March 2024 - Parks and Recreation - 49

The practice of inclusion within physical
locations should focus on identifying
and eliminating barriers.
* The participant can attend for
only a portion of the program;
e.g., they can attend two hours
versus four hours, as they will
not need to be changed or need
any bathroom assistance during
that time.
The practice of inclusion within
physical locations needs to be
viewed with a focus on barriers.
Staff need to be mindful of obstacles
preventing an individual from
free and independent movement
within a space or from one space
to another. All programming areas
- including, but not limited
to, community
centers,
fitness
centers, playgrounds, registration
areas, trails, splash pads, pools,
gyms, etc. - should be looked at
from the perspective of someone
with diverse needs and abilities.
Ask yourself these questions: Are
there any physical barriers that
may stop the inclusion process
from happening? How can they be
eliminated?
The practice of inclusion
in
the environment also should be
considered in terms of where the
program(s) and service(s) are being
delivered. Again, using a lens
focused on seeing barriers, staff
should take into account the following
environmental stimulants:
auditory, temperature, visual, olfactory
and touch.
The practice of inclusion is extremely
individualized and based
on a person's specific needs. These
needs often lead to specific requests
and/or modifications to ensure a
successful leisure and recreational
experience. These requests and/or
modifications must be taken into
account when designing a program
or creating lesson plans. Barriers
will occur when the needs of an individual
are not considered and adaptations
or modifications are not
made to meet the specific needs of
the individual. Staff need to have
the ability to effectively and appropriately
communicate and interact
in inclusive environments. For inclusion
to be successful, you have
to create an environment where all
individuals can thrive, focusing on
what the individual can do versus
what they cannot do.
There are additional components
of inclusion that must be embraced
by all park and recreation agencies
for inclusion to thrive.
* Staff need to understand and
support the definition of inclusion.
The agency and staff need
to
recognize
the person as a
unique individual, including all
their diverse facets.
* Understand that no one is exempt
from accessing leisure and
Andrea Griffin, CTRS, CPRP, CPE, is Superintendent of
Recreation at Northwest Special Recreation Association
(agriffin@nwsra.org). Victoria Gonzalez, CTRS, CPRP, CPE, is
Manager of Inclusion Services at Northwest Special Recreation
Association (vgonzalez@nwsra.org).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | MARCH 2 0 2 4 | Parks & Recreation
49
recreation programs and services.
However, consider that
there could be significant safety
risks involved or eligibility requirements
may not be met prior
to registration. In those cases,
agencies should have this clearly
outlined in their code of conduct
or eligibility requirements (e.g.,
the individual must be able to
hold their breath for a certain
number of seconds to be eligible
to join the dive team).
Inclusion is a process that is ongoing
and should always be a part
of your program and agency goals
and daily conversations. Everyone
needs to play an active role in the
inclusion process, keeping in mind
that everything you do is an opportunity
for inclusion to happen.
March 2024 - Parks and Recreation

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