STANDARDS

STANDARDS FOR INCLUSIVE RECREATION PROGRAMS

The Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs provide an operational definition of social inclusion, clearly outline best practices of inclusive recreation, and serve as the foundation for all NIP training resources, including accreditation. Developed in partnership with the Center for Social Development and Education (CSDE) at Umass Boston, the standards are an educational resource available to any recreation program wanting to provide meaningful inclusive experiences to their participants.

The purpose

The standards have been designed to serve multiple purposes. First and foremost, the standards are intended to be educational, providing programs with an operational definition of social inclusion and a picture of inclusive recreation in terms of best practices.

Similarly,the standards are meant to guide programs that already include participants with disabilities in enhancing their understanding of social inclusion and identifying practices that will improve and expand their inclusive programming at all organizational levels.

Get to know the Standards

A: Administration B: Facilities & Resources C: Staffing D: Programming E: Evaluation

A: Administration

The mission of the agency or purpose of the program reflects a commitment to inclusion.
Staff recruitment and hiring processes reflect a commitment to the inclusion of people with disabilities.
The composition of participants reflects a commitment to serving people with and without disabilities.
Outreach materials communicate that participants with and without disabilities belong.
Input is solicited from participants and/or their family members/guardians about accommodations that the participant may require in order to participate.
Assistance is provided to family members/guardians to prepare participants for the program.
Feedback is provided to participants’ family members/guardians throughout the program.

B: Facilities & Resources

One or more staff members oversee the implementation of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations/standards and ensure that program facilities are accessible or made accessible to people with disabilities.
Flexible areas and/or alternative spaces are readily available for use by program staff and participants when needed.
Transportation provided by the program is accessible to all participants.
Third-party vendors utilized by the program are made aware of participants’ needs to ensure that their facilities, staff, and/or activities are accessible to and inclusive of all participants.

C: Staffing

Staff training is conducted by someone who is knowledgeable about the inclusion of people with disabilities.
Program staff and first points of contact are trained to create an environment that is welcoming of people with disabilities and their family members/guardians.
Program staff are trained to plan and implement activities that are inclusive of all participants and, when needed, to provide accommodations for participants with disabilities.
Program staff are trained to foster social responsibility and promote positive social interactions and positive social behaviors among participants with and without disabilities during structured activities, unstructured opportunities, and transitions.
Program staff are trained to provide positive behavior support for participants with and without disabilities.
Staffing patterns provide the necessary support for the inclusion of participants with disabilities in program activities.
Inclusion support personnel monitor the implementation of inclusive practices and work with program staff to implement inclusive practices.

D: Programming

Program activities are planned to be inclusive of participants with disabilities.
The design and implementation of structured activities promote positive social interactions and positive social behaviors among participants with and without disabilities.
Unstructured opportunities promote positive social interactions and positive social behaviors among participants with and without disabilities.
Transitions promote positive social interactions and positive social behaviors among participants with and without disabilities.
When needed, accommodations are made to provide opportunities for all participants to engage in the same activities.
Individual-level choices are offered to participants.
Social responsibility is fostered by program staff.
Positive behavior support is provided to participants with and without disabilities.

E: Evaluation

SUCCESS STORIES

There are many people doing great things in inclusion.

NIP does the important work of bringing those best practices together.

– Boys & Girls Club Inclusion Director

NIP has been instrumental in making our camp a place where everyone truly belongs.

- Jewish Community Center Camp Director

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.

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STANDARDS

STANDARDS FOR INCLUSIVE RECREATION PROGRAMS

The purpose

Get to know the Standards

There are many people doing great things in inclusion.

Join Our Cause

Everybody Participates. Everybody Belongs

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Programs & Professionals

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STANDARDS

STANDARDS FOR INCLUSIVE RECREATION PROGRAMS

The purpose

Get to know the Standards

There are many people doing great things in inclusion.

Join Our Cause

Everybody Participates. Everybody Belongs

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