Municipal Partners for Inclusive Recreation has one full-time employee, Terri Johnson, a certified recreation therapist. Support personnel are hired depending upon need. More support staff are hired
Two girls posing with Santa Clause in front of a fireplace. |
Support staff also receives information about the participant's disability, behavior, appropriate accommodations, and any other information the participant or parents feel is necessary for a positive experience. The information is enough to cover safety concerns, but leaves room for 'gut instinct' on the part of the support staff. The ultimate goal is to make a good, positive connection between two people that facilitates participation and enables everyone to enjoy the activity. Trial and error on the part of both the participant and the staff is sometimes the only method by which to succeed, but with patience and communication, the goals of participation are met, and often exceeded. The overall idea is to 'catch an individual doing right' and encourage the right, thus promoting positive behaviors and a positive experience.