“This is ability awareness,” said Gretchen Dennis, inclusion coordinator for the West Suburban Special Recreation Association. “[The program’s] goal is to raise awareness of individual differences and promote an environment of acceptance.”

Dennis helped organize the day’s activities, which were the result of a partnership between the Park District of Oak Park, the WSSRA and the Community Foundation of Oak Park and River Forest. Promoting awareness of those with disabilities was not only the focus of the day, but also part of an ongoing “Access to Recreation” initiative the three organizations have created in order to fulfill a requirement of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s grant received to help revamp the park and make it handicapped accessible.

The program consisted of 10 activity stations in which campers visited on a rotating basis, each of which demonstrated a different way to think about a sport or ability. According to Dennis, the events were not geared to be an in your face lesson on disabilities, but rather entertaining activities that let the meaning come naturally to the campers.

“Just because someone may be blind or doesn’t have any arms or legs, they are still like everyone else,” said Maria Kent to her fellow campers from a microphone at the end of the event. Kent was one of the first to volunteer her thoughts on the experience, and was also one of the first to try out wheelchair basketball. She said the experience gave her a different perspective on the game she plays competitively.

“It helped my shooting a little bit,” Kent said. “You’re not using your legs, but your arms to shoot.”

She said using her arms to power her shot more will help her keep her energy into the 4th quarter.

Other activities included a booth with shaving cream and play-dough to teach about sensory experiences and modified versions of kick-ball and Goalball, a Paralympics sport where all participants are blindfolded and rely on other senses to find a lightweight ball.

“It has brought fun to the park,” Gary Balling, executive director of the Park District of Oak Park said of the $855,000 in non-tax funding the district was able to secure for the renovation of the park. “It has brought the whole place new life. We’re very excited to get the park open and generate an awareness of those with disabilities.”

Currently, the district is working with the Community Foundation of Oak Park and River Forest to raise $65,000 for an endowment from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, which will match the amount raised dollar-for-dollar. The foundation has currently secured about $15,000 for the endowment.

“It is really important in terms of community members to support this [fundraising effort],” said Sophia Lloyd, executive director of the Community Foundation of Oak Park and River Forest. Lloyd said budget cuts in Illinois have put a strain on public funding, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to support initiatives and programs that rely on private donations.

“As the state budget gets cut, demand for private dollars does up,” she said.

Despite the cuts, Sandy Gbur executive director of the WSSRA said she hopes the program and others like it will continue to educate the community about those with different abilities.

“This is step one of a very long process to change attitudes,” Gbur said. “We want people to feel more positive and have less fearful thinking of those with disabilities.”

By Mick Swasko/Triblocal.com
July 13, 2009