AR&LE is made up of two parts – Adaptive Recreation (AR) and Learning Exchange (LE).

The cities of Bloomington, Eden Prairie, Edina and Richfield have teamed together to offer specialized recreation programs and services specifically designed for people with disabilities. AR&LE has provided recreation, enrichment and social options for more than 40 years.

Through AR&LE, Eden Prairie residents are welcome to choose from adaptive offerings available through any of the four cities in the cooperative.

Please contact Nicole Weedman, senior recreation supervisor, at 952-949-8456 (TTY: 952-949-8399 for the hearing and speech impaired) for information.

Adaptive Recreation

Programs include softball, pickleball, bowling, water aerobics, fitness programs, skiing/snowboarding and golf, as well as a number of social programs for youth and adults.

Adaptive Recreation

Adaptive recreation participants express experiencing less anxiety, better stress management and improved self-image. The program offers diverse opportunities to experience your community while learning about recreation and free time, breaking down leisure barriers, developing new recreation interests, enhancing social skills, improving physical fitness and stimulating cognitive functioning.

In addition, participating in adaptive programs assists individuals to become involved as independently as possible in community activities and events.

Programs have a 1:3 staff-to-participant ratio. Participants should independently demonstrate the following skills:

• Ability to follow a schedule
• Willingness to try new things
• Communicate needs and wants
• Ability to dress oneself and use the restroom

If support is needed with one of these skills, a personal care attendant must accompany the participant. If a personal care attendant is attending the program, there is no additional cost, unless noted otherwise.

Programs

Current programs open for registration can be found at edenprairiemn.gov/Recreation.

Inclusion

Inclusion is the process in which individuals with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in activities offered to individuals without disabilities.

Contact Nicole Weedman, senior recreation supervisor, at 952-949-8456 (TTY: 952-949-8399 for the hearing and speech impaired) to request accommodations for a program. Please note, a minimum of three weeks notice is required. For summer camps, the request should be made by May 15.

An intake assessment must be on file to participate.

To make sure we are ready for you to attend these fun and exciting programs, please take a moment and complete the Inclusion Questionnaire.

Click here to complete the assessment and questionnaire [PDF]

What are Inclusion Services?

Sometimes the best option for a child, teen or adult with special needs is to remain in their own community’s recreation programming, but with a buddy to tag along. Those buddies (inclusion companions) are available to support participants as an affirming and encouraging presence within their own community’s program, activity or camp.

That’s where inclusion services come in. Inclusion services are available to participants of programs offered within Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation at no additional cost to the family.

These services also include, when necessary, staff training, program modifications/adaptations, modified equipment and program observations.

All individuals with disabilities are eligible to enroll in any youth or adult program and seek assistance to participate through inclusion services.

If inclusion is not the right choice for you or your child, please consider one of our adaptive recreation programs.

Reasons to Request Inclusion Services

• A parent or family member recognizes that a participant would benefit from additional support in a program
• Staff identifies a need for additional support, for safety and programmatic reasons, and communicates this need to the family

Requesting Inclusion Services

When registering for an Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation program:

• Click on the Inclusion Services request link while completing the registration online.
• Once the registration is submitted, we will contact the family to discuss the type of inclusion support needed for the participant.
• Parks and Recreation staff will work to put the necessary inclusion accommodations in place for participation in the desired program(s).
• Communication between Parks and Recreation staff and the family continues throughout the inclusion process.
• We request at least 3 weeks to plan and secure reasonable accommodations. All attempts will be made to accommodate the needs of all participants. However, due to staffing constraints and/or capacity limits of the requested activity, registrations or accommodations may be limited.

Limitations of Inclusion Services

Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation provides reasonable accommodations for inclusion. Some accommodations, due to the activity or the environment in which the activity is conducted, may not be reasonable and thus there is no guarantee they will be provided. For example, these accommodations are not guaranteed:

• Programs offered at facilities outside the City of Eden Prairie, or not offered through the Parks and Recreation Department
• Provision and/or purchasing of personal, custom devices or equipment
• Hiring or placement of a specific person as support staff
• Inclusions services is not designed for therapeutic 1:1 care
• If my or my child’s behavior presents a clear or imminent risk to staff or others, and reasonable accommodations do not eliminate that risk, Eden Prairie Parks and Recreation may disenroll my child from the activity.

Recreation inclusion staff members are not provided for non-structured/non-registered programs (i.e. open gym, open swim, drop-in program, or parent/child or family activities) though other reasonable accommodations will be discussed.

Health and Safety forms must be completed before your child attends camp if they have any of the following health conditions or medical needs:

• Allergies
• Asthma
• Diabetes
• Inclusion services
• Medication distribution
• Seizures

Medication

• All medication, prescription and over-the-counter (e.g. Tylenol or Benadryl), must be in the original container and clearly labeled
• Only send the dose needed for that day
• All medication is stored in a secure location until given to the participant

Health and Safety Forms

Allergy Care Plan

Asthma Action Plan

Diabetic Form

Medication Permission Form

Seizure Action Plan

Submit completed form(s) to InclusionServices@edenprairiemn.gov

Forms are confidential and are reviewed by program instructors prior to attendance. Information is shared with all program instructors as needed for the health and safety of the participant.