What We Do

Philadelphia After School Program

Variety’s After School Program enriches the lives of children and young adults with intellectual disabilities through social, educational, and vocational programs that nurture independence and self-confidence to prepare them for life.

Goals

To provide a wide range of educational and recreational activities and expose children to activities they may not have had the opportunity to experience
To help students demonstrate educational and social benefits and exhibit positive behavioral changes
To provide a safe, stable, and supportive environment for students and their families
To assist students in exceeding appropriate state and local academic achievement standards in reading and math (based on criterion found in each student’s Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
To improve students’ performance measure of school attendance, classroom performance, and reduced disciplinary referrals

Features

Variety offers free After School Programs at Widener Memorial School for children with disabilities. The After School Program operates from Sept to June, Monday through Friday from 3:00 – 6:00 pm. This program features:

Peer Mentors attend, actively interact with youth and assist site staff with implementing PBL (Project Based Learning)
Development of Life Skills
Development of Social Skills: Problem Solving, Team Building, Initiating Conversation, Maintaining Eye Contact, Seeking Help and Asking Questions.
Pre-vocational training (including job coaching, shadowing and on-going support)
STEM (Science Technology Engineering Math) through IPAD Technology Program
Culinary lessons teaching the children how to prepare and cook healthy foods. Over the course of eight lessons, students receive instruction in food knowledge, nutritional value and how to prep and cook food

Locations

Widener Memorial School: Ages 7-21
1450 West Olney Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19141

Overbrook School for the Blind
6333 Malvern Ave
Phila, PA 19151

Contacts

Nicholas Larcinese
(610) 584-4366 x 230
Nicholas.larcinese@varietyphila.org

Jayana Caple
267-650-5705