Meaningful Recreation for all Handicapped

by Steve Keay

The children of the Summer Day Camp have a good time with arts and crafts.

The Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, an extension of ten park districts on the north shore of Chicago—Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Highwood, Kenilworth, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, and Winnetka —continues to grow. Formed in March of 1970 to provide recreation for the handicapped (those with special NEEDS), it is now well into its fifth year of operation.

In the beginning, we felt we were thinking big when we offered a program which had thirty participants in our pilot operation in 1969. In 1970, our first official year of operation, we doubled our enrollment to sixty. Now, in 1974, we have in excess of 530 participants, covering all areas of special needs from multiply handicapped, both physical and mental, to relatively minor speech problems, with the exception of the blind. It is our hope that this group, too, will join us by 1975 as we continue to meet newly found and expressed needs of those who are handicapped.

Outdoor play and exercise help the children develop their Motor Skills.

Because of the outstanding supportive efforts by the commissioners of the ten member districts, in conjunction with assistance and professional committment on the part of these ten staffs, the NSSRA program offerings know no limit. To our participants, which numbered over 700 during this past year, this means ice skating, piano lessons, tennis lessons, horseback riding, bowling, and creative movement classes, to name only a few. Then there are teen clubs, young adult clubs and friendship clubs in addition to the cooking, photography and science clubs. Swimming classes for the beginner, advanced, and those interested in competing in the Special Olympics are now also a regular portion of our program. As an outgrowth of our close relationship with the Northern Suburban Special Education District, we provide sports clubs, motor development programs, and even recreational programs for the handicapped three- and four-year-old children of our area. During the 1973-74 school term, we were able to offer and participate in forty-three programs in addition to the numerous special events offered throughout the year.

The summer operation requires a staff of nearly 200 plus the employment of thirty-five handicapped high-school-aged boys and girls who work as supportive staff in all areas of the program. The camp, which was officially named this summer, "WeCanDo," operates for six weeks from nine a.m. to three p.m. daily. During each week, the schedule includes at least two sessions of instructional swimming, three sessions of drama, art, music, crafts, and nature study. Fridays, we travel to nearby parks, zoos, museums, play miniature golf, or ice skate. Lunch and an afternoon at the beach typically bring the campers' day to a close. Through our cooperation with NSSED, each child received a suitable classroom educational experience designed to individually better prepare him for the future.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 4 November/December, 1974

The Young Adult Club has a session in Folk Dancing.

Special events are also an integral part of the summer, including visiting professional baseball and football players, recording stars, groups such as Free Street Theater and the Chicago Theater of the Deaf, to name a few. Most would agree that NSSRA is meeting the needs.

The final chapter for summer of '74 is one week at overnight camp for approximately thirty children aged eight to fourteen. While this is a small group, the benefits will be great both now and in years to come.

Recreation for the handicapped is here to stay and we of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association are very glad.

(Editors note: Steve Keay is Executive Director of the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 5 November/December, 1974