The New Jersey Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities bestowed the New Jersey Distinguished Agency Recreation Services Award upon the Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation on Wednesday, Sept. 30 for its outstanding recreation programs and services that demonstrate a commitment to the integration of people with and without disabilities. Programs offered by Moorestown’s Department of Parks and Recreation serves as an exemplary model for replication by other agencies and organizations. Moorestown was the only municipality to receive the award and, during the ceremony, Director Theresa Miller accepted the award on behalf of the department and its staff who works tirelessly to make programs available to all individuals, with and without disabilities.
The breadth of programming available to individuals with disabilities has grown through the many partnerships and collaborative relationships the department has developed since 2008. At that time with the help of a grant from the NJ Department of Community Affairs-Office of Recreation, the department began its outreach in earnest by creating a comprehensive four week summer program for children with disabilities. The Special Needs Summer Camp continues today and is held daily for four weeks and works closely with the Moorestown Township Public Schools Extended School Year (ESY) program. This camp has grown annually and in 2015 expanded to include two groups of participants –ages 5 to 12 and 13 to 18. This expansion was made possible by a donation from Sean Fischel Connect, one of the department’s many partner organizations. Additional financial contributions from the Moorestown Education Foundation and Bayada Health Service covered field trips, t-shirts, daily bus transportation, art lessons and computer workshops.
In addition to the daily camp experience the department hosts many special events and activities throughout the year to serve individuals with special needs. Since 2007 the Annual Holiday Party for children with disabilities has attracted families throughout Burlington County. More than 100 individuals, friends, families and teachers have attended this event which hosted a DJ, dancing, games and food. Holiday Gift Cards were provided to all of the special needs individuals courtesy of the Elderberry Foundation.
The Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation has diligently worked with local sports coaches and programs to help provide a wide variety of athletic programs that encourage those with disabilities to be active. From Family Support Outings like “Everybody Wins” Soccer, Flag Football and Basketball Clinics to the TOPS Soccer Program in partnership with Maple Shade Township, there are many opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in a fun, developmentally appropriate and competitive athletic programs. TOPS held in Church Street Rec Center followed by two hours of Open Gym for individuals with special needs and their families and caregivers. Additionally, through the generosity of local sponsors, programs like the Special Needs Music Therapy and Social Group are made possible. The SMASH program (Social Meeting After School Hours) was introduced in the Spring of 2015 through a generous donation by the Monica Buckley Foundation. In partnership with the Moorestown High School special needs teens were bused to the Church Street Recreation center on Thursdays from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. The department has provided a Karate Instructor and a Music Therapist, as well as a Special Education Teacher, an Occupational Therapist and two aides, and continues this year.
A wide variety of special events are planned each year specifically for individuals with special needs from throughout the Burlington and Camden County areas. From the Teen Karaoke Activities Night in collaboration with MoorArts to the Halloween Party and Let’s Dance party, the department has focused on providing individuals with special needs not only tangible skills, but also social and relationship building skills. These special events were opened to individuals throughout Burlington County. These events not only provide the individuals with social opportunities, but offers their caregivers a broader network of resources from which they can draw.
The most profound event the Department of Parks and Recreation has sponsored recently was the 2015 Special Needs Providers Fair. This event was the first resource awareness event of its kind in Burlington County. The Fair maximized its attendance with 48 providers and more than 200 attendees. Included in the provider list were organizations and companies that specialized in social skill modeling, music therapy, service dogs availability, therapeutic horseback riding, sports groups that catered to special needs children, etc. Following the huge success of this event, the department is already making plans for the 2016 Fair.
And finally, in an effort to help Special Needs Individuals transition from childhood to adulthood, the Moorestown Department of Parks and Recreation has partnered with three local groups to provide jobs training and environmental socialization. Relationships with Moorestown High School, Kingsway Learning Center and Bancroft offer older teens and young adults a wide array of opportunities. These three intuitions have programs that allow individuals with special needs to develop their life-skills through jobs and work outside the classroom environment. Job coaches assist these individuals with their overall development that each individual becomes a part of the community and neighborhood. These programs provide opportunities preparing them for life beyond the school environment. These individuals are truly active and productive participants in their community. These opportunities allow Special Needs Individuals an opportunity to enter the world, in a controlled setting, as an alternative to sheltered workshop situations.
