What is Inclusion

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Questions for Recreation Providers

When making initial contact with the recreation providers, be ready with questions pertaining to your child’s needs. If there is an inclusion coordinator or another staff member who has the specific job of working with participants with disabilities, this is to whom you need to speak. If there is a specific person who fills this role, often they will have questions for you and an assessment process to determine what specific needs your child has, as well as which of his or her interests match the programs offered.

The following is a checklist of questions you may want to ask recreation programmers prior to enrolling your child in a community recreation program:

• What programs are offered to children with disabilities


• Do you offer inclusive activities and programs?


• Are your facilities architecturally accessible?


• Are there eligibility requirements to participate in any of your programs?


• What fees are associated with your programs and do you offer scholarships, sliding scales, or reduced fees?


• How much notice, if any, is required to request accommodations for my child?


• How is the determination made on what accommodations my child will receive?


• What is the process to request an accommodation?


• Does anyone on your staff know sign language (if needed)?


• Is it possible to have one-on-one staff for my child (if assessed and needed-maybe only part-time)?


• Do you provide transportation to any activities and if so, is it accessible?


• What type of training program is provided to staff that work with children with and without disabilities?


• If volunteers are provided, do they have training regarding working with people with disabilities?


• Are your staff members CPR and First Aid certified?


• In what ways does your staff communicate with parents?


• How do you discipline children? How do you encourage them? Are accommodations made for children with disabilities?


• How do you make children feel welcome and included?


• Do you include the family in any evaluation at the end of the program?

Keep in mind that unless there is a strong inclusive program or history of programming for people with disabilities, accommodating a child with a disability may be somewhat new to the person whom you speak with. However, this can be an opportunity to help them expand their services as well as enable other children with disabilities the chance to participate in activities that were previously unavailable. Take the time to educate others. These efforts will open doors for your child and others in the community. Utilize the resources within this document as teaching tools for staff members.

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