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.
Summer inclusion support policy
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?
During the summer months, the requests are higher for one-to-one inclusion supports than any other time of year. To ensure we are able to provide a recreational experience to as many children/youth as possible, the municipality is able to guarantee that all individuals who require individual one-on-one support are able to register for a summer camp and receive support for a minimum of three weeks of the summer. Any additional weeks requested will be considered based on available resources. Please ensure you add your child to the waitlists for any additional weeks. Please note that this does not preclude families from providing their own inclusion support and booking camps for the full eight weeks.
For more information see Summer Inclusion Support Policy.
New Steps in the Inclusion Registration Processes
Step 1. Set up an account online at halifax.ca/rec 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 #00010260 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 is conducted on a first come, first serve basis, and anyone registering after April 12 will be added to a wait list. During registration, please identify your choice of location and your preferred three weeks for support. Program fees will only be charged once support has been confirmed.
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
The municipality is pleased to offer a new inclusion opportunity for children with higher support needs called “Ready for Rec” in the summer months. For more information on this opportunity and others please refer to the Sackville Sports Stadium or the Captain William Spry Centre program offerings.
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.