The Accessible Virtual Community

This is a PDF version of a slide show which offers a tool for assuring that a fitness center reviews several features to insure full accessibility. This presentation can be used in conjunction with Removing Barriers to Health Clubs and Fitness Facilities A Guide for Accommodating All Members, Including People with Disabilities and Older Adults, also found on this website.

This website provides general information regarding what types of facilities must comply with ADA requirements. This website also includes a brief, general synopsis of legal requirements for sport facilities, accessible routes, locker rooms, team seating areas, saunas, exercise equipment, shooting facilities, and bowling lanes.

This website provides information on ADA guidelines. "The guidelines include scoping and technical provisions for amusement rides, boating facilities, fishing piers and platforms, golf courses, miniature golf, sports facilities, and swimming pools and spas. The guidelines will ensure that newly constructed and altered recreation facilities meet the requirements of the ADA and are readily accessible to and usable by individuals with disabilities...These guidelines have not been incorporated in the Department of Justice accessibility standards and are, therefore, not enforceable." This was published in the Federal Register September, 2002.

This website contains information on Aimfree manuals. "These manuals are a validated series of questionnaire measures that can be used by persons with mobility limitations and professionals (i.e., fitness and recreation center staff, and/or owners of fitness centers) to assess the accessibility of recreation and fitness facilities, including fitness centers and swimming pools."

In response to the need for specific information on how to design, manage and deliver safe, effective challenge course-based programming that includes participants with disabilities these research findings will hopefully aid challenge course managers and facilitators in their efforts to include participants with disabilities.

Disabled Sports USA “offers nationwide sports rehabilitation programs to anyone with permanent disability.” This webpage contains multiple sections including the Wounded Warrior Disabled Sports Project, Youth Sports Mentoring Program, an event calendar, employment/internship opportunities, and equipment resources. Some of the sports offered include: winter skiing, water sports, summer and winter competitions, and fitness and special sports events. Some of the recreation opportunities offered include: snow skiing, water skiing, sailing, kayaking, rafting, cycling, climbing, horseback riding, golf, and social activities.

"More than 40 years has passed since the first computer game was developed. Yet you still have the same implied prerequisites to play a game, i.e. full sight, hearing, cognitive, motoric et cetera functions. In short the game industry excludes many (or most) disabled, potential gamers. Compared with the web industry (only about 10 years old), the game industry has done very little (if anything) in the accessibility area. We feel confident that virtually any game can be made accessible. However, we also know it is a huge task for any game developer to make games (and especially 3D games) accessible." This website offers a blog for interested gamers and developers.

This article by Susan Ostby and Jennifer Skulski addresses the topic of including people with disabilities in aquatic venues. This article addresses the benefits of swimming for all people and how to make swimming areas follow Accessibility Guidelines thus making them accessible to individuals with various forms of disabilities.

This website is a helpful resource for anyone looking for adaptive gear. The authors have compiled a list of “disabled-friendly” companies and their contact information. Links are given for the specific categories of hunting, mobility equipment, vehicles, medical supplies, and outdoor recreation.

This article from Access Today by Tip Ray addresses the benefits of recreational activities for all people and how it can specifically help individuals with a disability. Ray also lists 5 rules to consider when adapting activities for individuals with a disability.

This pdf document includes a list of recreation resources for people with disabilities, in particular, specific for Kentucky. However, many of the listings are also National organizations.

The “What We Do” section on the Special Olympics website explains the mission statement of the organization as well as highlights events and how to get involved. “Dignity, acceptance, and a chance to reach one’s potential – these are human rights worth promoting for everyone. Since 1968, Special Olympics has been bringing one message to the world: people with intellectual disabilities can and will succeed if given the opportunity.”

This article form Access Today focuses on the critical components of an accessible trail. The author then gives advice on how to meet all of these components depending on the type of trial.

This website contains information about the U.S. Handicapable (USH) Square Dance Association, its history, what’s new, the location of different clubs and how to get involved. The goal of the USH is to “inspire and share the love of dance with their members". The USH Square Dance Association includes dance groups throughout the United States, and members all have various abilities and disabilities.