November 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 11

Trying out adaptive climbing equipment.

of in-service programs for college students, most from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.
" Something that I think is cool is to
see the volunteers really start to understand about individuals with disabilities, " Steele says. " It's not this whole,
'Oh, I feel sorry for them,' but they really start to see what all these individuals can accomplish. "
A native of Chattanooga and a graduate of Arizona State University, Adams
has been in the therapeutic recreation
ﬁeld for 12 years. Initially interested to
outdoor recreation, she became drawn
to therapeutic recreation after working
on an accessibility site survey project in the Grand Canyon. Steele has
worked in the ﬁeld for two years since
her graduation from the University of
Tennessee in Knoxville. She discovered
the therapeutic recreation ﬁeld while
working at a camp for individuals with
disabilities.
Adams credits a local chapter of the
group Disabled Sports USA for initiating the effort that led to establishment
of the city's therapeutic recreation program in 2000. Today, the program offers sports, social activities, arts and
dance, and outdoor recreation for individuals of almost all ages and levels
of ability. Besides organizing programming, the pair also advocates tirelessly
for accessibility awareness throughout
the city, leading to better accommodations for individuals with disabilities at
several major venues.
" We have really great resources within our community, " Adams says. " And
I think that has made a huge difference not only to our programs but to
our participants. For instance, our local outdoor retailer Rock Creek is passionate about access and accessibility
as well, so we were able to team up
with them to help expand our climbing program. "

No matter what your limited resources are, whether
it's money, staff, or time-you can make a difference
within your community for all individuals.
-Elaine Adams, CTRS, Chattanooga, Tennessee, Parks and Recreation
One of their most popular offerings
is Camp ZooAbility, a therapeutic recreation summer day camp based at the
Chattanooga Zoo.
" We hear from parents every day talking about how their child has an opportunity to attend a summer camp, "
Adams says. " There's a safe place to go
and have fun and experience things
just like any other kid...We're able to
change that child's summer. "
Adams describes a six-year-old currently enrolled in therapeutic recreation
programs: " He is really just starting to
get involved in a lot of the programs
that we have. Not only has it been
amazing to see him grow, whether
that's from a skill standpoint or whether
that's from a social standpoint, but it's
also been pretty awesome to see his
mom...What a difference it had made

in his life-to reach the top of the rock
was such a great accomplishment for
him and of course for her. "
" She said just him being able to
climb all the way to the top of the wall
changed his whole demeanor and his
whole attitude toward his life with a
disability, " Steele adds.
For agencies considering how to start
such a program with limited resources,
Adams gives the same advice she gives
her programs' participants-anything
is possible.
" No matter what your limited resources are, whether it's money, staff,
or time-you can make a difference
within your community for all individuals, " she says. " Look at the abilities
instead of disabilities. "
Elizabeth Beard is Managing Editor of
Parks & Recreation (ebeard@nrpa.org).

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November 2012 - Parks & Recreation

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