Disability and Inclusion Services

Visit edenprairie.org/Recreation to view adaptive/inclusive programs.

Mission Statement

The mission of Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation –Therapeutic Recreation is to enhance the quality of life for individuals with disabilities by providing recreation and enrichment opportunities year-round that are accessible to all.

Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation is committed to an inclusive approach to recreation and will provide reasonable accommodations to enhance program participation without fundamentally altering a program.

AR&LE

AR&LE is made up of two parts – Adaptive Recreation (AR) and Learning Exchange (LE).

The cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and Richfield have teamed together to offer specialized recreation programs and services specifically designed for people with disabilities. AR&LE has provided recreation, enrichment and social options for more than 40 years.

Through AR&LE, Eden Prairie residents are welcome to choose from adaptive offerings available through any of the four cities in the cooperative. Just complete and submit your AR&LE participant profile so you can register for any recreation or learning exchange offering through the cooperative.

Please contact Nicole Weedman, senior recreation supervisor, at 952-949-8456 (TTY: 952-949-8399 for the hearing and speech impaired) for information and to receive a quarterly program catalog.

Learning Exchange

Eden Prairie Schools Community Education offers customized classes to meet the needs of adults with developmental or cognitive disabilities who are ages 18 and older. Classes may include cooking, independent living skills, theater and performing arts, health, fitness and other leisure learning activities.

Adaptive Recreation

Programs include softball, bowling, water aerobics, fitness programs, skiing/snowboarding and golf, as well as a number of social programs for youth and adults.

Disability and Inclusion Services Programs

Adaptive Recreation

Adaptive recreation participants express experiencing less anxiety, better stress management and improved self-image. The program offers diverse opportunities to experience your community while learning about recreation and free time, breaking down leisure barriers, developing new recreation interests, enhancing social skills, improving physical fitness and stimulating cognitive functioning.

In addition, participating in adaptive programs assists individuals to become involved as independently as possible in community activities and events.

Programs have a 1:3 staff-to-participant ratio. Participants should independently demonstrate the following skills:

Ability to follow a schedule
Willingness to try new things
Communicate needs and wants
Ability to dress oneself and use the restroom

If support is needed with one of these skills, a personal care attendant must accompany the participant. If a personal care attendant is attending the program, there is no additional cost, unless noted otherwise.

Programs

Fun with Fitness

Low-impact fitness classes at the Community Center designed to enhance your range of motion, strength and endurance. Register and bring a parent, sibling or personal support staff at no cost, and workout together.

Saturday Socializers

Individuals ages 15–28 meet earlier on Saturdays, then later that day adult participants enjoy the same activities with their peers.

Sensory-Friendly Swimming

Programs designed for residents who require accommodations to use the aquatics amenities are available at the Community Center. Learn more at edenprairie.org/InclusiveSwimming.

Walking Club

Improve your endurance by walking with small groups of friends and staff. Challenge yourself, choose your distance and go at your own pace. Plus, earn prizes for reaching your walking goals!

Current programs open for registration available at edenprairie.org/Recreation.

Inclusion

Inclusion is the process in which individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in activities offered to individuals without disabilities.

Contact Nicole Weedman, senior recreation supervisor, at 952-949-8456 (TTY: 952-949-8399 for the hearing and speech impaired) to request accommodations for a program. Please note, a minimum of three weeks notice is required. For summer camps, the request should be made by May 15.

Intake Assessment and Inclusion Questionnaire

Requesting Inclusion Services

What are Inclusion Services?

Sometimes the best option for a child, teen or adult with special needs is to remain in their own community’s recreation programming, but with a buddy to tag along. Those buddies (inclusion companions) are available to support participants as an affirming and encouraging presence within their own community’s program, activity or camp.

That’s where inclusion services come in. Inclusion services are available to participants of programs offered within Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation at no additional cost to the family.

These services also include, when necessary, staff training, program modifications/adaptations, modified equipment and program observations.

All individuals with disabilities are eligible to enroll in any youth or adult program and seek assistance to participate through inclusion services.

If inclusion is not the right choice for you or your child, please consider one of our adaptive recreation programs.

Reasons to Request Inclusion Services

A parent or family member recognizes that a participant would benefit from additional support in a program
Staff identifies a need for additional support, for safety and programmatic reasons, and communicates this need to the family

Requesting Inclusion Services

When registering for an Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation program:

Mark the accommodation section of the registration form in the brochure OR click on the Inclusion Services request link while online.
Once the registration is submitted, we will contact the family to discuss the type of inclusion support needed for the participant.
Parks and Recreation staff will work to put the necessary inclusion accommodations in place for participation in the desired program(s).
Communication between Parks and Recreation staff and the family continues throughout the inclusion process.
We request at least 3 weeks to plan and secure reasonable accommodations. All attempts will be made to accommodate the needs of all participants. However, due to staffing constraints and/or capacity limits of the requested activity, registrations or accommodations may be limited.

Limitations of Inclusion Services

Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation provides reasonable accommodations for inclusion. Some accommodations, due to the activity or the environment in which the activity is conducted, may not be reasonable and thus there is no guarantee they will be provided. For example, these accommodations are not guaranteed:

Programs offered at facilities outside the City of Eden Prairie, or not offered through the Parks and Recreation Department
Provision and/or purchasing of personal, custom devices or equipment
Hiring or placement of a specific person as support staff
Inclusions services is not designed for therapeutic 1:1 care
If my or my child’s behavior presents a clear or imminent risk to staff or others, and reasonable accommodations do not eliminate that risk, Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation may disenroll my child from the activity.

Recreation inclusion staff members are not provided for non-structured/non-registered programs (i.e. open gym, open swim, drop-in program, or parent/child or family activities) though other reasonable accommodations will be discussed.

Disability and Inclusion
- How soon do we need to submit requests for inclusion services?
  When registering for an Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation program, we request at least 3 weeks to plan and secure reasonable accommodations.
  
  All attempts will be made to accommodate the needs of all participants. However, due to staffing constraints and/or capacity limits of the requested activity, registrations or accommodations may be limited.
- What is a Recreation Inclusion Companion?
  Recreation Inclusion Companions provide the necessary adaptations, accommodation, and support to individuals who have a disability while participating in general recreation programs and activities. Parks and Recreation makes every effort to hire diverse staff that have experience and an interest in working with people with disabilities.
  
  Job openings will be posted to edenprairie.org/Employment as they become available.
- What's the difference between the Inclusion Questionnaire and the ARLE In-Take Assessment?
  The inclusion questionnaire is used only in Eden Prairie and the programs offered through Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation, and should be completed by everyone.
  
  The ARLE (Adaptive Recreation Learning Exchange) is a four city cooperative that Eden Prairie, Edina, Richfield and Bloomington participate in. The In-take assessment must be filled out prior to participation in any programs offered through ARLE.
- Where do I send in completed forms?
  Completed forms should be returned prior to participating.
  - Forms can be emailed to inclusionservices@edenprairie.org
  - Hard copies can be printed and mailed to:
    Inclusion Services/Nicole Weedman
    8080 Mitchell Road
    Eden Prairie, MN 55344
- Why is the Inclusion Questionnaire required?
  Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation is committed to an inclusive approach. To allow and provide all participants the best experience while attending programs, staff work to make sure all the needed supports, accommodations or modifications are in place prior to the participant arriving.
  
  The Inclusion Questionnaire is a confidential document that is the road map to help educate and support instructors and staff on how to best meet the needs of individuals who may need extra support.