We at NARE are especially concerned with the recreational needs of the physically and cognitively challenged. It’s that simple. Serving the recreational needs of special populations which are often under-served is our point of departure from conventional to universal design.
We, at NARE, advocate for the inclusion and socialization of the mobility impaired, the autistic community, and others who are atypical and differently able.
THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR RECREATIONAL EQUALITY advocates and educates for total-mix diversity in sports and recreation based on universal design such that the recreational needs of differently able participants be addressed. These include children of all ages, youngsters, adults and the elderly as well as participants with autism, with mobility impairment and others with disabilities, so often overlooked in our parks, playgrounds, sports and recreation centers.
Ball playing sports receive the most real estate space, budgets and attention. They’re invariably exclusionary and marginalizing. The correct countermeasures therefore may be initiated by providing innovative mainstreaming ballplaying sports that are noncompetitive, or self competitive, without rivals to defeat or opponents “to beat”. These ball playing sports that are self-competitive include bowling, golf and Bankshot sports (designed for that purpose) which are to be preferred to fast moving, team sports measuring success by beating others.
NARE endorses sports and recreation that provide companionable integration, socialization and inclusion. These are drop-in, walk on sports at which a multigenerational family can play together regardless of the age, gender or stature of the participants and without opponents, without contact, collisions or aggression, sports that are played independently or individually not with teams of similar participants which exclude and marginalize non-comparable participants by relegating all others to the sidelines.
Sports facilities to be preferred are the ones at which participants play on a level playing field alongside and not against others, companionably and cooperatively; NARE advocates sports facilities that are walk-on, drop-in accessible, spontaneous and without necessitating supervision or professional staff for all members of the community. Particularly ball playing sports which receive the most attention, budget and space.
Hundreds of communities have turned to Bankshot, for example, developed for the purpose of “alongside play.” The National Association for Recreational Equality calls attention to communities around the world that are beginning to include in their parks non-aggressive, non-body contact sports and playground facilities. These are limited to bowling, mini golf, and particularly Bankshot which requires modest space and budget. These are sports played alongside and not against others as advocated by NARE.
“Setting aside the game’s objective of addressing the needs of special populations, an important and novel aspect about Bankshot is its educational merit. The game offers an enriched play environment composed of a series of novel sport challenges that invigorate the brain with mind-nurturing play experiences. Bankshot’s design is also intended to stimulate motor coordination in a dynamic kid-friendly, inclusionary game. Because of Bankshot’s spatial relationships, particularly in geometrical composition and court design, the Bankshot court is part of a new genre in the art/play/think world of wonder. It combines creative and scientific elements to produce an advanced participatory art form for today’s young person. Bankshot is pure physics: an exercise in translating science into action.” (Florida Park & Recreation Quarterly)
We, at the National Association for Recreational Equality, understand that providing for special populations and their families is a human rights and social justice issue.
“There is nothing quite like experiencing firsthand the integration, socialization, and mainstreaming in recreation of the individuals with autism.” Our videos (go to the videos link) present participants from Montgomery County group homes and agencies attending the developmentally disabled and various others who are cognitively and physically challenged.
“With spontaneous drop-in, walk-on inclusion Total-Mix diversity is achieved based on Universal Design. We encourage and invite viewers to evaluate these videos of the individuals with autism. It proves to be an extraordinary experience.”
The physically and cognitively challenged, and the wounded warriors in particular in your community would be beneficiaries of such a Bankshot Sports attraction.