Through our special needs resources blogs, we’ve worked to showcase other organizations working to service the special needs community. We jump at the chance to spotlight movements that help those with special needs and serve God simultaneously. A company founded on Christian values ourselves, we appreciate the effort that professional athlete Tim Tebow has made for the special needs population around the nation. It’s important to us to see God’s love shine on through a national effort like Night to Shine.
What Is Night to Shine?
Night to Shine is a prom night experience for special needs teens sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Starting in 2014, Tim Tebow rallied with churches all around the country to host proms for adolescents with special needs, ages 14 and older. In its first year, Night to Shine was held in three countries, including the United States.
The first Night to Shine served 7,000 guests, but Night to Shine 2020 event served over 100,000. The movement grew from 44 participating churches to over 700.
More About Night to Shine in the Media
- Tim Tebow Hosts ‘Night to Shine’ for Over 115,000 ‘Kings and Queens’ with Special Needs
- Watch Official ‘Night to Shine’ Worldwide Highlight Video from Tim Tebow Foundation
- It’s Time for ‘Night to Shine 2020,’ Tebow’s ‘Favorite Night of the Year’
- Tim Tebow’s ‘Night to Shine’: Hear the Backstory About Proms for People with Special Needs
- Special Report: A Night to Shine
- Smiles About at Night to Shine 2020 Event
How Does the Tim Tebow Foundation Make a Difference for Children with Special Needs Ages 14 and Older?
How does a special needs prom make any lasting impact at all for children with disabilities? For those who are unfamiliar with the limited resources available for teenagers with special needs, a special needs prom night might not seem that revolutionary.
However, the special needs population is one of the most marginalized groups in the world, the most if you break down each individual disability. While public schools are working to be more inclusive, it’s unlikely that teenagers with autism, Down syndrome or cerebral palsy will find more than a handful of students who look like them — if they’re lucky.
Night to Shine is the chance for teenagers with special needs to feel just like any other teenager: to dance, to play, to dress up, to hang out with their friends, to feel independent. It’s not just a night of fun, but a chance to make new, lasting friendships and a time to build confidence.
Dancing Is a Workout: How Exercise Helps People with Special Needs
Besides helping special needs teens feel more connected with one another and more connected with God, Night to Shine also gets attendees to feel the music and express themselves through dance. It’s not just a fun way to pass the time: Dancing is a serious cardio workout.
But why is that important? Who cares if people with special needs get exercise? Well, we do! And so does Tim Tebow apparently.
Exercise can help teens with adolescents in a number of ways:
- It can help combat obesity, which is especially prevalent in the special needs population.
- Exercise quells feelings of restlessness and makes fidgeting and hyperactivity less common.
- It can calm the nervous system, retraining the fight-or-flight response, making emotional outbursts less likely.
- Exercise promotes longevity of health and life.
- Cardiovascular exercise is especially good for the heart and respiratory system.
Want to Read More on This Topic?
- How to Get Your Special Needs Child to Do More Cardio
- Special Needs Weight Loss Tips for Your Child
- Adapted Fitness Exercise Workout Plan (Home or Gym)
- How to Live a Healthier Life with Autism
- 4 Workouts That Reduce Behaviors in Children with Special Needs
- 5 Ways Exercise Helps People with ADHD and Autism
- Sensory Workouts for People with ADHD and Autism
- Fighting Childhood Obesity: Exercises for Children with ADHD and Autism
Fitness for Special Needs
Special Strong is an organization that connects people with special needs to personal trainers who are uniquely certified to work with our clientele. No one body is the same as the next, but personal trainers who are used to working with able-minded and able-bodied clients may not understand the particular needs of clients with disabilities.
All of our trainers know how to assess the fitness level for clients with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and more. Furthermore, they know how to modify exercises so that anyone can complete them, regardless of their ability level. We’re a North Texas-based company. Find a location near you.
No Special Strong in Your Area? Franchise One!
Special Strong is a fast-growing company, but we don’t have many locations outside of the North Texas area. If you’re live outside this area, you might be frustrated to find a lack of Special Strong certified personal trainers.
Your upset shows that you understand the value of our organization. So, what if you helped us expand by starting a Special Strong franchise in your area?
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Other Special Needs Resources
If you have a special needs teen in the North Texas area, then you’ll be happy to discover these special needs resources, which we also explore on our website. Whether you need a chiropractor, a school or speech therapy center to help your child with special needs, we’re connected with an organization that can help.
- Educational Advocates and Consultants, LLC
- Marien Elizabeth Photography
- Expressing Life Chiropractic
- Notre Dame School of Dallas: No Limits, Just Possibilities
- Lauve’s Pediatric Extended Care
- Habla Speech Therapy and Certified Autism Center
- Dynamic Development Strategies
- Diverse Abilities