Check out the CUSR Monthly Newsletters in 2017!
The newsletters contain staff highlights, upcoming programs, participants of the month, and more. See below for more details and be sure to check back often for more news!
CPD’s “Get Inspired- CU Special Recreation”
The Champaign Park District recently shared a blog post on their website about CUSR that is too good not to share. Check it out here!
Here’s a quick sneak peek:
Get Inspired–CU Special Recreation
CU Special Recreation has actively improved and touched the lives of participants at every turn. Read the inspirational stories of the impact CUSR has had on your community.
Ashley
Ashley is one of a set of triplets who participate with CUSR and is legally blind. Ashley had a passion for running, and found her home at CUSR as a beginning runner. Frunner Running Club, a partner to CUSR, pairs a member with a CUSR participant and Ashley jumped on board to train with her partner for a 5K. In one season, Ashley was able to finish her very first timed 5K race, CUSR’s annual Cupcake 5K.
Read more here!
CUSR Monthly Newsletters – 2016
Check out the CUSR Monthly Newsletters in 2016!
The newsletters contain staff highlights, upcoming programs, participants of the month, and more. See below for more details and be sure to check back often for more news!
5 Benefits of Inclusion for Kids
Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation offers resources that hugely benefit and impact our community. We are turning the spotlight to their Inclusion Assistants who are offering support to kids from Champaign-Urbana and beyond!
Inclusion makes an impact every day. Read below for 5 ways how.
1. Independence – By offering inclusion services, we are allowing participants to use their freedom of choice to decide what kind of programming they would like to participate in. Whether it be behavioral, physical, or otherwise, the presence of a disability no longer dictates recreation options. This fosters a sense of independence in participants’ leisure choices and lifestyle.
2. Diversity – Welcoming participants of all abilities allows the community to learn about each other and appreciate individual differences. We are able to celebrate diversity by fostering opportunities for participants of all backgrounds and abilities to grow and play alongside each other. Through inclusion, we are able to promote and teach acceptance and sensitivity towards individual differences.
3. Companionship – Not only does inclusion all individuals who have special needs to formulate friendships by participating alongside peers, but it also creates an opportunity to form a unique relationship with an inclusion aide. We create relationships based on trust to allow participants to feel confident and willing to explore outside of their comfort level in both recreational experiences and peer interaction. Inclusion aides exist to help individuals with special needs to ensure that they are getting the most out of their program experience.
4. Opportunity – Inclusion services open the door to a great number of opportunities for recreational experiences that otherwise would not be possible. With an extra set of ears to repeat the right way to swing a tennis racquet, a gentle voice to guide good decision making, and a voice to help advocate and adjust a basketball drill to better accommodate, inclusion aides are making a difference. Individuals with special needs are also encouraged to try new things and get involved in whatever leisure experiences they are interested in.
5. Quality of Life – Recreational activities are an integral aspect of the quality of life for all people. By offering Inclusion services for our park district’s programs, we are making progress toward eliminating barriers to leisure and allowing individuals with special needs to experience the benefits provided by recreation. These benefits include developing self-esteem, physical and mental health, and social skills through the same experiences as their peers.
We are proud to offer these services at no additional cost to program participants.
Inclusion comes in so many forms; if you would like to learn more or have questions if your child might be a candidate for Inclusion Assistance, contact Grace Tissier at 217-819-3922 or Grace.Tissier@champaignparks.com.
Pay It Forward
Here’s a little sunshine on this gloomy day…
A few weeks ago a U of I student reached out to CUSR wanting to help out the family of one of our youth participants, Miyani. Jason had recently learned of a “pay-it-forward” type initiative and wanted to participate.
Miyani attends our After School program, and has for the last few years. She has grown leaps and bounds since she first started with us and even won our Youth Participant of the Year award earlier this month. Jason had never met Miyani or her parents, but despite that, he paid off the remainder of their After School bill for the current semester, and paid ahead for next semester (That’s over $800 total!).
The video below is one that Jason made about the experience, I urge each of you to watch it and I promise, it will make your day!
