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Are any of you aware of programs designed to introduce kids / adults with special needs to shooting sports? I am regularly around kids and adults with special needs (i.e. Down Syndrome, CP, autism, mental retardation) and I have a child who fits into this category. I often think about how I could safely introduce them to a sport that has been a real joy to me.

Safety is my biggest concern. Like the rest of us, these folks are all over the map when it comes to judgement, physical abilities, speech, etc. I think that you'd need a one to one or even two to one ratio of teachers to students. The weapon would need to a BB/pellet gun or possibly a .22 single shot rifle or pistol. The range might need some additional security precautions and modifictions for those who aren't mobile.

Thoughts?

Dad24GreatKids wrote:Are any of you aware of programs designed to introduce kids / adults with special needs to shooting sports? I am regularly around kids and adults with special needs (i.e. Down Syndrome, CP, autism, mental retardation) and I have a child who fits into this category. I often think about how I could safely introduce them to a sport that has been a real joy to me.

Safety is my biggest concern. Like the rest of us, these folks are all over the map when it comes to judgement, physical abilities, speech, etc. I think that you'd need a one to one or even two to one ratio of teachers to students. The weapon would need to a BB/pellet gun or possibly a .22 single shot rifle or pistol. The range might need some additional security precautions and modifictions for those who aren't mobile.

Thoughts?

To start with you need professional help to pull something like this off, and fortunately the NSSF is there. I would suggest contacting them and see what they have in mind, it could be considered an outreach from their first shots program. http://nssf.org/

Edit to add: Just for the record the NSSF is the shooting sports industry group that is comprised of manufacturers, distributors, dealers, ranges, media and so on. These are the guys who have a vested interest in promoting shooting sports and they do just that.

Might also want to check into local 4-H groups, some cater to or work well with special needs kiddos and there are some "shooting sports specific" 4-H clubs.

Veteran's associations are a good source.

All - thanks for the suggestions. I'll start with nssf.org and see what they can suggest.