Page 71 - Illinois Association of Park Districts Benefits of Membership 2017 - 2018

Benefits of inclusion
Access to parks and recreation programs is undeniably a quality-of-life issue. Recent research shows that youth with and without disabilities made significant growth in their personal development, self-reliance, social interactions, communication and self-esteem in summer camps and outdoor recreational programs.3 The study also found that social interactions with peers increased 62 percent for the campers with disabilities and 68 percent for the campers without disabilities.4 This underscores the importance of providing recreational programming to those with disabilities and the benefit of integrating programming with young people without disabilities. The experience is rewarding for all. This also helps children develop a greater understanding and respect for persons different than themselves.
The emotional and health benefits of recreation are irrefutable. For persons with disabilities, recreation, leisure and play have proven to raise quality of life, as well as improve and maintain physical and psychological health and well-being.5
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, clearly states the right of equal access for all persons to services such as housing, transportation, shopping and communication, as well as for all local government services, such as park district, forest preserve, conservation and recreation agency services. New facility or park development must comply with the ADA and provide accessibility, just as all new building construction must. Some agencies, faced with renovating facilities, find complying with ADA a funding challenge.
On November 18, 2003, legislation went into effect in Illinois that relieved the property tax cap and made approximately $16 million more funding available at the local level to provide park and recreation services for persons with disabilities. This new funding has made great inroads in funding recreational services to people with disabilities. The challenge of funding facility renovation, however, remains.
Conclusion
3 Camping Magazine, National Inclusionary Camp Practices (NICP) study, July 2000.
4 Camping Magazine, NICP study.
5 Shank, J. W., Coyle, C. P., Boyde, R., & Kinney,W. B. (1996). A classification scheme for therapeutic recreation research grounded in the rehabilitative sciences. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 30, 179196.
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