s amazing for families who are years into this journey. I believe that Jooay will provide families with peace of mind and knowing that accessible community activities will be listed on one App, it will cut down on time spent researching which activities we can register our children in for the summer, for those days that we just need a break, Christmas holidays and professional development days.
Those first few years of life can be so overwhelming for families. I get it. I didn’t know where to look. I didn’t know who to contact, and I didn’t think it was fair to put her in a program where she would struggle. I am all for inclusion and for Adele to be with her peers, in our community, but I also realize that she needs to be with others who have Down syndrome. She needs to feel successful, worthy and fully accepted. She needs to connect, not feel judged and form friendships with those with Down syndrome.
We participated in Special Olympics this year and it brought such joy to our family, especially Adele. Activities are modified to fit her needs. She is 5 years old, but didn’t start walking until 3.5 years old. She is unable to skip rope, walk on the balance beam or focus for extended periods of time. Special Olympics focuses on Adele’s strengths and allows her to choose activities where she feels most comfortable and where she can thrive and feel successful.
What is better than an App that can guide you and your family in the right direction? An app that will allow you to choose programs that are close to your location, ones that interest your child and where they will be with experienced leaders and get to form new friendships with their peers. Participating in activities/programs that are a great fit for your child, will allow families to connect, share stories, cry, laugh and of course, bond with those who understand the journey.
The types of disabilities that Jooay accommodates: intellectual, physical, Autism Spectrum Disorder, behavioural, visual and hearing. There is a rating system for programs and leisure activities. Jooay also loves feedback and for families to share ideas and activities that are happening in and around their communities.
CTV NEWS – HELPING KIDS WITH DISABILITIES PLAY
There will be a new App launch at the end of August/beginning of September! Stay tuned! In the meantime, download the App and get looking for activities and programs in your community and surrounding areas.
*I am looking for donations for our 100th Adele’s Over the Rainbow Basket! Let me know if you’d like to donate.*
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