Parents

“I don't think words can express the difference KEEN has made in my son's life.  Coming to KEEN makes his whole day.  After KEEN, he is so happy - it makes a huge difference for our entire family."

- KEEN Parent

KEEN welcomes every child, regardless of the nature or severity of his or her disability. In its open, unstructured and non-competitive environment, every child can enjoy every activity without the fear of losing or not being the best. KEEN "Athletes" gain confidence and self-esteem, and perhaps most important, a sense of social belonging. And they have fun!


KEEN’s programs are offered entirely free of charge to families and caregivers.


KEEN Athletes have disabilities such as autism, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, and various intellectual and developmental disabilities. KEEN's unique model allows for people with any type of disability, including those with significant needs, to find success. For some of the children and young adults who are unable to participate in other programs, KEEN may be their only recreational activity.


At each KEEN session, a participating athlete (participant) is paired with a coach (volunteer) for a variety of age-appropriate recreational activities. In recruiting volunteers we emphasize that commitment to the program can be flexible and will not require regular attendance (though this is welcome). For this reason the coaching "volunteer" will more often than not change from session to session.


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KEEN le da la bienvenida a cada niño/a, sin importar la naturaleza o seriedad de su discapacidad. Al ser un programa abierto, desestructurado y no competitivo, cada niño puede disfrutar las actividades sin el miedo de perder o de no ser el mejor. Los KEEN "Atletas" desarrollan su confianza en sí mismos y su autoestima, y posiblemente lo más importante, el sentido de pertenecer. ¡Y se divierten!


Los programas de KEEN son completamente gratis para las familias y cuidadores.


Los KEEN Atletas tienen discapacidades como el autismo, parálisis cerebral, síndrome de Down, y varias discapacidades intelectuales y del desarrollo. El modelo único de KEEN permite que las personas con cualquier tipo de discapacidad, incluidas aquellas con necesidades importantes, encuentren el éxito. Para algunos de los niños y adultos jóvenes que no pueden participar en otros programas, KEEN puede ser su única actividad recreativa.


En cada sesión de KEEN, un atleta participante se empareja con un entrenador (voluntario) para una variedad de actividades recreativas apropiadas para su edad. Al reclutar voluntarios enfatizamos que el compromiso con el programa puede ser flexible y no requerirá asistencia regular (aunque esto es bienvenido). Por esta razón, el "voluntario" de coaching cambiará la mayoría de las veces de una sesión a otra.

Some Commonly Requested Information:

  • Coaches

    KEEN coaches are people who share an enthusiasm for working with children through recreational and sports activities. All coaches are offered regular information sessions so that they can learn more about the young people with whom we work with and issues surrounding their athletes' different challenges.

  • Cost

    All activities are completely free of charge for both athletes and coaches. KEEN relies on generous contributions from corporate sponsors, foundations, and community members. Fundraising events are also held.

  • KEEN Programs

    Programs are open, unstructured and flexible. With the help of their volunteer coaches, KEEN Athletes can participate in a variety of non-competitive activities, including soccer, basketball, bowling, gymnastics and various adaptive activities. 


    No particular ability is necessary for our athletes: KEEN Coaches can tailor the activity to the need of the individual athlete. Athletes are encouraged to compete only with themselves, fulfilling individual goals and learning new skills in a relaxed and supportive environment.

  • Upcoming Schedule

    For the upcoming schedule, please email info@keenlosangeles.org for more information. Please arrive on time. If you arrive late, it will take longer to match your child with their volunteer coach.

  • Enrollment

    To enroll your child in KEEN, please consult the Enrollment Procedures.  Athlete families will be contacted by the KEEN Administrator to confirm session participation after receipt of the completed Enrollment Forms.

  • Athlete Privacy

    KEEN is seriously committed to maintaining the privacy of our athletes. Privacy of Athlete and Volunteer Information Policy.

  • Child Protection & Safety Measures

    At KEEN, nothing is more important than the safety of our athletes. For this reason, all of our volunteer coaches receive initial training and undergo screening and monitoring. Volunteers are also offered additional training opportunities that include Basic First Aid and CPR. Please review our information regarding Volunteer Coach Screening.

  • How a Parent/Guardian Can be More Involved in KEEN

    Parent involvement is a critical component of KEEN. We welcome ideas for parent information sharing and support. We also need parent input for program development and improvement. For more information call 213-892-1777 or email info@keenlosangeles.org