1. 2011 OSEP Leadership Mega Conference Collaboration to Achieve Success from Cradle to Career 2.0 Opening Doors: Project Adventure Inclusive mentored recreation for children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs from traditionally underserved communities Laurie Glader, MD 206NR-S Presentation 4

2. Opening Doors Early Solutions: Ages 0-8 Identifying developmental and physical disabilities at a young age Project Adventure: Ages 8-15 Improving health and well-being through community-based recreation Opt4College: Ages 15-22 Focusing on transition to adulthood (with appropriate educational, rehabilitative, and medical services) Opening Doors for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs: NIDRR Research and Rehabilitation Training Center

3. Why Project Adventure? The Need: Children with disabilities and special health care needs are less likely to be involved in physical fitness programs Lack of opportunity Need for supports A Solution: Mentored, community-based inclusive recreation Any child or youth with disability and special health care need (CYDS) Trained volunteer mentor (coach) Recreational activity of the childs choosing Community recreational facility

4. Project Adventure Research Study Feasibility Child-coach pairs met weekly for 6 months Recreational and fitness activities chosen based on child interests and goals Community partnership: Greater Boston YMCA Network Support for family & coach memberships Community facility staff versed in disability awareness Impact Children, families, mentors, community

5. Participants Children 6-15 years special health care need & disability many from typically underserved groups Screening for safety Participation cleared by primary physician Screened for motor issues requiring individualized PT recommendations Screened for significant behavioral concerns Recruitment Community Based Organizations Childrens Hospital Boston and affiliates Project Adventure Participants

6. Project Adventure Coaches College and graduate students interested in careers in health sciences and related fields (pre-med, PT, OT, nursing, phys. ed., education, etc.) Community members Coaches: screened In collaboration with trainedPartners for Youth with Disabilities supervised

7. Project Adventure: Results 75 child-coach pairs studied Range of special health care needs and disabilities: Autism, Down syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, etc. Range of activities: swimming, basketball, weight- lifting, rock- climbing etc. Feasibility: Mentored recreation allows for successful inclusion of children with a broad range of abilities and backgrounds in community-based physical activities Impact: Preliminary qualitative outcomes from participants indicate positive effects in all groups Program development and sustainability Training Manual Manual for program development

8. Project Adventure Implications All children benefit from recreation Children with a broad range of abilities and backgrounds can participate successfully in mentored recreation Programming can be created which is safe and rewarding Tools exist to assist with flexible program development

9. Opening Doors: Project Adventure website http://www.openingdoorsforyouth.org/let-the-fun-begin