Transcript 5-Ways-to-Make-Your-Park-and-Rec-Program-More
Professional Development Webinar Series
5 Ways to Make Your Park and Rec Program More Inclusive and Accessible
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5 Ways to Make Your Park and Rec Program More Inclusive and Accessible
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5 Ways to Make Your Park and Rec Program More Inclusive and Accessible
This webinar is made possible with generous support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
Today’s Moderator
Dan Humphreys
CDSS, MS Director of BlazeTEC
Today’s Presenter
Larry Labiak
Disability Policy Officer Chicago Park District • Disability Policy Officer for the Chicago Park District 2005-Present • 12+ Years of service with Chicago Mayor’s Office for people with Disabilities (MOPD) • Over 30 years of experience in disabled and adapted sports as an • Athlete • Official • Coach • Administrator
5 Ways to Make Your Park and Rec Program More Inclusive and Accessible Policies Staff Training Transportation Programming Equipment & Facilitates
Disability Facts
54 million Americans 1 in 5 individuals has a disability 16% of people with disabilities use mobility devices Face the greatest number of physical barriers in the community 49% of people with disabilities have either a vision or hearing impairment 33% of people with disabilities have a major medical condition Majority of disabilities are “invisible”
Source: DBTAC-Great Lakes ADA Center
27 million people have a physical or sensory disability Over the next 15 years, an additional 60 million people will reach retirement age (i.e. baby boomers) Over 600,000 individuals with disabilities live or work in Chicago Close to 400,000 senior citizens live in Chicago
Chicago Park District Core Values
Open – useable by all Active – enhance active recreation opportunities Green – environment-friendly practices, procedures and materials Connected – support, funding, partnerships
Park System
3 Regions North – Central – South 582 parks 8,126 acres of park land 239 field houses 519 playgrounds 17 historic lagoons 24 miles of lakefront 18 miles of paved lakefront trails 24 beaches/10 harbors 144 gymnasiums 75 fitness centers 77 swimming pools
POLICIES
Review and Development
Evaluate current policies to ensure they address needs of people with disabilities (PWDs) Service Animals Power-driven Mobility Devices Emergency Planning
Non-traditional Groups Protected Under the ADA
Asthma - inhalers Diabetes - monitoring Severe Allergic Reactions - EpiPens (Epinephrine auto injectors)
Take advantage of existing resources Best practices by other park districts/parks departments Project Civic Access - DOJ Your local ADA Information Center Being reactive could cost you more in the long-run
Resources
Network of ADA Centers (800) 949-4232 www.adata.org
U.S. Department of Justice (800) 514-0301 (voice) (800) 514-0383 (TTY) www.ada.gov
U.S. Access Board (800) 872-2253 (voice) (800) 993-2822 (TTY) (202) 272-0081 (fax) www.access-board.gov
STAFF TRAINING
Why?
It is the right thing to do Alleviate concerns of both disabled consumers and staff Reduce disability-related complaints
Types of Training
Disability Awareness & Etiquette ADA Compliance General policies and procedures (e.g. locker rooms/bath houses) Proper use of assistive equipment Experiential learning (e.g. role playing)
Special Recreation Staff Training Crisis Prevention and Intervention Transfer Training Familiarity with various disability types (e.g. Autism, deaf/HH, seizure disorder) BlazeSports Certified Disability Sport Specialist (CDSS)
Tools for the Trades Cheat sheet/crib notes Standard ADA details cut sheet (e.g. parking space dimensions/access aisles/signage) Beach walk maintenance procedures Pool lift operations/repair procedures Photos depicting problem areas (e.g. degraded pathways)
TRANSPORTATION
An Age Old Problem
Lack of an accessible vehicle Policy prohibitions Distance between participants’ homes/schools and target site Societal norms tend to exclude PWDs from mainstream activities Carpooling complexities Funding
Dealing with the Problem
Identifying Resources Partners with similar philosophies Link to ADA Para-transit service Door-to-door Travel training Develop working knowledge of accessible travel options (e.g. one lift-equipped bus vs. two)
Retraining the parents Increase awareness History/Paralympic Movement Disability Sport Community Raise expectations Potential Long-term benefits
Programming
Developing Programming Options/Choices
Inclusive Segregated Combination
Identification
Resources Facilities/equipment Experience/knowledge Barriers/obstacles Real and perceived Cross-disability differences Potential Partners
Benefits of Participation
Athlete Self-discipline Teamwork Leadership Sportsmanship Socialization Professional Work ethic Collaboration Management skills Flexibility Communication skills
Being Part of the Athlete Development Continuum
The beginning Grassroots Athlete identification The progression Recreation Lifelong health/fitness opportunities
Outreach to Disabled Community
(CPD Disability Advisory Committee) Centers for Independent Living (CIL) Sub-disability advocacy organizations Local disabled sports teams/organizations Municipal disabled services/advocacy agency (e.g. Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities) Veterans’ services organizations Website/social media/electronic media
What are our goals?
Short-term Long-term
CPD Goals
Short-term Expose current program participants to additional adaptive sport and recreational opportunities Long-term To offer both integrated programming and specialized opportunities for specific disability populations
Short-term Outreach to active military and veteran population of Chicago Long-term Develop a veteran-based wheelchair softball team for the 2012 season and beyond
Partnership Development
Event support (e.g. one-time volunteers) Programmatic development (on-going) Mutually beneficial relationship Combine resources to eliminate gaps Formalize partnerships on paper Define the relationship within the program plan - Who will be responsible for what?
Communicate There will be adaptations from plan to practice To minimize misimpressions, misinterpretations and discord Evaluate To ensure long-term success Expand your network Continued partnerships Adding new partners
CPD Partners
World Sport Chicago Chicago Public Schools Chicago State University University of Illinois (Chicago & Urbana) Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago Midwest Wheelchair Sport & Social Club (MDWSSC) BlazeSports Judd Goldman Adaptive Sailing Program Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association (GLASA) Adaptive Adventures Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs Illinois Center for Rehabilitation & Education Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital Special Recreation Associations (SRANI) Chicago Indoor Rowing Championships/Lincoln Park Boat Club Creative Mobility/Project Mobility National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD)
Partnership Programs
Marketing Programs (Getting the Word Out)
Use alternative forms of communication Publicize programs through organizations that work with people with disabilities Include non-discrimination policy in all general information publications Include in announcements: Non-discrimination policy Site accessibility TTY numbers Availability of alternative formats Deadline for accommodation requests
Expand accessibility information on website All publications should include notice that: “This publication can be made available upon request in alternate formats. Call # for assistance.” Provide copy of access policy and implementation manual to all employees Improve design of printed displays Provide sign-language interpreter for major events, without waiting for request List TTY numbers and provide TTY training to staff Establish contracts for communication services that can be used throughout the department
Source: Recreation Management May/June 2005
Tips for Success
Provide programming options (i.e. choices) Utilize special events to target specific disability populations Identify leaders (existing and potential) within target disability populations Discover what works for you and continue to support it (i.e. sustainability)
Illinois SRA Levy (P.A. 93-612)
Property Tax-based Revenue Architectural Barriers Removal Programmatic Development Inclusion/One-on-One Aides Staff Support Transportation Equipment, etc.
Equipment & Facilities
Quick Thoughts
Self-evaluation and ADA Transition Plan 2010 Standards – Revised ADA Progress review/updat es
Moving Beyond the Norm
Fitness Centers Consider equipment type and placement
35 of 71 CPD fitness centers feature at least two wheelchair accessible pieces of equipment
Golf Courses 6 public courses = 6 single-rider golf cars
Lincoln Park Boat Club Adaptive Rowing Program Accessible Launch
Temporary Venues
Signage Path of Travel Counter Height/Reach Range Accidental Barriers Unique Features/Elements Coordination of Services/Communication
Signage
Mock-up of directional signage for wheeled vehicles on pedestrian pathways
…sometimes easier said than done!
Maintaining an accessible path of travel…
…try, try again
Counter Height/Reach Range
Accidental Barriers
Unique Features/Elements
Coordination of Services/ Communication
Summary
Policies Staff Training Transportation Programming Equipment & Facilitates
Q & A
Larry Labiak Disability Policy Officer Chicago Park District 541 N. Fairbanks Ct.
Chicago, IL 60611 312-742-5097 312-747-2001 (TTY) [email protected]
Housekeeping Items
NRPA Connect
Housekeeping Items
Following this webinar you will receive an email with a link to a survey. We would appreciate you spending a few minutes completing this follow-up survey in order to help us improve our professional development offerings. Anyone interested in CEU’s must complete the survey.
Thank You!
- Webinar Schedule -
June 20 th , 2pm EDT BlazeSports and the NWBA present: Effective Assessment Techniques for Successful Athlete, Team and Program Development Speaker: Doug Garner, M.S.
Head Coach, University of Texas-Arlington Wheelchair Basketball