2011 OSEP Leadership Mega ConferenceCollaboration to Achieve Success from Cradle to Career 2.0

Opening Doors: Project Adventure

Inclusive mentored recreation for children and youth with disabilities and special health care needs

from traditionally underserved communities

Laurie Glader, MD206NR-S

Presentation 4

Opening Doors

Early Solutions: Ages 0-8 Identifying developmental and physical disabilities at a young age

Project Adventure: Ages 8-15 Improving health and well-being through community-based recreation

Opt4College: Ages 15-22 Focusing on transition to adulthood (with appropriate educational, rehabilitative, and medical services)

Opening Doors for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs: NIDRR Research and Rehabilitation Training Center

Why Project Adventure?

The Need: Children with disabilities and special health care needs are less likely to be involved in physical fitness programs

• Lack of opportunity• Need for supports

A Solution: Mentored, community-based inclusive recreation

• Any child or youth with disability and special health care need (CYDS)

• Trained volunteer mentor (“coach”) • Recreational activity of the child’s choosing• Community recreational facility

Project Adventure Research Study

Feasibility• Child-coach pairs met weekly for 6 months • Recreational and fitness activities chosen based on

child interests and goals• Community partnership: Greater Boston

YMCA Network• Support for family & coach memberships• Community facility staff versed in disability awareness

Impact• Children, families, mentors, community

Participants Children • 6-15 years • special health care need & disability• many from typically underserved groups

Screening for safety• Participation cleared by primary physician• Screened for motor issues requiring individualized

PT recommendations• Screened for significant behavioral concerns

Recruitment • Community Based Organizations• Children’s Hospital Boston and affiliates

Project Adventure Participants

Project Adventure Participants

Project Adventure Coaches

College and graduate students interested in careers in health sciences and related fields (pre-med, PT, OT, nursing, phys. ed., education, etc.)

Community members

Coaches:

screened In collaboration with

trained Partners for Youthwith Disabilities

supervised

Project Adventure: Results

75 child-coach pairs studied• Range of special health care needs and disabilities: Autism,

Down syndrome, spina bifida, cerebral palsy, etc.• Range of activities: swimming, basketball, weight- lifting, rock-

climbing etc.

Feasibility: Mentored recreation allows for successful inclusion of children with a broad range of abilities and backgrounds in community-based physical activities

Impact: Preliminary qualitative outcomes from participants indicate positive effects in all groups

Program development and sustainability• Training Manual• Manual for program development

Project Adventure Implications

All children benefit from recreationChildren with a broad range of abilities

and backgrounds can participate successfully in mentored recreation

Programming can be created which is safe and rewarding

Tools exist to assist with flexible program development

Opening Doors: Project Adventure website

http://www.openingdoorsforyouth.org/let-the-fun-begin