THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604200135
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Cover Story
SOURCE: BY XIAOHONG ZHANG SWAIN, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Long : 156 lines
SIMPLE PLEASURES, such as bowling, playing ball or swimming, can be a challenge for children with physical or mental disabilities. But the therapeutic recreation program of Chesapeake's Department of Parks and Recreation wants to make it possible for all the city's youngsters to join in the fun.
Chesapeake initiated its therapeutic recreation program in the mid-1980s to provide a comfortable recreation environment for children with disabilities. Most of the participants in the program are developmentally or mentally disabled. But activities also are available for children in wheelchairs or with other physical disabilities.
``We are here to provide recreational leisure opportunities for the disabled community in Chesapeake,'' said Kelly Mack, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist and supervisor for the city's therapeutic recreation department.
Opportunities for horseback riding, swimming, aerobics, crafts and bowling are offered. Every other month, there is a dance. There are picnics in the summer and special events on holidays.
``We want disabled people in Chesapeake to participate in leisure activities and learn about new ones,'' Mack said. ``Lately, we've been trying to gear our activities to families. We urge them to come out to many of our planned activities. This way, the whole family can experience leisure time together. We are combining the disabled and abled kids from the same family to enjoy themselves.''
Mack explained, for example, that able-bodied brothers and sisters participate with their disabled siblings during bowling activities. That is beneficial in two ways: The children have fun together and the able-bodied ones help and encourage their disabled brothers and sisters.
Becky Busey, one of Mack's two staffers, coordinates the Alley Cats Bowling at Pinboy's bowling alley in Chesapeake on Saturdays.
``We have a steady, consistent group of participants,'' Busey said. ``Most of them are teenagers and younger adults. They like to bowl with their friends.''
Besides learning how to bowl, participants learn to socialize among each other, Busey said.
Busey said she learns from the experience, too.
``One participant doesn't look at the pins when he bowls,'' Busey said. ``I tried to get him to look at the pins. Then, I was told he only has peripheral vision. When he bowls, he has to looks at the wall (to see the pins).''
Mack said such programs as weekend family bowling and others are developed and created by Busey and the program's other coordinator, Judy Kelly.
``They are challenged every week to try to find something that will be enjoyable and will provide an opportunity to improve physical and social skills,'' she said. ``We want our programs to help with self-esteem and in other cognitive areas.''
Some of Mack's volunteers can see the benefits of the department's programs.
``I enjoy being with the kids and seeing them making improvements,'' said volunteer Patty Morrell, who's a special education major at Tidewater Community College. ``I have to learn how to interact with a non-verbal student. I found he's easy to communicate with even if he's not verbal.''
Sheila Turnbull, another volunteer, has about 20 years' experience working with people with disabilities. She said a primary value of the program is to help children develop self-esteem.
``From where they come from, they are told they are dumb,'' said Turnbull, who has a degree in corrective therapy from Norfolk State University. ``We let them know they can do something.''
``It's rewarding to see them having a good time,'' said Volunteer Elizabeth Cartwright, who's attending Old Dominion University and majoring in therapeutic recreation.
Cartwright, who assisted in the horseback-riding program last year, said the participants are fascinated by the horses. ``It's a new experience for them,'' she said. ``During the first session, they just patted the horses.''
Mack and her staff recently added a swimming program to their schedule.
Once a week, the participants use the Indian River YMCA pool to swim laps and play water games.
The department offers an after-school program for elementary school children, featuring games and special activities, such as kite-flying. The participants, ranging in age from 6 to 11, meet at G.A. Treakle Elementary School on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.
``The program helps the kids to get involved in physical activities,'' said Kelly, a certified therapeutic recreation specialist and therapeutics program coordinator. ``It helps them with their leisure lifestyles.''
Kelly is assisted by volunteers to look after the program's eight participants.
``The kids have a lot of energy,'' Kelly said. ``Most of them have a short attention span. They get bored quickly. We have to teach them a little bit of patience.''
Kelly said the kids enjoy indoor hockey, and she would like to add arts and crafts activities to the program.
On one recent afternoon, Kelly asked the participants for their ideas about other activities. She gave each child a large piece of cream-colored paper.
``Today, I need you to draw me some pictures,'' she said, ``so I can get ideas for things to do.''
The children eagerly picked up crayons and put down their thoughts in drawings.
Eight-year-old Andrew drew a picture of him and his best friend throwing a bottle to each other.
``We collect bottles,'' said Andrew. ``I like to play spin the bottle, hide and seek and freeze tag.''
Jaque, 9, drew himself in a carriage driven by a chauffeur, as Cinderella, dressed in red slippers, looks on.
Mack said her department also works in cooperation with other area agencies working with the disabled. ``They have the clients and means to get them to various places, and we offer programs,'' she said.
The city's program works with children from the Coastal Clubhouse, Hope House, the Chesapeake Center for Science and Technology and the Southeastern Cooperative Educational Programs (SECEP), which offers educational training for the disabled in eight cities, including Chesapeake.
The children from SECEP go to the Deep Creek Community Center, where they play basketball, T-ball and indoor hockey or enjoy free recreational time.
``The bottom line is we offer exposure and participation in recreation and skill developement,'' Mack said. ``And hopefully, we improve their quality of life.'' ILLUSTRATION: ON THE COVER
Doing some wheelchair dancing are Susan Kenrick, 31, and her
boyfriend, Walter Crutchfield Hart Jr., 41. The couple was
photographed by Gary C. Knapp.
Staff photos by MORT FRYMAN and GARY C. KNAPP
Juawana Hurdle plays with clay in the after-school program at
Treakle Elementary School. Judy Kelly, right, is a supervisor for
the program.
Beryl Fennell, 47, dances with Tyrone Arrington at the Riverwalk
Community Center.
Jack Nussen helps Jamie Werts in a home economics class at Deep
Creek High School.
Dances for the disabled are held about every three months.
Fourteen-year-old Jennifer Scott mixes some cookie dough at Deep
Creek High School.
Graphic
THERAPEUTIC RECREATION
The therapeutic recreation program of the Chesapeake Parks and
Recreation Department offers a wide range of activities for
youngsters with disabilities.
Upcoming events will be listed in the newest issue of ``Spare
Time,'' the department's brochure, which will be available May 6.
Upcoming programs include a youth tennis clinic, a social club, a
preschool summer program, a picnic and scavenger hunt, ``Splash &
Bash'' water games, ceramics, woodworking and horseback riding. More
information is available by calling Judy Kelly, program coordinator,
at 543-9211, Ext. 620.
KEYWORDS: HANDICAPPED by CNB