Best Practices & Collaboration KNR 270

ADA Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (PL ) Goals Eliminate discrimination against people with disabilities Insure access into every critical area of American life, including recreation

NRPA Position Statement on Inclusion, 1999 Purpose: “Encourage all providers of park, recreation, and leisure services to provide opportunities in settings where people of all abilities can recreate and interact together.” Beliefs: Right to leisure Quality of life Support, assistance, & accommodations Barrier removal

Questions What are the benefits of inclusion For people with disabilities? For people without disabilities? What are the concerns about inclusion For people with disabilities? For people without disabilities?

Barriers to Inclusion Consistently Reported Devine & Kotowski, 1999 Germ & Schleien, 1997 Schleien, Germ, & McAvoy, 1996 Lack of finances Perceived staff skill deficiencies Transportation Architectural Attitudes of staff Attitudes of public Safety concerns Participant to staff ratio inadequacies Adaptive equipment Program modification Behavior plans

Barriers Concern that the same barriers have been identified for the last ten years Devine & Kotowski, 1999 How can we overcome these barriers? Identify practices to assist with inclusion Utilize the literature on inclusion in our practice

Tips for Successful Inclusion Agency requirements McGovern, 2001 Adopt philosophy of inclusion Communicate philosophy to public & employees Open all programs to inclusion Hire qualified staff to oversee inclusion Train all staff Regularly recommit to importance of inclusion

Tips for Successful Inclusion Staff requirements Smith, Austin, Kennedy, Lee, & Hutchison, 2005 “For inclusion to be successful, recreation professionals need to adopt a positive attitude toward inclusion. Moreover, this attitude must be apparent to everyone involved in the process” (p. 136)

Tips for Successful Inclusion Staff requirements Dattilo, 2002 Knowledge ADA, inclusion, people with disabilities, adaptations Positive attitudes Inclusion, people with disabilities “It’s the right thing to do” Person first language Emphasis on person & similarities

Tips for Successful Inclusion Create positive leisure contexts --- physical & social inclusion Devine, 2004 Connect people to people Bridge barriers between people with and without disabilities Abilities are emphasized Stereotypes are challenged Commonalities are focus Overall culture of social acceptance

Tips for Successful Inclusion Leisure Context cont. People with disabilities included in informal activities in context of program People with disabilities included in social gatherings outside program Aides assist all not just people with disabilities, and only when necessary Adaptive equipment viewed as promoting independence Looks easy but includes planning by staff

Tips for Successful Inclusion Individualize Accommodations Assessment Individual, program, environment Plan Documented inclusion/support plan Implement Evaluate Carter & LeConey, 2004 Wachter & McGowan, 2002 Sullivan & O’Brien, 2001

Collaboration is Vital for Successful Inclusion Collaboration between general recreation & therapeutic recreation professionals seems to be the key and best practice for successful inclusion Inclusion should be the shared responsibility of general recreator & TRS The simple answer is the skills of both are needed Klitzing, 2002

Therapeutic Recreation Inclusion Model (Klitzing, 2004) TR model designed to provide direction to TRS who work with general recreation professionals in providing inclusive community recreation programs Intervention can focus on individual or environmental change

Therapeutic Recreation Inclusion Model (Klitzing, 2004) Model does not assume every person with a disability who selects an inclusive program needs TR services Some people have the skills and ability to participate independently Some accommodations can be made by the general recreation professional

Inclusive Recreation Selected TR Indirect Services TR Direct Services Participant Outcomes: Quality of Life Fun & Enjoyment Belonging in Community Self-Determination Therapeutic Recreation Inclusion Model (Klitzing, 2004)

Person registers for program & notes that an accommodation is needed OR person begins to participate in program and recreation staff identify that an accommodation is needed Agency contacts TRS with information about request & program TRS conducts assessment, clarifies services needed, & documents an inclusion plan

Therapeutic Recreation Inclusion Model (Klitzing, 2004) Direct services by TRS may include TRS co-leading a program with the general recreator TRS serving as a 1-1 TRS leads sessions TRS teaches skills

Therapeutic Recreation Inclusion Model (Klitzing, 2004) Indirect services by TRS may include TRS serves as a consultant to program leader TRS provides staff training TRS conducts accessibility check TRS hires and trains 1-1 staff TRS hires interpreter TRS adapts or purchases equipment TRS designs a behavior management plan

Therapeutic Recreation Inclusion Model (Klitzing, 2004) TRS prepares & shares inclusion plan with agency Agency implements inclusion plan TRS follows up & ongoing communicates with agency