Making Friends Through Recreation Grant Proposal

Thank You for Your Support!

Other Participating Organizations

• Respite Care
• Adaptive Recreation Opportunities
• Poudre and Thompson School Districts
• Colorado State University
• Front Range Community College

Bibliography

Burke, T. (2007). Recreation for individuals with disabilities. Encyclopedia for Special Education.

Carter, E., Hughes, C., Guth, C., & Copeland, S. (2005). Factors influencing social interaction among high school students with intellectual disabilities and their general education peers. American Journal on Mental Retardation, 110, 366-377.

Coolhan, K., Fantuzzo, J., Mendez, J., & McDermott, P. (2000). Perschool peer ineractions and readiness to learn: Relationships between classroom peer play and learning behaviors and conduct. Journal of Educational Psychology, 92, 3, 458-465. doi: 10.1037/0022-0663.92.3.458

Kalymon, K., Gettinger, M., & Hanley-Maxwell, C. (2008). Middle school boys’ perspectives on social relationships with peers with disabilities. Remedial and Special Education, 31, 305-316. doi: 10.1177/0741932508327470

Kampert, A. & Goreczny, A. (2007). Community involvement and socialization among individuals with mental retardation. Research in Developmental Disabilities: A Mulidisciplinary Journal, 28, 278- 286.

King, G., Law, M., King, S., Rosenbaum, P., Kertoy, M., & Young, N. (2003). A conceptual model of the factors affecting the recreation and leisure participation of children with disabilities. Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 23, 63-90.

Lavay, B. & Semark, C. (2001). Everyone plays – including special needs children in youth sports program. Palaestra, 17, 40-43.

Lundberg, N., Taniguchi, S., McCormick, B., & Tibbs, C. (2011). Identity negotiating: Redefinng stigmatized identities through adaptive sports and recreation participation among individuals with a disability. Journal of Leisure Research, 43, 205-225.

Mahon, M., Mactavish, J., & Bockstael, E. (2000). Social integration, leisure, and individuals with intellectual disability. Parks and Recreation, 35, 25-39.

Rimmer, J. (2005). The conspicuous absence of people with disabilities in public fitness and recreation facilities: Lack of interest or lack of access? American Journal of Health Promotion, 19, 327-329.

Solish, A., Perry, A., & Minnes, P. (2009). Participation of children with and without disabilities in social, recreational and leisure activities. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 23, 226-236. doi: 10.1111/j.1468-3148.2009.00525.x

Yazdani, S., Yee, C., & Chung, P. (2013). Factors predicting physical activity among children with special needs. Preventing Chronic Disease, 10, 1-8. doi: 10.5888/pcd10.120283

Funding

Making Friends in Recreation

• MFR will primarily seek grant funding from the Helen K. & Arthur E. Johnson Foundation
• Future funding: continued grant and community support
• Survey data will be used to demonstrate program impact
• If funding goals not reached, MFR will charge activity fees

A peer mentoring program offering recreation opportunities to youth with and without disabilities

Purpose

Activities to be offered

Sample Session Schedule:

To determine feasibility and potential support of the suggested grant proposal in conjunction with Special Olympics Colorado

Krista Gertig

A grant proposal in conjunction with Special Olympics Colorado and HDFS 492

• Week 1: Intros, surveys, ropes course
• Week 2: Flag football at City Park
• Week 3: Frisbee golf at Edora Park
• Week 4: Soccer at Spring Creek Park
• Week 5: Volleyball at Edora Park
• Week 6: Kickball at City Park
• Week 7: Basketball at Northside gym
• Week 8: Bowling at Chipper's Lanes
• Week 9: Ice skating/scavenger hunt at EPIC
• Week 10: Dance Around the World at Northside gym
• Week 11: Roller skating at Rollerland
• Week 12: Swimming at EPIC
• Week 13: Badminton/obstacle courses at Northside gym
• Week 14: Music with CSU Music Therapy at CSU's UCA
• Week 15: Celebration, surveys at Northside gym

Program Goals and Objectives

To develop positive community relationships between individuals with and without disabilities through the peer mentoring relationships in MFR

Goal 1:

Goal 2:

Goal 3:

To increase interest in recreational activities for all youth (with and without disabilities) in MFR

To increase feelings of self-efficacy in youth, so they feel better equipped to make positive and healthy changes in their own lives

"I 'm interested, what's next?"

Who will benefit from the program?

• Target population=youth ages 8-21 with and without intellectual disabilities
• Accommodating 30 children with disabilities and 30 without
• All applicants meeting demographic and attendance requirements
• Youth without disabilities give a brief summary of interest

What will the proposal address?

• Families of youth with disabilities
• Many not able to provide ample opportunities by themselves
• Youth already interested in recreation
• Youth without disabilities
• Northern Colorado community
• Special Olympics Colorado

• Children with special needs not getting enough physical activity
• Childhood obesity
• Less physical activity with peers
• Importance of peer relationships to development
• Benefits of peer mentoring and physical activity together
• Aim to support interest in Special Olympics