This issue was sculpted in large part by guest editor John McGovern, executive director of Illinois' first special recreation association (SRA), the Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association, established in 1970.
With a degree in Recreation from the University of New Mexico, McGovern landed his first job with the city of Albuquerque.
Says McGovern: "There weren't many rec opportunities for people with disabilities and I suggested that in a staff meeting and my boss said, 'Why don't you start running some?'"
So he did. Soon the city offered summer camps and swim lessons for people with disabilities, programs for at-risk kids and wards of the state.
In 1975, he took a job in Illinois on a tip that the land of Lincoln was the land of opportunity for special recreation.
"I met people from the SRAs at the national conference and they told me about these things called SRAs and park districts and I honestly thought they were pulling my leg regarding the size and scope of services," says McGovern.
Twenty-plus years later, he's a respected leader among Illinois' 26 SRAs, which are recognized nationwide for their array of services for people with special needs.
About special recreation today, McGovern says; "There will be more change dealing with the fact that the disability population is getting older and living longer because of advances in medical technology, and a greater emphasis on inclusion."
His article "Just What Is an SRA?" begins on page 23. In it, McGovern hopes to demystify special recreation associations for those unfamiliar with them. This, in fact, is why we devote an entire magazine to the subject.
"(Illinois has) strong park districts and so we have strong SRAs, and the SRAs are really just the extension of the park district," says McGovern, who wants to quash any notion of an "us" and "them" relationship between special recreation associations and park districts.
"SRA directors might have lunch together, but we spend more time with park district directors and program managers," says McGovern.
Thanks to John and our many other contributors for their time and insights shared for this SRA issue.
4 / Illinois Parks and Recreation