inclusive recreational opportunities can be difficult for children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs. This project is designed to study how trained community volunteers can help children have fun and be more active at local recreational facilities. The project also hopes to inspire coaches (mentors) to explore career options in health education and human services. A secondary goal is to recruit individuals over the age of 18 from the communities and use this opportunity to introduce them to health and education careers through their experience mentoring a child with a disability or special health care need.
Inclusive recreation is any fun activity that welcomes participation by people both with and without disabilities. For people with disabilities it means participating in the same things which are enjoyed by all members in the community, in the same setting, such as an exercise class, a game or sport, or a pool activity.
All you need is accessible, affordable, and inviting facilities and someone to work safely with the child!
Inclusive physical activity is important because many people with disabilities and special health care needs often don’t get the exercise they need, which can lead to more health care problems and increased weight gain. With regular physical activity, and the resulting increase in strength, coordination and locomotion, activities of daily living become easier, less help may be needed from others, and quality of life can be improved.
Participating in physical activity in an inclusive setting can be important in many ways for children with disabilities, but also to children without disabilities. It’s important for children with disabilities to feel a part of all aspects of society and be able to do many activities alongside their peers. They can also learn from their peers in an informal way. For children without disabilities, it is an also an informal lesson, but one of respect for all people who all have differences and a greater understanding of different kinds of disabilities and special health care needs.
Opening Doors, is collaborating with the Boston Network of YMCA’s and Partners for Youth with Disabilities on Project Adventure, a program designed to help children and youth with special health care needs and disabilities participate in inclusive recreation. Project Adventure matches adult volunteers (coaches) with children between the ages of 6 and 15 to meet at the YMCA and engage in games, sports and physical activities of the child’s choice. The coaches’ role is to assist the child as needed in the activity.
Project Adventure is a great opportunity for children to be more physically activite or play sports alongside their peers in the community. For coaches, the experience can provide insights to the needs of a child, a learning opportunity about disabilities and special health care needs, motivating a child to develop new physical skills, and having a lot of fun with a really great kid.
Get Involved with Project Adventure
