HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-09-05 Committee on People with Disabilities Minutes_PRattach
June July Aug P&R report for MCPD
RECREATION REPORT SUMMER FUN 2008
Alisa Mitchener, Recreation Specialist
Total # of children with disability issues served in 2008 Summer Fun: 42
Includes requests for observations, assessments, parent contact, with
some resulting in modification and emergency plans.
Total # of children registered with a disability 18
Total number of on-site special staff briefings for disability issues 3
Total number of modification plans created 10
COMPARED WITH 2007
Total # of children w/ disability issues in 2007 Summer Fun 25
SUMMER FUN Evaluation notes:
There were no personal assistants serving children with disabilities in our program
this year. DOE extended year personal assistance has been discontinued in the
community. Also, P&R requires volunteers to be certified in first aid, attend
training, and comply with background checks as mandated for childcare workers,
which may deter parents or personal assistants from assisting children in Summer
Fun.
Emergency action plans were created for children with extreme allergic reactions,
asthma, and hydrocephalus. Other modification plans included behavior
management plans and plans for children taking medication during the program.
Recreation staff are not allowed to administer medication, they are only allowed to
store it. New policy was created with the help of Corporation Counsel and DOH
Public Health Nurses to allow the use of an epi-pen for Emergency First Aid for 2
children with extreme life threatening allergies (bee stings and peanuts). Public
Health nurses trained staff on emergency procedures. There were no emergency
incidents requiring the use of the epi-pen.
Many of the children with disabilities had attended our Summer Fun program
before. Site visits took place before the program started, modification plans were
reviewed with parents, and implementation went smoothly. A child with Down
syndrome actively participated without a personal assistant in a program with over
140 children. It was a good match of ability, awesome staff, and program style.
Another child with multiple disabilities thrived with friends and siblings in a small
scale rural Summer Fun Program.
More children with asthma were documented this year and special caution was
taken due to intense vog and sulfur emissions, especially in Puna.
Puna Summer Fun programs have the highest incidence of children with
disabilities and behavior challenges. This could be due to many different factors
and may not be disability issues. Many families are “at risk”: Addiction, abuse,
poor parenting, grandparents raising children, and children in constantly changing
foster homes affect behavior. Many disabilities are not disclosed initially, but are
disclosed when extreme behavior warrants calls to parents. I highly recommend
extra staff here to lower the ratio to 1:15 instead of 1:20.
An adoptive mom was having her 9 year old child evaluated professionally for the
first time. With her permission, my observations of her child in summer fun were
shared with a case manager and therapist demonstrating the depth interagency
support and inclusive services can reach.
Other Recreation Division reports:
Inclusive Judo class has 4 children with disabilities successfully participating in a
regular program.
Staff questions arose regarding service animals in training and a patron’s letter
from her therapist saying she required a therapy animal. I reminded staff these are
animals are not considered service animals and are not covered by the ADA. It’s
the person that has rights not the animal.
I submitted proposals for open house recreation orientations in each district and
submitted ADA budget suggestions for modifications, equipment, and training
materials.
P&R AQUATICS REPORT for MCPD June July August 2008
I provided observations, recommendations, and staff support for a swim instructor
with students with disabilities in NAS summer swim classes.The swim instructor
learned new adaptive techniques with patience, dedication, and joy:
A child with autism that wasn’t able to get his head wet on the first swim lesson
passed his level I certification! A youth with intellectual impairments continued
swimming progress transferring from NAS lessons to regular public swim at
Kawamoto Pool with a personal assistant.
I worked with ADA coordinator, aquatics, Parks Maintenance, and Fire
Department Ocean Safety on: purchase of hippocampes and mobi mats, on site
beach tests, public loan systems and storage agreements for improved beach
access.
I conducted an Aquatic orientation at Brantley Center and assisted them in setting
up regular swim days at Honoka’a pool. Terry Miura, a swim instructor from the
Aquatics Division and I will be assisting on their first day at the pool.
Pahala pool offers a weekly adapted aquatics class. KCAC has installed new
changing benches, handrails, and a new pool lift. The Full Life Learning Center
continues to swim there once a week. Konawaena Pool next to Kona Krafts has
re-opened. Laupahoehoe pool is closed for renovations.