News - Recreation Accessibility Consultants, LLC (RAC)

Springfield Park District Volunteer Recognized by NRPA

The National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) recognized Butch Elzea with the 2009 National Humanitarian Award. He has been very active in the http://www.springfieldparks.org/, a RAC client. Butch Elzea, a Springfield businessman with a cause, has championed the development of the Edwin Watts Southwind Park located on 80 acres at the south end of the District. The park includes Erin’s Pavilion, named after his daughter. The playground exceeds the minimum accessibility requirements published by the US Access Board. “His vision and energy about this park has been incredible. There is no doubt we wouldn’t have this site without his efforts,” stated Mike Stratton, Springfield Park District Executive Director.

Congratulations to Springfield Park District and to Butch Elzea! We look forward to seeing this site in the future.

Personal Services

The City of Iowa City Parks and Recreation Department recently called and emailed about another personal services issue. Recognizing that people with more complex disabilities may have an aide they wish to bring to recreation programs, Acting Director Mike Moran wondered how to address this issue through a policy. A point of discussion was whether or not to charge “companions” or “aides” brought by a registrant with a disability.

We suggested some language for use by the City. It goes like this:

“The City of Iowa City invites people with disabilities to enjoy our programs, sites, and facilities. We recognize that some people with disabilities may require assistance by a personal care attendant and may have already hired such a person. In those instances, we will ask the person with a disability to provide us with the name of the personal care attendant. We will then allow the personal care attendant, so long as he or she is with the person with a disability, to enter and use our programs, sites, and facilities at no charge.”

As more and more people with disabilities become aware of the benefits of recreation, expect more and more requests like this. Hook ‘em Hawks!

Department of Justice Settlement Agreement

The Department of Justice has posted a late December settlement agreement regarding the City of Santa Rosa, California. This settlement includes provisions for a number of public parks that will now receive access improvements. Repeating from earlier newsletters, please don’t believe those who say parks don’t have to comply with the ADA requirements. They do, especially in black-and-white issues such as an accessible route to park amenities. Check out http://www.ada.gov/santa_rosa_pca/santa_rosa_sa.htm.

More Technical Assistance

A New Jersey therapeutic recreation professional wrote with a common question. She wondered:

“…is there anything in writing regarding including a person in a program who is one year older than the age requirements? I am doing a presentation at the end of the month and one of the questions is about including a 7 year old in a program with 11 year olds. The other reason for my question is our environmental education staff is being somewhat resistant to allowing as 13 year old in their two-week summer program for 10-12 year-olds. My philosophy is one year doesn’t fundamentally alter the program. I believe a 12 year-old is similar socially to a 13 year old. Need your thoughts please!”

We answered quickly:

“Section 35.150(b) of the title II regulation requires, amongst other things, the changing of rules and policies unless to do so is a fundamental alteration. In your example, you have hit the nail on the head. There isn’t, developmentally, very much difference between a 12 year-old and a 13 year-old.” “There likely is a difference between a 7 year-old and a group of 11 year-olds.” We went on to explain our assumption that the family of the 7 year-old chose the program with 11 year-olds in an effort to fill the schedule for the 7 year-old, as we know how critical the need for respite and other care services are for this population.

A good reminder here in this exchange. Don’t hang your hat on a one year age difference. Yes there can be developmental differences, but it is unlikely to be found at this age level.

Alden Group Presentation on ADA Services for Seniors

At Highland Park (Illinois) Hospital on Wednesday, January 13, RAC President John McGovern spoke for the Alden Group about the application of the ADA to services provided for senior citizens. McGovern enjoys talking about the ADA. If you have a speaking need, contact him at john.mcgovern@rac-llc.com.

Illinois Parks and Recreation Conference