Recreation

Individuals with developmental disabilities and their families are always searching for opportunities to play and have fun within their communities.

Missouri Access Recreation Project: The Missouri Access Recreation Project is committed to increasing access to inclusive recreational opportunities for kids with disabilities in their communities and schools. The project is working in communities across Missouri to increase opportunities for kids with disabilities to explore and act on their recreational interet and to improve thecapacity of community recreation providers and schools to successfully include kids with disabilities in existing recreation programs and activities. Kids with disabilities and their families must have the opportunity to explore recreation interests, learn where and how to access recreation programs that match their interests and work cooperatively with recreation providers and schools to plan for needed supports. This is the key to making inclusive recreation a reality and success. To accomplish this staff from the Access Recreation Project will support you in developing and implementing a person centered recreation plan. They can meet with you individually or in a larger group with a number of families. During these meetings they will assist you to identify inclusive recreation and other lifestyle interests, identify opportunities in your communities and schools that are consistent with your interests and develop a plan to access these opportunities. The benefits on inclusive recreation are endless!! Some of them include: increases communication skills, creates friendships with other kids, increases physical fitness, develops play and leisure skills, reduces stress, builds self esteem, promotes good health and happiness, creates a feeling of belonging, reduces loneliness and just for the fun of it!!

Missouri Access Recreation Project: Contact Mark Ohrenberg, Coordinator, UMKC Institute for Human Development, 816-235-1767, email: mailto:ohrenbergm@umkc.edu, call the toll free technical assistance line at 1-877-838-3408.