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Livermore Area Recreation and Park District has launched new programs to serve people of all ages with developmental disabilities.
The “adaptive recreation” programming customizes activities to make sure everyone can participate in offerings like hip-hop classes, arts and crafts and movie nights.Â
LARPD officials said they created these programs out of a recognition that individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) were underserved in Livermore.
“I’m excited to bring Adaptive Recreation programs to Livermore,” LARPD recreation coordinator Makenna Nation said in a statement. “Offering opportunities that haven’t been available before opens up a world of possibilities for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to engage, connect and thrive within our community.”
One of the available adaptive recreation classes is hip hop, where attendees can “express themselves through movement and music”, according to LARPD’s website.
Another class, called adaptive yoga stretch, focuses on breath, movement and relaxation.Â
Activities like these are rooted in recreational therapy practices and meant to foster social interaction and enhance physical health, according to a statement by LARPD.
The new programs emerged from LARPD’s observation that people with IDD were not offered enough recreation opportunities in Livermore.
“Engaging in meaningful leisure and recreational activities is a key contributor to overall well-being,” Nation said. “Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities often face limited access to traditional recreational programs.”
As for current programs for individuals with IDD, those offered to adults by the city of Pleasanton often fill up, according to Nation.Â
Parents have told LARPD they traveled as far as Walnut Creek or Martinez for adaptive recreation programs.
“As a master’s student in recreational therapy at Temple University, I saw an excellent opportunity to apply what I’ve learned in a community I deeply care about,” Nation said.
So LARPD initiated adaptive recreation programs in an attempt to improve access to recreational opportunities, according to Nation.
“By offering adaptive recreation, we can tailor activities to meet the unique needs of participants, allowing them to engage in meaningful experiences that foster and maintain a high quality of life,” she added.
In the winter and spring, LARPD intends to expand program offerings to include Lego events and sports classes, according to Nation. Adaptive recreation programming will continue into the summer too. To learn more, visit larpd.org.
