Disability Inclusion: Models, Legislation, and Recreation Strategies

Models of Disability

Social Model of Disability

• Core Concept: A person is limited by environmental barriers, not by their impairment.
• Keys: Social oppression, cultural discourse, environmental barriers.
• Strengths:
  • Straightforward and clear agenda for change.
  • Focuses on the liberation of disabled people.
  • Fosters a positive sense of collective identity.
• Weaknesses:
  • May neglect the lived experience of disability (e.g., the personal impact of impairment).
  • Can overlook individual experiences, assuming every disabled person is oppressed.

Medical Model of Disability

• Core Concept: People are disabled by their impairments or disabilities, which are seen as individual deficits.

Foundational Concepts for Inclusion

Ethics of Inclusion

• Embrace difference and diversity.
• Learn with and through others.
• Recognize that the risk of being uncomfortable is essential for growth.

Human and Civil Rights

• Human Rights

  • Right to life, food, education.

• Civil Rights

  • Right to free speech, due process, protection from discrimination.

Major Legislation & Acts Advancing Rights

Key Civil Rights Legislation

• 1930s: Social Security Act
• 1940s: National Mental Health Act
• 1960s: Civil Rights Act

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

A cornerstone of the Equal Education Movement, IDEA ensures that children with disabilities have the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education.

• Individualized Education Program (IEP)
• Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
• Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
• Appropriate Evaluations
• Parent and teacher participation
• Procedural safeguards

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990

The ADA is a comprehensive civil rights law prohibiting discrimination based on disability.

• Programs and services must be accessible.
• Requires “reasonable modifications” for public accommodations.
• Ensures access in public transportation.

Theories and Principles of Inclusion

Self-Determination Theory

Focuses on intrinsic motivation and psychological needs that, when satisfied, promote well-being and optimal functioning.

• Autonomy: The need to feel in control of one's choices and actions.
  • Example: Offering a choice between two activities.
• Competence: The need to feel effective and capable in one's actions.
  • Example: Providing tasks that can be successfully completed within a given time, fostering achievement and confidence.
• Relatedness: The need to feel connected to others and experience a sense of belonging.
  • Example: Implementing group activities that encourage interaction and connection.

Inclusive Recreation Principles

• All abilities participating together.
• Respectful, equal, and accessible opportunities for all.
• Fosters a strong sense of community.

Barriers to Inclusive Recreation

Understanding and addressing these barriers is crucial for creating truly inclusive environments.

• Attitudinal: When people think and act based on false assumptions or stereotypes about disability.
• Administrative: Lack of staff training on inclusive practices or insufficient resources.
• Architectural: Physical accessibility issues within a program's environment.
• Programmatic: Policies or practices within recreation programs that inadvertently exclude individuals.
• Communication: Challenges arising when individuals with disabilities use different communication methods.
• Physical: Structural obstacles in natural or man-made environments that block access.
• Policy: Lack of awareness or enforcement of existing laws and regulations.
• Social: Conditions that can contribute to decreased functioning or participation among people with disabilities.
• Transportation: Inadequate transportation options that interfere with a person’s ability to be independent and function in society.

Designing Inclusive Recreation Spaces and Activities

5-Step Recreation Planning Process

1. Engage your community to understand diverse needs.
2. Assess political will and support for inclusion initiatives.
3. Examine current recreation centers to assess and determine needs.
4. Create a comprehensive plan for inclusive design and programming.
5. Seek funding and resources to implement the plan.

Promoting Disability Inclusion in Recreation Programs

• Ensure community representation in planning and decision-making.
• Prioritize accessibility in all aspects of program design and delivery.
• Craft inclusive messaging that welcomes and values all participants.

Understanding Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities (IDDs)

Intellectual or Developmental Disabilities (IDDs) are differences that impact physical, intellectual, and emotional development.

Effect of IDDs on Bodily Systems

• Nervous System: Affects the brain and spinal cord, potentially leading to behavioral disorders or speech impairments.
• Sensory System: Impacts senses such as sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell, and how the brain processes and interprets sensory information.
• Metabolism: Affects how the body uses food and other materials for energy and growth.
• Degenerative: Involves disruptions in skills, abilities, and functions over time.

Examples of IDD-Related Conditions

• Down Syndrome: A genetic condition typically associated with intellectual disability and characteristic physical features.
• Fragile X Syndrome: A genetic condition causing a range of developmental problems including learning disabilities and cognitive impairment, often associated with social and behavioral issues (e.g., ADD, ADHD, Autism).
• Prader-Willi Syndrome: A genetic disorder causing a range of physical, mental, and behavioral problems, including delays in reaching physical milestones.

Understanding Physical Limitations

Physical limitations inhibit the physical function of one or more limbs, and can be temporary or permanent.

Examples of Disorders Causing Physical Limitations

• Cerebral Palsy: A group of disorders that affect a person’s ability to move and maintain balance and posture, impacting muscle control.
• Spinal Cord Injuries: Damage to the spinal cord resulting in permanent loss of strength, sensation, and function below the injury site.
• Amputations: The removal of a limb or other body part, often due to trauma, disease, or surgery.
• Spina Bifida: A birth defect where there is incomplete closing of the backbone and membranes around the spinal cord.
• Musculoskeletal Injuries: Damage to the muscular or skeletal systems, such as fractures, sprains, or strains.

Best Practices for Implementing Inclusive Recreation

• Participant assessment to understand individual needs and preferences.
• Development of accommodation plans tailored to specific requirements.
• Implementation of behavioral interventions when necessary to support participation.
• Creative adaptations of activities and equipment.
• Provision of inclusion support staff.
• Regular program evaluation strategies to ensure effectiveness and continuous improvement.

Insights from Inclusion Experts

Jennifer Wilde (Adventures Without Limits)

• Emphasized the importance of partnerships.
• Advocated for designing with the user in mind.
• Highlighted Essential Eligibility Criteria (EEC) with the goal to create access and adapt if needed.

Dr. Jana Peterson-Bessie (Oregon Office on Disability and Health)

• Discussed universal accommodation principles.
• Explored ableism and its relation to the social model of disability.
• Promoted accessible health promotion opportunities.

Jessica Stark (Hillsboro Inclusive and Adaptive Recreation)

• Illustrated the spectrum from Exclusion to Segregation, Integration, and finally, Inclusion.
• Advised to “Know before you go” – prepare for participants' needs.
• Suggested adjusting the atmosphere to be welcoming.
• Stressed the importance of staff hiring and training.
• Recommended having tools at the ready (e.g., adaptive equipment).
• Emphasized planning with intent and normalizing inclusion (e.g., sensory kits, low-cost adaptations).

Quality Indicators for Evaluating Inclusion

Key Quality Indicators for Inclusive Programs

• Administrative Support:
  • Mission statement reflects an inclusion approach.
  • Documentation of inclusive services is maintained.
• Nature of the Activities (Program Design):
  • Program allows for modifications and partial participation.
  • Program goals reflect an inclusive emphasis.
• Nature of the Activities (Participant Experience):
  • Activities are age-appropriate.
  • Activities occur in various places and at different times of the day.
• Environmental/Logistical Considerations:
  • The environment is physically accessible.
  • Programs are affordable and financially accessible.
• Programming Techniques:
  • Ongoing assessments of needs, preferences, abilities, and relationships.
  • Utilizes inclusion techniques such as cooperative learning and task analysis.

Program Planning: The Logic Model

The Logic Model is a visual representation of the shared relationships among resources, activities, outputs, outcomes, and impact for a program. It depicts the relationship between program activities and their intended effects.

Key Factors within the Logic Model

1. Goal/Objective/Situation: What the program aims to achieve or address.
2. Inputs: Resources required for the program (e.g., money, staff, equipment).
3. Outputs: The direct products of program activities (e.g., number of participants, sessions held).
4. Outcomes: The changes or benefits that result from the program, categorized as short-term, mid-term, and long-term goals.
5. Evaluations: Ongoing assessment throughout the program to measure progress and effectiveness.

ADA Checklist for Existing Buildings

The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) is a civil law designed to ensure that people with disabilities have an equal opportunity to participate in all aspects of society.

An ADA checklist helps assess existing buildings for compliance with accessibility standards.

Mission Statements for Inclusion

Move United Mission

“Move United uses sports to push what’s possible so everyone, regardless of ability, has equal access to sports and recreation in their community.”

Hillsboro Parks & Recreation Mission

“Hillsboro Parks & Recreation believes our parks, facilities, and programs are for everyone. We welcome all ages, abilities, and communities to participate as they choose.”