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- Park and recreation programs, facilities and services should be accessible to people with disabilities (and other users). The phys-ical environment, program structure, communication methods and social components need to be accessible in order for people with disabilities to fully participate.
www.nrpa.org/contentassets/adf76d09aef54240b4eb449ce6111b96/parks-for-inclusion-guidelines-nrpa.pdfGUIDELINES FOR DISABILITY INCLUSION - National Recreation and ...
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NRPA defines inclusion as removing barriers, both physical and theoretical, so that all people, including those with physical and cognitive disabilities, have an equal opportunity to enjoy the benefits of parks and recreation.
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Aug 1, 2018 · Park and recreation departments across the country are establishing inclusive recreation programs and participation opportunities to give all citizens — from toddlers to seniors — an equal opportunity to participate in local activities, classes and athletic events.
5 days ago · Therapeutic Recreation sponsors recreational activities that are modified to meet the needs of individuals with disabilities. We enhance an individual’s physical, social, and lifetime recreational interests in a broad spectrum of leisure experiences.
- Overview
- Making parks autism-friendly
- The need for deep nature
Quiet spaces, staff training, and safety barriers are just some ways parks are becoming more accommodating to those on the spectrum.
So you have a child who’s autistic, and you want to introduce them to the beauty of nature. Perhaps some gorgeous rock formations, a little hiking, the raw wonder of a night under the stars.
How do you think that will work out?
The endless lines to get into the most popular national parks. The vast spaces—or the claustrophobic spaces. The bugs, the weird animal sounds in the distance. The heat and humidity, or the wind and cold, combined with a child who doesn’t always like to wear a coat or keep their shoes on. And, perhaps worst of all for many screen-dependent kids: dodgy Wi-Fi, or—shudder—no Wi-Fi at all.
There are many surprises in nature—and anyone who loves an autistic person knows surprises are not their jam. My own trip to the Grand Canyon with my autistic son ended with a steady stream of "nope," a refusal to get out of the car, and plaintive sobs when he realized we wouldn’t be back home in New York City for another week.
But now, more parks and recreation centers are seeking recognition as Certified Autism Centers. The imprimatur comes from the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), which oversees training in the field of cognitive disorders. The program was endorsed by the Autism Society of America.
While free passes are wonderful, they don’t address the very real day-to-day obstacles facing many on the spectrum.
Despite abundant research showing that spending time in nature can be deeply soothing to those on the spectrum (as it is to the rest of us) and can even help improve attention and focus, there are significant obstacles. The list of triggers includes new smells, new sensations, unfamiliar noises, too much light…the list goes on and on. With natural beauty, there is also a great deal of unpredictability. Certainly no one can control the weather.
For autistic families, the great outdoors is not a first choice. According to one recent study by the IBCCES, 87 percent of autism families never go on vacation at all. When they do go, it might be to a theme park, or a city.
(For autistic youths entering adulthood, a world of challenges awaits.)
But the new IBCCES initiative to certify certain parks and recreation centers as autism-friendly could be a game changer. To earn certification, 80 percent of all personnel must receive specialized training on dealing with people on the spectrum.
“For example, lifeguards and security people need to know what to expect,” says Myron Pincomb, chairman of IBCCES. The sensory environment, too, is evaluated: “Are there quiet areas people can retreat to, if they need to? Are there areas that may cause triggers, with sudden loud sounds or strobe lights?”
In 2014 Loren Penman, a retired educator, saw how her friend’s autistic grandchild was immediately calmer, more communicative, and more focused once he was surrounded by trees. That was the spark for her dream: To take an area in the wilderness and give it a certain predictability and order that would help autistic people thrive.
Her dream became a reality this month, when the Autism Nature Trail (ANT) opened in New York’s Letchworth State Park, just this month.
(These are the top 10 UNESCO World Heritage sites for families.)
In planning the trail, she consulted with Temple Grandin, one of the leading authorities on autism in the country. Autistic herself, Grandin achieved renown with her groundbreaking books Thinking in Pictures and The Autistic Brain (she was portrayed by Claire Danes in an award-winning biopic). “Temple told us, ‘We need to be in deep nature, so resist people who tell you to do this in a city park,’” Penman says.
The Autism Nature Trail is a meticulously maintained one-mile loop in the woods that is wheelchair accessible, with discrete stations that address all sorts of sensory and physical needs. There is a quiet reflective place, a place for running and jumping so kids can get their ya-yas out, a spot for smelling and touching (leaves, animal skins, branches)—and there is Wi-Fi, in case of emergencies.
Subtly, too, the trail has addressed one of the great fears parents of autistic kids have: elopement. There is a tendency for many, when overwhelmed or fearful or even happy, to take off. So Penman’s fellow ANT creators have left fallen trees and prickly barberry bushes surrounding the perimeter. “You wouldn’t notice it immediately, and we were told we should clear the barberries and logs, but we said, ‘No, let’s leave them, they are natural barriers to running off in the woods.’”
Sep 30, 2021 · In hopes of addressing the needs of the 7.3 million school-aged children with disabilities, park and recreation professionals are constructing inclusive play environments that go well beyond basic ADA compliance.
Special needs gymnastics class. These classes are designed to allow our athletes that have sensory and special needs time in the gym. Our instructors are trained to help athletes develop in many areas including muscle development, creative moments and social development.
Adaptive Sports Club of Columbus (formerly Paralympic Sports Club of Columbus) provides competitive and recreational activities for people with disabilities in Central Ohio and surrounding areas. Individuals can establish meaningful relationships with peers while being physically active.
