NISRA & The Special Olympics
NISRA stands for:
Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association
Starts in Feburary
NISRA works in conjunction with several facilities, including Spring Hill Gymnastics, to bring physical activities to handicapped and disabled children and teenagers.
NISRA participants enjoy over 500 programs, special events, camps, trips and Special Olympics competition throughout the year.
Types of programs offered include:
Sports:
skill development, competition and Special Olympics
Arts:
music, dance, cooking, arts and crafts
Social:
social clubs, dances
Outdoor:
skill development, overnight camping, trips, high adventure recreation
Preschool:
gross motor skill development through movement, music and games
Day
Camps: summer day programs packed with a variety of activities
Special
Events: one day outings to local and regional recreation attractions
Trips:
travel opportunities throughout the United States ranging from "roughing
it" by camping to hotel stays in cities
Leisure Education: community awareness and skill building with special
education students
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In NISRA's Summer Day Camp program, nearly 85% of the
children improved either socially/behaviorally, cognitively,
physically, or in developing independence skills. Of the
85%, 25% improved in all four of the areas measured. PARKS AND RECREATION. The Benefits Are Endless... NISRA staff also assist member district staff with including residents with disabilities in their park district or city recreation department programs. Types of support may include staff training, adapted equipment, sign language assistance or a program aide. Registrations can taken by NISRA ( Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association) 815-459-0737 or register online. To find out more about NISRA or to sign up for one of their programs, including Spring Hill's Tiny Tumblers, you can visit their website. |
The Special Olympics
Special Olympics Oath: Let me win, but if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.
Familiarity Changes Minds
Special Olympics sports and
youth outreach
programs change attitudes and teach sensitivity and
understanding of intellectual disability. This, in turn, leads to
greater opportunities for communities to include them. In Slovakia and
elsewhere throughout Eastern Europe, Special Olympics is creating
tangible change for people with intellectual disability in schools and
on playing fields.
Since 2005, the Special Olympics Get Into It curriculum has reached more than 27,000 students in 1,000 schools in 28 countries across the Europe/Eurasia region. In Bulgaria, teachers involved in the SO Get Into It pilot project served as the catalyst for an agreement of support reached within the National Teachers Union, to promote awareness of intellectual disability throughout schools in the nation.
The Youth Unified Sports project, supported by Vodafone, has involved more than 2,000 athletes in 10 countries on inclusive teams in football, athletics and aquatics. The annual Special Olympics European Football Week, sponsored by UEFA, now includes over 50,000 athletes, reaching millions of football fans throughout Europe. Within the next five years, Special Olympics Europe/Eurasia plans to expand programming to include 50,000 additional young people with and without intellectual disabilities.
It's a
Worldwide Mission
Special Olympics is working in nearly 200 countries worldwide to open
the minds of all people to the gifts and talents of people with
intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics
Athlete Leadership Programs,
World Games, celebrity
Global Ambassadors,
public advertising campaigns
and media coverage are helping to build awareness and opportunity in
every corner of the globe. Young people are an essential part of this
effort. Special Olympics
Youth and Schools outreach
is teaching tomorrow’s employers, policy makers and educators about
perseverance, inclusion, courage and acceptance.
To find out more about this inspirational and exciting program please visit their website!