Recreational programming promotes health, well-being, and overall quality of life. Here we review tips for creating adaptive recreation programming for your community.
The development and implementation of adaptive recreation programming is much more inclusive and accessible with the involvement of facilitators that have specific knowledge and lived experience.
Adaptive recreation professionals can provide guidance in best practices, accessible equipment, and overcoming barriers to recreational activities, such as ensuring proper transportation is in place and recreational areas are accessible. They may also recommend inclusive practices and strategies for effective communication and safety − all critical to successful adaptive recreation.
The professional designation of these facilitators in the US is Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.
Staff should be well versed in the program mission and culture, and have the required knowledge and training. The hiring process for these staff members must focus on their experience, education, and commitment to accessibility and inclusion. Wherever possible, persons with lived experience should be included in recreation programs as they can bring valuable personal insights to the program.
Staff should also be trained in the best customer service principles and practices and have the tools and resources to accommodate diverse abilities and backgrounds. Finally, providers should maintain robust continuing education programs and have the ability to design recreation activities in a manner that enables cooperative collaboration from all participants.
In general, some helpful tips in developing adaptive recreation providers should consider include:
In addition, providers should make safety and inclusion a priority - this requires taking into consideration the unique needs of all participants by incorporating a variety of precautions and best practices, such as:
As with any activity, organizations should engage participants to identify the best ways to accommodate and provide programming that fits the needs of their community. A great start to developing adaptive recreation programming is to engage the community at the local level and identify professionals in the industry that can share best practices and provide lived experiences.