The Census Bureau recently reported that more than 51 million Americans have some kind of disability, and that two-thirds of those disabilities are classified as “severe.”
In response, the Bush administration has proposed far-reaching new rules to update the Americans with Disabilities Act. The rules would require greater access for the handicapped to a wide range of businesses and public buildings, including courts, auditoriums, sports stadiums, theaters, hotel rooms, swimming pools and so on.
One metro-area community isn’t waiting for federal mandates to do the right thing. Instead, the town of Parker is taking steps on its own to improve recreational access for people with disabilities. Parker knows that its senior population will inevitably increase, and that along with aging comes an increase in disabling conditions. Just 9 percent of Parker’s population of 36,000 was 55 years or older in 2007, but that is projected to increase to 11 percent by 2012.
Parker took the upper hand and commissioned a study of the recreational needs of disabled seniors and of families who have a member with a cognitive or physical disability. Mary Colpon, assistant recreation director for programs with the town’s recreation department, said five community meetings were held.
“It was like Christmas in July,” Erich Kirshner, whose 8-year-old daughter, Bella, has cerebral palsy, said of the meetings. “We had no idea the town was thinking about our children.” People were so happy to be asked about the needs of their family members, he said, that “there were smiles to their ears.”
The consultant found numerous providers of therapeutic services for the disabled in the area. Parker can become a clearing-house for community resources, the report said, and “doesn’t have to provide everything itself.”
Colpon said the community meetings proved that “simple changes can often improve recreational and other services for people with disabilities.” For example, naming the disabled and their family members to an advisory commission might help raise awareness of disability issues and improve decisions made by town officials. Involving disabled people “on the front end” when planning new facilities could be invaluable.
Parker is learning from other recreation districts that have more established programs for people with special needs. In particular, Colpon pointed to South Suburban Parks and Recreation District, which has a long history of offering sports and activities for the disabled, including aquatics, cultural arts, adapted biking and water skiing, camping, bowling, softball, personal training, dances and “fitness buddies.”
Parker is facing up to the unhappy reality confronting communities across Colorado: More soldiers are coming back from Iraq and Afghanistan with disabling injuries; families who have children with special needs want recreational services for them; and the senior population of the metro area will increase. Parker should be given high marks for planning today for the future.
