Recreation Committee (REC)

Chair:

Doug Millman

What can we do?

We have assessed the situation of persons with disabilities with respect to recreational opportunities, and found it to be sadly lacking. As a group, speaking for CWD-O, we can lobby the government to prioritize recreation within their sports funding budget. One person in seven in Ontario is living with a disability: We will be heard.

To date we have divided persons with a disability into six (6) somewhat arbitrary groups:

(1) birth - 3 years
(2) 4 years - 13 years
(3) 14 years - 17 years
(4) 18 years - 39 years
(5) 40 years - 64 years
(6) 65 years +

To give you a flavour of some things that we will be pursuing, I will illustrate with an example from each group.

Group (1) - We recommend that every municipality with a population exceeding 10,000 receive a 50% subsidy toward construction of a budget-approved, accessible playground; containing a specific area for Group (1) individuals.
Group (2) - We recommend that a minimum of two (2) teachers (at both the elementary and the secondary level) at each school receive mandatory training in physical education and recreational activities for children with disabilities as part of their ongoing certification program.
Group (3) - We recommend that increased funding for programs, which foster the real and perceived barriers to participation in sports and recreational activities, e.g. www.abilityonline.org (866-650-6207), become a priority.
Group (4) - We recommend (as part of our commitment to the superiority of individual sports/recreation) that at least one chapter of Freedom's Wings Canada (www.freedomswings.ca) be established in each LHIN. This group provides inclusive glider flights at no charge; as well as flight lessons leading to a Pilot's Licence for those with the use of both hands.
Group(5) - We recommend that both the PST and GST be removed from the purchase of accessibility aids to sports and recreation, e.g. auditory golf balls and curling sticks.
Group (6) - We recommend that at least one pool wheelchair and the necessary pool modifications be funded for each LHIN.

Become A Member

With more member involvement, we can do more. Our Committees always welcome new members who share CWD-O's mission and values. We meet as needed, using the IDEAL online conferencing system.

To join this Committee and to find out the next meeting date, please contact the Committee Chair. You must first be a member of CWD-O to join a committee, and have the Chair's approval.

If you are new, you will need to complete and send us a Membership Form(compressed Word document, 17kb) and email to membership@cwd-o.org. CWD-O membership is still free.

Please contact Pat Seed at pat.seed@tbaytel.net for our IDEAL conferencing instructions on how to participate on a Committee.

Recreation Committee (REC)

Chair:

What can we do?

Become A Member

Committee References:

Related Articles

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2008

2007