Articles
Driving Over Boundaries And Climbing Obstacles
Hosted by Oakland County Parks (OCP) in Michigan, Disability Dirt Days pair volunteer, off-road vehicle (ORV) drivers with participants with disabilities for thrilling rides around Holly Oaks ORV Park. The park is situated on former and active gravel mines and offers a wide variety of extreme terrain for ORVs.
Hit It Out Of The Park
On a Saturday morning at Miracle Field in Wichita, Kan., one will find a group of special athletes participating in America’s pastime—baseball. While some use wheelchairs or walkers, others are blind or have intellectual disabilities—all are ready to have a swing of the bat, round the bases, and catch a ball.
Finding Excellence In Exercise
In 1983, members of a local disability community helped bring a Wheelchair Accessible Heart Trail to John Prince Park, located in Lake Worth, Fla.
Point To The Possibilities
Water, food, air, and shelter are essential for survival. But to thrive instead of just surviving, a person needs more, such as sleep, clothing, and education.
Gone To The Dogs
For years many communities have offered places for people to run, play, and have fun, but now many agencies are hearing the call to provide safe, accessible dog parks, too. This shift is not a new trend, but continues to build.
Ask The Right Questions
An accessible playspace has never been easier to build. With options from several playground manufacturers, the sky is the limit.
Get In The Game
The daily mission of park and recreation professionals is to enhance the quality of life for residents through a variety of programs, services, and facilities. However, some professionals may not fully recognize their power to create true social change for a population that is often forgotten about.
Accessible Facilities
More than three decades ago the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) became law. At the time, it was groundbreaking, ushering in an era in which accessible restrooms, wheelchair ramps for public facilities, curb cuts, and other means of accommodation were mandated.
A Winning Sense-ation
On an overcast, late April day, a young boy runs along Georgia Avenue—a busy thoroughfare in Montgomery County, Md.,—barely avoiding being hit by passing vehicles. The child is spotted by Sgt. Trevin Sherard, a Montgomery Parks Police officer, who happens to be driving past the scene.
Sidelining Spectators
On a recent drive to work, I decided to write a column about the importance of coaches and administrators knowing about heat illness and how to help prevent it in youth sports. Living in South Florida, I always found the subject intriguing.
Eyes On The Road
I recently saw a truck commercial where the driver took his hands off the wheel and began to play patty-cake by himself. As the music swelled with the beat, he sat back comfortably, presumably to await the oncoming 18-wheeler being driven by a guy who was probably busy trying to reset his cell phone clock.
This-N-That
A collection of news items, product announcements and event notices designed to keep you on the cutting edge.
Fun For All
Each afternoon, around 2 p.m., a man walks by the front of my office. He wears a backpack, broad-brimmed hat, and a smile. Each day I wave to him, and each day he waves back.