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Adaptive RecConnection Newsletter

Adult & Youth
228-6025
Jabeth Coachman, CTRS, Supervisor
Robby Sachs, Adaptive Rec. Specialist
Office: Special Services Leisure Center (SSLC)
4330 SW Conservatory Drive, Gage Park
Topeka KS 66606

The Adaptive Recreation & Inclusion Services division is committed to providing people with differing abilities opportunities to participate in quality recreation programs and services within Parks and Recreation of Topeka. By taking place in the setting of their choice, these opportunities develop greater independence and enhance the overall quality of life for our participants. The programs offered are adapted, when necessary, to provide the most successful opportunities for participation in our leisure activities. Essential eligibility requirements vary by program. Please call our office for further information regarding specific program essential eligibility requirements.

Individuals with disabilities are NOT limited to our programs. Parks and Recreation of Topeka would like to encourage individuals with disabilities to consider ALL leisure programs offered by our department. Call for information regarding reasonable accommodation requests.

The Adaptive Recreation & Inclusion Services division publishes a newsletter once a season as a supplement to the Parks and Recreation catalog. If you would like to be placed on our mailing list, call our office.


Increase your knowledge on local resources and topics that affect people with disabilities and their recreation opportunities. Our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist can customize programs to fit your needs. Current topics include: Disability Awareness, Recreation Inclusion, ADA & Reasonable Accommodations, and many more! Call 228-6025 for more information or to arrange for presentations for your group!

Monty is a Black Labrador Retriever, specially trained as a professional therapy dog and part of a Certified Assistance Dog Team, with his handler Jabeth Coachman. This motivated and energetic team is offering individual and group play sessions that can be “tail” ored to meet your programming needs. These sessions can provide the participant with physical and emotional support, development of motor skills, as well as teaching responsibility, increasing communication skills, and building confidence. Please contact Jabeth Coachman at 228-6025 to schedule an appointment.


1-1^1/2 hour session
Are you looking for a break from the winter blues? Get out of your house and get ready to spend the evening learning new games and hanging out with your friends. Monthly themes include: January: “FREEZE” tag and other snowy day activities; February: Bingo Night; March: connect 4-Leaf Clover and other spring games; April: welcome spring with a variety of outdoor games. Registration deadline is 2 days before scheduled program date.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Jan 24 Thu 6pm SSLC 7-26-068-22
• Feb 21 Thu 6pm SSLC 7-26-069-22
• Mar 20 Thu 6pm SSLC 7-26-070-22
• Apr 24 Thu 6pm SSLC 7-26-071-22
• Fee: $5 resident; $6.25 non-resident

1 2 hour event
**New Time** Dancehouse will begin at 6pm**
Come spend the night dancing with your friends the second Thursday of each month. Each admission gets you great music by local DJ’s and a choice of refreshments. Staff and family are admitted free with a paying participant. Our special theme month: February will be our Sweetheart dance.

• Date, Day, Time, Fee, Location
• Jan 10 Thu 6pm $4 Big Gage Shelter
• Feb 14 Thu 6pm $4 Big Gage Shelter
• Mar 13 Thu 6pm $4 Big Gage Shelter
• Apr 10 Thu 6pm $4 Big Gage Shelter
• Fee: $4 at the door or $36 punchcard (7-14-047-22)

1-1^1/2 hour session
Do you love music? Do you love to sing along to your favorite song? Well, now is your chance! Join us for a music jam session where we will listen to a local band practice before their upcoming performance. Registration includes refreshment and a beverage. Pre-registration deadline is Friday, April 12.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Apr 14 Mon 6pm Snyder’s Cabin 7-26-072-22
• Fee: $10 Topeka resident; $12.50 non-resident

1-2 hour session
Bowling and sharing pizza -- what a fun way to spend a winter afternoon with your friends. Registration fee includes pizza, drink, 2 hours of bowling, and shoe rental. Please notify our office if a bowling ramp is required. Registration deadline is the Thursday before the scheduled program date. No registrations will be accepted on-site.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Jan 12 Sat 1pm Gage Bowl 7-10-041-22
• Feb 9 Sat 1pm Gage Bowl 7-10-042-22
• Mar 8 Sat 1pm Gage Bowl 7-10-043-22\
• Apr 12 Sat 1pm Gage Bowl 7-10-044-22
• Fee: $12 Topeka resident; $15 non-resident

2-1^1/2 hour sessions
Come learn the art of Ukrainian egg decorating known as Pysanky. Our featured artist-instructor will share his wisdom of over 20 years of decorating these beautiful eggs. This class uses traditional tools, hot wax, and an open flame. Supervision will be provided. All participants will keep their creations at the end of the class, just in time for Easter! Pre-registration is required by Thursday, February 14.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Feb 18 Mon 6:30pm SSLC 7-26-073-22
• Fee: $15 Topeka resident; $18.75 non-resident

2-1 hour sessions
Have you ever wanted to take the perfect picture? Grab your camera and get ready to learn! Our instructor will teach you the basics of photography as we capture the beauty of Gage Park this spring. Participants are responsible for providing their own 35mm or digital camera. 35mm film and film processing included (up to 2 rolls). Pre-registration is by Wednesday, March 26.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Mar 31 Mon 5:30pm SSLC 7-26-074-22
• Fee: $20 Topeka resident; $25 non-resident

1 - 1^1/2 hour class
Wood working is a fun and functional hobby! In this class, you will do everything needed to create your own shelf including hammering the pieces together, screwing in the wall hangers, and staining the wood. After all your hard work you will have a beautiful shelf to hang at home. Registration deadline is Friday, February 8.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Feb 11 Mon 6pm SSLC 7-26-075-22
• Fee: $10 Topeka resident; $12.50 non-resident

1-1 hour sessions
Get creative and explore the wonderful world of art! This class includes a variety of artistic techniques; January: water color, February: design and sculpture; March: drawing. After each session, you will be able to take your own unique masterpieces home to share with your family and friends. Registration deadline is the Friday before the scheduled program date.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Jan 7 Mon 6pm SSLC 7-22-001-22
• Feb 4 Mon 6pm SSLC 7-22-002-22
• Mar 3 Mon 6pm SSLC 7-22-003-22
• Fee: $5 Topeka resident; $6.25 non-resident

1-1 hour sessions
Are you looking for a new hobby? If so, come learn a variety of simple and fun crafts! Projects will include: January: scrap booking, February: antique bottle creations, March: beads & keychains, April: shrinky-dink creations. Registration deadline is the Monday before the scheduled program date.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
  
• Jan 30 Wed 6pm SSLC 7-18-001-22
  
• Feb 27 Wed 6pm SSLC 7-18-002-22
  
• Mar 26 Wed 6pm SSLC 7-18-003-22
  
• Apr 30 Wed 6pm SSLC 7-18-004-22
  
• Fee: $5 Topeka resident; $6.25 non-resident

1-1^1/2 hour classes
Do you enjoy cooking? Join us as we learn how to make healthy and delicious meals. For our January meal, we will be learning the proper way to prepare and bake a low calorie pizza. In the February session we will be learning how to cook healthy chicken and veggie fajitas. Bring your appetite! Registration deadline is 2 days prior to the scheduled program.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Jan 15 Tue 6pm Central Park 7-26-076-22
• Feb 5 Tue 6pm Central Park 7-26-077-22
• Fee: $10 Topeka resident; $12.50 non-resident

1-1 hour session
Have you ever wanted to learn interesting facts about the different types of birds that make their home in Gage Park? Join us as we properly identify the variety of birds we will see and hear. Deadline for registration is Friday, April 18.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Apr 21 Mon 6pm SSLC 7-26-078-22
• Fee: $5 Topeka resident; $6.25 non-resident

1 week session (9am-3:30pm daily)
Break away from school and get ready for summer by spending your Spring Break in Gage Park! This is an opportunity to get a sneak peek at what’s in store for our annual summer camps. This fun week will be full of arts, crafts, games, and more! This program is designed for youth with developmental disabilities that require adapted instruction. This is an active camp that requires campers to walk at a group place over park terrain. Campers must also bring a sack lunch daily. Space is limited! Parent conference & all registration materials required by Wednesday, March 12.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Mar 17 M-F 9am SSLC 7-50-001-22
• Fee: $50 Topeka resident; $62.50 non-resident

4-1 hour sessions
These ongoing sessions offer a variety of indoor and outdoor recreation activities to get youth with disabilities motivated! These structured classes promote movement and agility in a social environment with adapted instruction necessary. No class March 21. Registration deadline is the Wednesday before the schedule program start date.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Jan 11 Fri 1pm Garfield 7-66-045-22
• Feb 8 Fri 1pm Garfield 7-66-046-22
• Mar 7* Fri 1pm Garfield 7-66-047-22
• Apr 4 Fri 1pm Garfield 7-66-048-22
• Fee: $20 Topeka resident; $25 non-resident
• $15 Topeka resident; $18.75 non-resident*

1-1 hour session
Summer is on its way and Unified Softball will be here before you know it! Get some extra batting practice in with us before the season starts. Bring your bat and get ready to knock one outta the park! This will also be your first chance to pre-register for the upcoming summer 2008 Unified Softball season. Bring your bat and we will see you at the cages. Registration deadline is Friday, April 18.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Apr 22 Tue 6pm Safari Golf 7-66-049-22
• Fee: $10 Topeka resident; $12.50 non-resident (pre-registration fees for Unified
• Softball: $25 Topeka resident; $31.25 non resident)

4-1 hour sessions
Boccia is a seated game played indoors and is very similar to Bocce, an outdoor Italian lawn bowling game. This throwing game of accuracy and strategy is fun for all levels or physical ability and age. If spring weather, permits we may have the chance to step outside and play outdoor bocce. Registration deadline is Monday, March 31.

• Date, Day, Time, Location, Code
• Apr 2 Wed 6pm SSLC 7-66-050-22
• Fee: $12 Topeka resident; $15 non-resident

3 hour sessions (on going through March 26th.)
These non-instructional sessions are designed for the basketball player who utilizes a wheelchair to play. You’ll get lots of exercise, meet new people, and best of all, you’ll improve you skills through practice, practice, and more practice. Basketballs will be available for use or you may bring your own. Participants who borrow balls must have a current, valid photo ID. Participants under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a family member and/or attendant.

• Date, Day, Time, Location
• Jan 2 Wed 6-9pm Garfield
• Fee: $3 at the door

Are you interested in playing sports but think you can’t because you have limited mobility or use a wheelchair? Think again. Wheelchair sports are designed for people who have limited mobility in their lower extremities who need a wheelchair to play sports whether of not they use a wheelchair for day to day activities. For more information about wheelchair sports, please contact Jarvis Stirn of the Kansas Wheelhawks at (785) 843-0144 or wildhawk@hotmail.com

Boccia is a throwing game of accuracy and strategy for all levels of physical ability and age. It is a seated game played indoors and is very similar to Bocce, an outdoor Italian lawn bowling game. This is an official game of the National Disabled Sports Alliance. For more information about Boccia, please contact Cathy and Bill Drobny of Sunflower Boccia at (785) 272-5754.