Town Of Lexington Inclusive Recreation Programming, Services Continue To Grow In 2021

Press release from the Town of Lexington:

May 4, 2021

While the doors to the Community Center have been closed to the public for much of 2020 and into 2021, the Recreation and Community Programs Department has continued to expand inclusive programs, services and initiatives.

Over the past year, the Department has been involved in collaborations with other Town departments and community organizations, conducting outreach, and identifying new opportunities for community members of all ages and abilities both virtually and in person.

• In partnership with the Human Services Department and the LABBB program, a virtual, inclusive, and intergenerational program has been meeting monthly. The program has gone on virtual field trips, played games, and have been gardening. Opportunities for seniors to volunteer with this program are still available.
• In collaboration with Riverside Community Care, we are offering weekly social hours for teens with and without disabilities. The group spends time connecting with each other over similar interests, current events and engaging in virtual activities.
• Recently, the Department was awarded a grant for an Inclusive Counselor in Training Program by the American Camp Association (ACA), a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit. The ACA serves the more than 15,000 year-round and summer camps in the US who annually serve 26 million campers. This training program will be implemented over the course of the next three years. It will allow participants to form interpersonal peer relationships, gain vocational skills and allow for them to gain real life leadership experience.

To accommodate every individual in our community, the Department takes proactive steps to create inclusive programs and services. These steps include:

• Intake assessments, so we can learn more about the needs of program participants
• Staff trainings for part-time and seasonal employees on behavior management skills, tips and tools to create a welcoming and inclusive environment, and other Therapeutic Recreation best practices
• Ongoing evaluation of participants and programs to ensure our programs meet the needs of our community

The Department is excited to continue its work to identify more opportunities for inclusive programming.

For more information, contact Kate DeAngelis, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist.

What is Therapeutic Recreation?

Therapeutic Recreation is a process that utilizes recreation and leisure programming as a means to enhance/maintain physical, cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual domains. Therapeutic Recreation provides specialized and inclusive programs for individuals of all abilities.

This press release was produced by the Town of Lexington. The views expressed here are the author’s own.