ACCREDITATION FOR INCLUSIVE RECREATION
Many recreational & community programs bill themselves as inclusive of children with disabilities.
But inclusive can mean many different things depending on where a program is on their unique journey.
What if there was a universally recognizable benchmark that participants and their families can see and KNOW, without a doubt, that a program practices full, meaningful inclusion that meets the highest of standards?
Official accreditation by National Inclusion Project offers exactly that.
Powered by the Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs, NIP's Accreditation process serves to recognize and confirm that a program is intentionally and successfully serving individuals with and without disabilities.
Want more information? Info sessions and workshops on Accreditation are held throughout the year. If you are unable to attend the days/times listed below OR are interested in customizing a workshop for your staff, contact us to schedule and design a workshop to meet your needs.
ACCREDITATION INFORMATION SESSIONS
INTRO TO ACCREDITATION
In this free info session you will be introduced to the nuts and bolts of the process to become a nationally recognized Accredited Inclusive Recreation Program. Together we explore the benefits of pursuing Accreditation as an educational tool for programs to assess their inclusion progress. We overview the timelines, procedures, and requirements for Accreditation to help programs assess readiness and plan for next steps.
Check back for new dates/times or if you'd like to schedule a custom info session, contact us!
ACCREDITATION WORKSHOPS
ACCREDITATION IN-DEPTH: PREPARATION, PROCESS, & PARTNERSHIPS
This two-part interactive workshop equips programs with the information, tools, and understanding to prepare for and pursue accreditation as a National Inclusion Project Inclusive Recreation Program. Together we measure program readiness for Accreditation through both instructor-guided and small group activities.
Workshops are scheduled throughout the year. Click below for more details and the current schedule of the workshop. Don't see a time that works for your schedule? You can always contact us to customize your own.
CONGRATS TO OUR ACCREDITED CAMPS!
- Bender JCC of Greater Washington, Rockville, MD
- B’nai B’rith Camp, Portland, OR
- Brookfield Zoo, Brookfield, IL
- Camp Howe, Goshen, MA
- Camp Manitou-Lin, Middleville, MI
- Camp Southern Ground, Fayetteville, GA
- JCC Camps at Medford, Medford, NJ
- Levin Jewish Community Center, Durham, NC
- YMCA Rock River Valley, Loves Park, IL
WHY ACCREDITATION?
for programs
For programs, accreditation can be used as an educational tool, or a more thorough way to assess their inclusion progress. It offers a clearly defined methodology showing just how achievable inclusion of children with disabilities really is.
for families
For families, NIP’s seal of accreditation means they can trust that your program will not only welcome their child(ren) but also provide opportunities that allow them to fully participate alongside all of their peers.
Path to accreditation
1
assess your program
Program reviews the standards and criteria and steps to accreditation, fills out an interest form online and NIP contacts them to complete an initial program assessment. The goal is to assess program readiness to pursue accreditation.
2
Complete workshop
Participate in a virtual in-depth Accreditation workshop, which explains the requirements for accreditation and how the process works.
3
Submit documentation
Prepare and submit written documentation and evidence for each standard, as outlined in the documentation guidelines.
4
host and participate in site visit
Prepare for & host an in-person or virtual site visit. Create a schedule/agenda for the site visit. Ensure that staff understand the purpose of the visit and convey to them that they should operate as they do every day.
The individual who participated in the Accreditation workshop should be prepared to facilitate the visit, participate in visitor interviews, & provide relevant information/documentation as needed throughout the process.
5
REview & decision
When all application materials and site visitations are complete, an accreditation review committee will consider all documentation and observation data. If the committee has any questions or concerns, they will contact the host and/or the visitor for clarification. Once the review is complete, NIP will notify the host site of the accreditation decision. Once Accreditation is earned, the designation of being a National Inclusion Project Accredited Program lasts 3 years.
INTERESTED IN ACCREDITATION?
Everybody Participates. Everybody Belongs
There are many ways to support our mission. One of them (and a very easy one at that) is through donating.