So Kids SOAR, formerly Dreams For Kids DC, is a 501(c)3 nonprofit that has serviced the Washington Metro Area and beyond for over a decade. We enable our participants to Strive, Own, Achieve and Realize their potential through our wide offering of adaptive programming that includes athletic, recreational, and skill-building activities. Our programs are 100% free and include the below:
Clinics
SKS clinics are adaptive clinics held once or twice a month for youth with disabilities. Through our events, those with physical and developmental disabilities are able to come off the sidelines and unite with their peers. A lot of these children have been bullied in schools, and are left out of activities with able-bodied children. The empowerment and self confidence gained through the clinic will carry over from the field to the home, classroom, and the community, allowing them to realize that their disability will not prevent them from fulfilling their dreams. Each child is partnered with a volunteer to learn the essence of teamwork, have a mentor, and also bond over a sense of camaraderie.
Holiday Celebration
Throughout the year, we provide a wide variety of adaptive clinics for children with physical and developmental disabilities— from waterskiing and football to cooking and Prom. The SKS Holiday Celebration is more than a seasonal party; it is our culminating year-end event that gives our participants the opportunity to “pay-compassion-forward”. Participants engage in a variety of philanthropic activities at the Holiday Celebration including: wrapping presents for underprivileged children; decorating desserts for homeless shelters; making holiday cards for Veterans, and more. The SKS Holiday Celebration is a time for fun and philanthropy, and a reminder that their disabilities will not hold them back from reaching their potential.
Your Path To Success
SKS’s mentorship program that provides communication, leadership, and vocational skill building for young adults with developmental delays and/or physical disabilities in the DC area. The program concept derived from the need to provide SKS participants with resources to expand and grow after their time in our clinics. Over the course of 3 months, the program offers participants both skill-building workshops on topics such as resume development, interviewing, and formal e-mail communication as well as off-site group community service projects, site visits to places that employ those with disabilities, and opportunities to network. We seek for participants to walk away with meaningful relationships, new confidence, and real skills that allow them to pursue independence and gainful employment.
