This year for National Recreation and Parks Association’s (NRPA) Park and Recreation Month, recreation departments are celebrating The Power Of campaign nationally. Parks and Recreation has the power to bring together people, strengthen health and build more inclusive communities. For the WAWM RCS Department, we see The Power Of recreation every single day and today we’re highlighting The Power Of Inclusion as we celebrate Park and Recreation Month. Stay tuned for more featured articles this upcoming year as we focus on The Power Of recreation and how it impacts our department.
Parks and recreation are about more than programs and places—they're about creating spaces where everyone feels welcomed, valued and connected. Inclusion means ensuring every individual, regardless of ability, background or age, has the opportunity to participate, build friendships and experience the joy of belonging. When everyone has a place to play, learn and belong, our community grows stronger together. Let’s take a moment to talk with our Adaptive Recreation Manager Katie Lindgren about The Power of Inclusion.
A typical weekday here at the WAWM Recreation Center starts with the hustle and bustle of the morning. Senior Morning Stretch participants are entering for class, Preschool students and their parents are running down the hall excited for class, and our Adult Day Program participants stop to say hello to our front desk staff before heading to their program location for the day.
Our Day Program is nothing new for our department. It has been a hidden gem in our community, proudly serving adults from the disability community since 1968. The WAWM RCS Department has continued to grow to serve the needs of participants in our Recreational Adult Day Program, or as we lovingly call it, RAD. This program began because of the advocacy of families and caregivers, and it continues to evolve through the inspiration and influence of our participants in the program.
Five years ago, RAD moved into the brand new Recreation Center on 68th Street and since then our participants have been integrated into their community on a daily basis. Many of our community members have visited RAD Participants at Cafe RAD for a daily cup of coffee or a sweet treat, RAD participants volunteer in our preschool program, or you may have even completed a lap or two together on the Indoor Track. Our participants advocate for themselves, their peers and their programs. Their advocacy has led to visits from state representatives and new accessibility additions to our Recreation Center including a communication board and universal changing table.
RAD participants are encouraged to be “loud and proud” here every day. What they say about their experiences, the moments they are proud of, and what they want others to know about RAD says more than we ever could. The Power Of Inclusion allows our RAD Participants to feel safe and advocated for in all aspects of their lives along with contributing something unique to our RAD community.
When asked about RAD means to them, participants all shared that RAD is a special community. By incorporating an adult day program (or similar program offerings) into your recreation center, you create a hub of inclusion that you simply can’t replicate otherwise. Don’t believe us? Well, take it from Michelle and Lori, and Gabe and Cody who are proud of what they learn each day in the program, what they contribute to our Recreation Center, and the relationships they build with their peers.
As we create an inclusive community, the daily interactions with everyone in the Recreation Center are of the utmost importance to our participants. Michelle and Lori both love that they get to interact with other adults and everyone who comes into the Recreation Center. You’ll find them at the Cafe RAD coffee cart twice a week working on their math, cash handling and money management, customer service, team building and communication skills. Since starting at Cafe RAD, Michelle has flourished in her ability to “talk to anyone and everyone.” Lori has grown into a confident coffee cart manager and proudly wears her name badge.
Cody and Gabe take pride in meeting new people and our community members on our Indoor Track. They enjoy being amongst their peers doing an activity they love such as listening to music and getting laps in on the track. The friendships formed on our track have connected us with a wonderful new community friend who has since created personalized birthday candles for each participant. Each birthday has become more than just a celebration—it’s a reminder of the meaningful friendships and connections that continue to grow within our program and throughout our community.
While our participants interact with community members each and every day in normal day to day interactions, they also invite our community to join us for special events, programs and opportunities to further connect and strengthen friendships. Participants host two fundraiser events each year, bringing in countless new friends while also raising funds for their program. By hosting a yearly Hoop-a-Thon & Lap-a-Thon, RAD Participants highlight the importance of inclusion and accessibility in public spaces, raising funds and purchasing a communication board and universal adult changing table as a result of their advocacy work. Their advocacy helped bring two local state representatives and our Lt. Governor for a visit at our program.
RAD is rooted in the belief that our participants are lifelong learners, so participants not only practice their life skills while at RAD, but they also learn and practice their math, science, reading, writing, communication and creativity skills. Many participants share the importance of having a place to go after high school that allows them to still see their friends while also having a job in the community. Since many participants have grown up in the WAWM School District, they continue to develop and thrive alongside the same peers and friends they spent their elementary, middle and high school years with.
In the RAD Program, the participants pledge to follow The RAD Way, also known as their program expectations. Participants state they will be respectful, accountable, determined and inclusive. Their program, and simultaneously our world, is better when we follow The RAD Way! By creating an inclusive environment, we all benefit because we all can grow and allow others to grow in a safe environment that supports many dimensions of wellness.
We challenge you to “Be Cool and Include” and watch as The Power Of Inclusion takes over your Recreation Department!