Editor's Note: Following is the concluding portion of an article begun in the January/February issue of this magazine. In that issue the authors briefly reviewed the past history of special recreation associations in Illinois and described the breadth of programs offered by the 14 associations that exist today, along with the general philosophical thrust through which these agencies function. The authors paid particular attention in the article to the current problems and challenges facing special recreation associations.

In the authors' view, certain changes made during the editing process for the introductory portion of the article resulted in a somewhat "negative" tone regarding the recipients of special recreation services, and the problems faced by the associations. The editors sincerely regret making changes that inadvertently altered the intent of the article, and have carefully reviewed this concluding portion with the authors.

FUTURE TRENDS

As indicated, the reason special recreation associations exist is to provide recreation programs for special populations. An integral part of this task is the Recreation Leader position. It is a goal to have this position packaged as a career for those staff members who enjoy directly working with program participants. A 40-hour week and a salary based on experience, education and merit are objectives for this position. Such a goal is based on the theory that each position with an agency is as important as the next, differing only in areas of emphasis. Therefore, staff members may have different responsibilities, but all are needed for the agency to operate effectively. Not everyone may want to be an administrator, but everyone wants a good salary with "normal" hours.

An additional concern is the area of male staff. Leadership positions are now predominantly staffed with females. Since a large percentage of participants with learning behavior and emotional disabilities are male, help is essential in locker room and washroom facilities, as are "male models" requested by parents. Greater emphasis will be placed on the recruitment of male therapists at the leadership level to alleviate this problem.

From left to right: Judy Jacobson, Mary Mette, Daria Kay

PROGRAMS

As the public becomes educated, it should become more possible to successfully integrate special populations into regular park district programs and to totally "mainstream" a certain percentage of individuals. A key factor in this process is the capacity to look at the individual and assess ability and needs on a one-to-one basis. Placing a whole group of special education students into regular park district activities generally will not accomplish integration because the amount of supervision required is not always feasible. Often these participants remain alienated rather than integrated. Integration on an individual basis has been shown to be effective to a degree for the educably mentally handicapped, the learning disabled, the behavior disordered, the hearing impaired and other individuals through the efforts of special recreation associations.

Family activities are being offered sporadically but in the near future a greater number of offerings will be geared toward family involvement. There will be additional efforts to work with parents on ways to play with their child, and to encourage families of handicapped participants to join their park district activities as a family unit. With this in mind more and more activities are being directed toward teaching skills that can be utilized in regular park district programs.

Experiences not available through other programs are becoming areas for associations to incorporate and develop. Such areas include recreating through the outdoors, planning overnight camping trips and vacations for the handicapped, and working with special education teachers in leisure education programs. Through continued communication with special population individuals, parents, and professionals serving the handicapped in other fields, associations are looking forward to being able to better program activities to meet the interests and needs of their participants and their families.

A close working relationship with universities and colleges to further develop their belief in and understanding of the structure and re-

Illinois Parks and Recreation 12 March/April, 1980

quirements of special recreation associations is needed. Encouraging the development of a special area of emphasis within therapeutic recreation curricula that includes varied recreational skill training, familiarization with all disabilities and their specific needs (i.e. sign language for hearing impaired) for individuals who would like to work in the community setting, is a goal. Training individuals specifically for the previous mentioned career in leadership is a related objective.

Legislation which is being presented needs to be watched closely to assure the recreator's professional status is appropriately maintained. Public Law 94-142 states recreation should be provided within the public school system but it does not clearly require that such services should be provided by professional recreators. Special recreators must be legislatively active, aware, and in touch with their elected representatives. The importance of keeping our participants, their relatives and community supporters aware and involved must not be forgotten.

CHANGES IN CLIENTELE

Special recreation associations now and in the future will be increasing their services to adults. As individuals currently involved in special recreation grow older they will continue to need leisure time programming. More and more associations are discovering handicapped adults in their communities that had not been previously identified. These individuals also need leisure activities and services.

Increased public awareness has also increased the early identification of infants with problems, and their parents are seeking recreation services. The population presently served best by special recreation associations is the school-aged child. This thrust will need to be maintained in program offerings. Hospitals, residential living facilities, and private schools are sending into the community participants whose functioning level is very low. Programs for more severely disabled individuals will continue to grow in demand, and need to be operated by special recreation associations.

CONCLUSION

Special recreation associations will exist as long as there are handicapped individuals living in the community. Growth can be predicted to continue not only in Illinois but in other states which are now in the early stages of handicapped program development. The success special recreation associations have had in serving special populations far outweigh any problems that have arisen. Future concerns and goals will be approached in the same spirit that characterized the original development of special recreation associations in Illinois. The concepts of hard work, dedication and optimism insures that Illinois will remain a leader in services provided for all individuals.

(Editor's Note: Portions of this article were reprinted from "Special Recreation Associations, PROS and CONS" by Kevin T. Kendrigan.)

Illinois Parks and Recreation 13 March/April, 1980