Impact Feature Issue on Social Inclusion Through Recreation for Persons with Disabilities

In every community there is a wide range of informal and formal opportunities for children and adults with disabilities to build relationships with others through shared recreation activities. Here are some of the places where such opportunities can be found and relationships nurtured:

• Neighborhood yards, play areas, and parks
• Community education and recreation programs for youth and adults
• Community sports leagues
• Faith communities
• Interest clubs (such as gardening, bridge, birding, book, and dancing clubs)
• Youth organizations (such as Scouting, Campfire, 4-H, church youth groups)
• Recreation and fitness center activities and programs
• Cultural and ethnic centers
• Community arts and theatre organizations
• School carnivals and family nights
• Open gym and swim times for the community at local schools and colleges
• Extracurricular activities in K-12 schools
• Early childhood play groups
• Community volunteer organizations
• Youth drop-in centers
• Neighborhood coffeehouses and bars
• Workplace sports teams and informal interest groups
• Nature centers
• Travel/tour groups
• Singles groups, parent groups, couple groups, gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender groups