Adaptive Recreation Program coordinators Tammy Thomas and Ethan Larned from Community Recreational Services took turns making laps across the Way of Life Facility’s little league field on September 6 during the program’s Adaptive Recreation Night to make sure participating kids and families had everything they needed to participate in the series of activities that were set up.

“We’re trying to bring awareness to our program,” said Larned. “We provide recreational opportunities for individuals with physical and neurological disabilities and kids who need behavioral support. We’re here to trouble-shoot.”

The program works to develop recreational opportunities for youth of all abilities living in the Community.

For Adaptive Recreation Night, the program set up recreational activities in every corner of the WOLF field. On the first-base line was the sack race, where kids hopped around in potato sacks to see who could cross the finish line first. In center-right field was a bouncy house that Larned said can be modified for individuals who require accommodations.

At home plate, they set up an interactive “slime bar” craft. “We have sticks [so] they can stir and get their hands in [the slime], sort of like a sensory activity to get the feels out,” said Larned.

Larned added that the program seeks to provide safe recreational opportunities for youth with special needs so they can be involved in their Community.

“Sometimes they might not get the chance to be involved, or we might have trouble making [the necessary] accommodations, so Tammy and I are here to support that, whether it’s in athletics, aquatics or within our other programs,” said Larned.

Types of accommodations that the program offers include addressing challenging behaviors and making sensory accommodations, which include dance parties, different levels of light, and headphones available to check out for those with sound sensitivities.

Larned said that he and Thomas must often think outside the box when it comes to the accommodations provided to the Community.

For instance, the Aquatics Department has been equipped with adaptive floaters and chairs for those with specific needs in the water. And during their Easter egg hunts, the eggs were inside balloons. For kids who couldn’t [bend] down and pick [the eggs] up, they were able to pop the balloons and get the eggs that way.

Larned, who has worked in behavioral health for about a decade, said that he loves experimenting in the realm of play, noting how beneficial play is for wellness and inclusion and being part of a community.

“Kids just love to get their hands dirty, and we provide a structured environment [so they can] do so,” said Larned.

At Adaptive Recreation Night, Larned said, “A lot of our adaptive family showed up, but we’re always looking for new faces!”

This year the program also held its first Adaptive Recreation Camp specifically for kids with disabilities. The 5-11 age group had 11 participants, and in the older 12-22 age group there were seven participants.