I Can Play 2

Recreation opportunities and physical activity are essential to a child’s mental and social development as well as health and wellness. Children with disabilities are often faced with many barriers that hinder their access and involvement in local community recreation programs.

Measuring Up Children’s Recreation:

In November 2007, the Measuring Up Committee took on the task of evaluating the current recreation programs being offered for children with disabilities by both the public and private sectors. The “I Can Play 2” research project examined:

• those recreation programs currently being offered in Abbotsford for children with disabilities between the ages of 0-18 years;
• what parents, caregivers and children with disabilities would like to see offered in their community;
• other municipalities with a similar population size as Abbotsford and the types of recreation programs they offer.
• Opportunities for community stakeholders to collaborate when providing recreation opportunities.

The vision of the research project was to provide outcomes and recommendations for future recreation programming that provide barrier free opportunities for children with disabilities. Outcomes from the research included:

• Desire for increase in recreation programs such as:
  
  • Swimming (water therapy); After School Drop In Programs/Clubs; Marital Arts
• Challenges for participation included:
• Support system, Funding, Communication of programs, Specialized equipment
• Increased support for existing programs providing programs

The current successes of the “I Can Play 2” committee have included:

• A 1 page summary “I Can Play 2! Recreation for Everyone”, listing recreation programs and organizations that support inclusion and accessibility in the 2008 Summer Parks Recreation and Culture Guide.
• Commitment from the Abbotsford School District to upgrade their playgrounds accessibility by replacing its surfaces to wood chips.
• Partnering with Abbotsford Parks Recreation and Culture to provide consultation and support in their planning and development of a playground for 0-6 year olds (funding opportunity through Rick Hansen Let’s Play)
• Development of the ‘Recreation Coordinator for Children with Disabilities’ job description with consultation from community professionals.

Looking to the future, the “I Can Play 2” sub committee is committed to making the following recommendations a priority:

• Advocate for the position of “Recreation Coordinator for Children with Disabilities” with the City of Abbotsford;
• Nurture and foster partnerships between the S.T.A.R Club and Abbotsford Parks and Recreation to deliver mid week recreation activities in the areas of swimming (water therapy), drop-in gym and marital arts.
• Support of community recreation providers who provide accessible and inclusive programs to ensure their sustainability in Abbotsford.
• Education and Sensitivity Training for Recreation Organizations, in particular Abbotsford Parks and Recreation Department.

To see the full report from the Measuring Up Research Project please download from home page or contact Nicole Misura, Co-Chair Measuring Up for more information.