Parks and Recreation invites individuals of all abilities to participate in our recreation and leisure programs. The municipality is committed to providing safe and accessible programs for everyone to enjoy. We recognize that some of our citizens will require assistance to participate via adapted equipment, program modification, and/or through the provision of one-to-one Inclusion support.
Throughout the year, if you or a family member requires assistance to participate, please call your local recreation centre directly to schedule a meeting to discuss available supports. To arrange One-to-One Supports in the Summer months, please see new registration process below.
If you would like more information on possible community opportunities, check out The Playbook. This resource guide developed by Recreation provides helpful information about sport and recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. The Playbook is also a resource for service providers in helping offer a variety of options for all Nova Scotians.
How do I know if an individual will require extra support?
When assessing whether a One-to-One Inclusion Support Person is required, please consider the following:
• Is extra support required at school and/or in the community?
• Is extra help required at home for basic care?
• Is there an existing physical, medical, behavioral and/or developmental disability that could affect the safety and enjoyment of the participant and/or other participants?
INCLUSION REQUEST PROCEDURES - SUMMER 2020
The municipality is committed to providing safe & accessible programs for everyone to enjoy.
If your child requires one-to-one inclusion support, please register your child under course code 00027543. During the registration process you will be asked to choose your prioritized weeks for support as well as camp location. All children requiring support must be registered under this barcode by April 12. During the summer months, the requests are higher for one-to-one inclusion support, the municipality will make every effort to accommodate as many requests as possible base on available resources. Families will be contacted in early May to discuss support. Payment will be taken once support is confirmed. For more information, please see the Summer Inclusion Support Policy.
New Steps in the Inclusion Registration Processes
Step 1. Set up an account online at halifax.ca/myREC or by visiting any of the Community Recreation Centres.
Step 2. Review the camp offerings and consider the camp/program that is compatible with the interests & abilities of the participant
Step 3. All children/youth who require one-to-one Inclusion Support to participate will register under one central barcode #00027543 administered through the Inclusion and Accessibility Specialist located out of the Captain William Spry Community Centre which is then distributed to the individual facilities. Registration will take place April 1 – April 12 and a waitlist will be started after this date.
Summer staffing resources are limited, however municipal staff will make every effort to try to accommodate as many requests as possible based on available resources and the amount of children/youth requesting one-to-one support.
Step 4. An Intake Meeting will be arranged to determine the supports necessary to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for your child. We encourage participants, parents, and caregivers to play a major role in helping to share information that will support the training needs of staff; allow for program modifications and/or the behavioural strategies required to be in place to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for your child/youth. By not disclosing the needs of a participant prior to registration, we may be required to withdraw the participant from the program until appropriate supports become available. There are times, when the municipality may not have enough resources and/or the most appropriate resources available to meet a child/youth’s support needs.
Please Note: Municipal staff are not qualified to carry out procedures, such as catherization, tube feeding, suctioning, injections; and/or managing aggressive behaviours in these cases we require families to make the appropriate arrangements.
For more information on the Inclusion Process or any of our programs please contact your local Community Recreation Centre.
New Inclusive Programming Opportunity
We are pleased to offer a specialized inclusion program called “Ready for Rec” designed for children with higher support needs. The program will be held Monday to Friday from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at two locations: Sackville Sports Stadium and Captain William Spry Centre. During the registration process, you will be asked to prioritize your preferred weeks and location. Families will be contacted in early May to discuss availability and support. Payment will be taken once support is confirmed. Please register your child before April 12 for the course codes below:
Captain Spry Community Ctr Code: 00027611
Sackville Sports Stadium Code: 00027612
My child will need medication and personal care during his time at camp. Do you provide this support?
Please see our Administration of Medication and Health Care Provisions Policy.
Can I register my child for a program that is advertised for a different age group?
For most programs, participants must meet the required age within one month following the start of the program.
More Information
If you require more information on Inclusion, please contact your local Community Recreation Centre or the Inclusion and Access Specialist at Inclusion@halifax.ca or 902-490-4410.