They're "NOT TOO LIMITED"

by John A. Lippold, Superintendent of Recreation Fox River Valley Pleasure Driveway and Park District

Aided by special equipment and volunteer youths, the members of "Not Too Limited" are ready to knock the pins down.

There are adults over 21 who are physically handicapped—but—they bowl, compete in archery, wage write-in campaigns for barrier-free construction and are active in a program of recreation.

They are members of the Not Too Limited Club in Aurora, established four years ago through the co-sponsorhsip of the Fox River Valley Park District and United Cerebral Palsy together with a pilot group of adult physically handicapped who requested a recreation program geared to their needs and capabilities.

The pilot group and the sponsoring agencies came up with the following as the club definition and purpose: "An adult physically handicapped club whose members' disabilities are NOT TOO restrictive to deter purposeful group action in recreation and sports programs—or NOT TOO confining, to inhibit active involvement in community and government affairs for the just cause to improve conditions, to benefit, to recognize and to implement the well-being and the status of adults with physical handicaps."

The NOT TOO LIMITED CLUB is a membership governed activity open to area residents over 21 with any physical handicap. Since formation under a club constitution and by-laws four years ago, the club has enjoyed dinner/play outings, attended the Illinois Conference for Handicapped Adults in Chicago and have taken a trip to the Illinois State Fair.

Indoor games are part of the social enjoyment at the monthly meeting of the "Not Too Limited Club."

With the supporting Fox Valley Park District, the club has had the opportunity for both indoor and outdoor archery twice a month under the direction of the district's Auroraland Archery Club. Members bowl twice a month with an annual tournament playoff and have the opportunity to travel by bus to area points of interest under Park District sponsorship.

The club meets once a month at the Park District Office featuring guest speakers, entertainment, and community reports. Holiday programs in season add to the fun part of the club. The Club is active in letter writing campaigns to Illinois cities asking for elimination of physical barriers in municipal buildings and streets.

Members visit restaurants in the area and report their findings of accessability, convenience, and the menus in the monthly club newsletter, which also reviews the club activities and stories submitted by the members.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 20 May/June, 1977

Above with the aid of volunteer archers from the Park District's Auroraland Archery Club, members of N.T.L. are zeroing in on the targets.

The NOT TOO LIMITED CLUB, successfully fulfilling a social and recreational need for more than 40 adults with physical handicaps, is a follow-up of the progressive consideration.

A program of this type takes a catalyst to get it started. In this case the park district and United Cerebral Palsy, because of their play therapy and camp programs for mentally and physically handicapped children, recognized the need and filled it. More park districts should take this lead with our special adult population.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 21 May/June, 1977