Adaptive Recreation Programs Provide Fitness and Social Opportunities for People with Special Needs

People with disabilities go through life faced with many challenges, but Groton Parks and Recreation is making sure that finding appropriate recreational opportunities is not one of them. While all of Groton Parks and Recreation’s programs and activities are open to individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, the department also offers a selection of programs with special support and adaptations for those who need them. Registration is going on now for Spring and Summer adaptive programs including cooking, rowing, karate, swimming, and more.

Groton Parks and Recreation has offered specialized programming for individuals with disabilities for over 35 years. The programs are coordinated by Eileen Cicchese, a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist with 35 years of experience in the field.

“Everyone deserves an opportunity to engage in recreational programs,” Cicchese said. “For those with special needs, it is vital to their health and well-being to stay active and engaged with their peers and the community. We design our programs with their needs in mind to provide unique opportunities for learning, socialization, and fun.”

The response from participants and their families has shown overwhelmingly that the benefits from being involved in adaptive programs are huge. Betty Hambidge’s son Kevin participates in the adaptive fitness, kayaking, rowing and swimming programs and has seen him make significant improvements since suffering a traumatic brain injury. “Participating in Groton Parks and Rec adaptive programs has been helpful with Kevin’s recovery,” Hambidge said. “Physically he’s getting stronger and more coordinated. Emotionally he’s gaining confidence while learning to do things again in a fun, safe environment.”

Participants in the Teen/Young Adult Social program plan weekly group activities with opportunities to learn new leisure activities, meet new friends, and have fun in age-appropriate groups, all within a safe environment. According to Bryan Mitchell, a participant in the program, “it’s a safe place to be myself where people will accept me for who I am.” Another participant, Jeff Drummond says “I don’t find this as merely just a group to improve my social skills. I see this as an experience.”

Andy Plasse, known to his students as “Mr. Andy,” is an instructor for many of the adaptive programs including Cooking for Fun, where he says participants can “add flavor to your life!” Participants in Cooking for Fun enjoy the art of cooking in a social setting where they learn to follow directions, use a kitchen safely, make healthy choices, collect recipes, and share with their peers. Linda Fast says her daughter Laura, a participant in the program “talks about cooking every week. She’s always excited to go to cooking with Mr. Andy. It’s a big part of her life.”

The assortment of programs is constantly changing and evolving to meet the needs of the participants and the local community and to reflect the national trends in programs for people with disabilities. In 2014 new programs were added including adaptive private swim lessons and a new section of its popular preschool program Time to Move for children with special needs ages 18-36 months.

In order to offset program costs, Groton Parks and Recreation engages in fundraising efforts that support the program fund. Most programs are self-funded by enrollment fees, which they are able to keep low by collecting donations at special events such as the Tour de Noank 5K Road Race and, new in 2015, the 3 on 3 Summer Shootout basketball tournament. Those funds help pay for critical supplies and materials needed such as specialized fitness equipment.

“Fundraising is key to our success,” said Cicchese. “We hope to continue to offer specialized adaptive programs for many years to come.”

Registration for Groton Parks and Recreations adaptive programs for spring and summer is going on now at GrotonRec.com or in person at 27 Spicer Ave. in Noank. More information is available online at GrotonRec.com or by calling (860) 536-5680.