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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Work Session: Adaptive Recreation Meeting Date: January 26, 2005 Agenda Item Number: A Department: Library, Recreation and Cultural Services Staff Contact: Sue Harnly www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-6306 ISSUE STATEMENT This work session will provide an overview of Adaptive Recreation Services. This includes a brief historical perspective and an inclusive description of the broad range of services provided by Adaptive Recreation Services. BACKGROUND Since 1969, Adaptive Recreation Services, formerly known as Specialized Recreation, has been the primary public provider of community recreation services for people with disabilities in Eugene. Services provided include adapted recreation classes and activities, individualized and group skills training, volunteer/intern work placements and referral or information services. The Certified Therapeutic Recreation staff also provides training, consultation, and adapted equipment to other City departments and community groups to facilitate the inclusion of people with disabilities in their programs. The staff is knowledgeable about compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and assists with training other City staff. In addition, Adaptive Recreation Services maintain partnerships with approximately 50 community support groups, nonprofit agencies, and public commissions representing the concerns and needs of people with disabilities. Adaptive Recreation Services served over 800 patrons with disabilities in FY04. Of these, more than 50% are at Federal low-income earning levels. Without support from the Recreation Division's scholarship program, many of these patrons would not be able to participate in the programs and services. Program success is reliant upon ongoing assessment of participant needs as well as our ability to respond to state and local trends affecting people with disabilities. During the past year, staff engaged over 450 Adaptive Recreation stakeholders in focus groups to assess the needs of the disabled community. Some of the key issues affecting services are as follows: · Increased Need for Inclusion Services: Requests from participants with disabilities have increased as more people with disabilities and parents with disabled children recognize their right and opportunity to choose from the full range of recreation services provided by the City, not just Adaptive Recreation Services classes. L:\CMO\2005 Council Agendas\M050126\S050126A. doc