Program Accessibility

From last week in my classmates portfolios I came across Kiri Shaw's post which contained this website for how to better make recreational programs more accessible. It has a lot of really amazing information that also helped me this week and I'm sure will help me in the future as well. Another website I came across this week in my own web searches was mobility-advisor.com. This website offers a list of activities, organizations, and links to more information on different activities for those in wheelchairs that are offered all over. This is a great resource for me to refer to and to also refer others to.

Being able to offer resources to others in need is a huge help in any professional field. I know while I was working at a recreation facility it was extremely helpful for me to know about other resources outside of where I worked. There would be times I would be asked about swim teams in the area, special olympics programs in the area, or where different programs were held. It not only helped the individual asking the question for me to have an answer, but it also was a positive reflection on the facility in which I was working. A well informed staff is a staff that brings in more costumers.

Lastly, I found this simple list of Principles for Structuring Social Integration in Recreation Activities to be extremely helpful. It was also very pertinent, in retrospect, to my volunteer practicum.

Principles for Structuring Social Integration in Recreation Activities

1. Frequent and consistent opportunities to get acquainted
2. Equal status
3. Mutual goals
4. Cooperation and interdependence
5. Receiving accurate (not stereotyped) information about the person with a disability
6. Fair and tolerant norms