The Connecticut Developmental Disabilities Network in collaboration with the Amricans with Disabilities Act Coalition of Connecticut marked the 15th anniversary of the signing of the ADA by recognizing several organizations across the state that have gone above and beyond the requirements of the law to make their programs ccessible and useable to children with disabilities. "We wanted to honor organizations that understand th true meaning of the ADA," said Mary Eberle with the UConn Center on Developmental Disabilities, "people with disabilities are members of their communities and want to be able to do all the t hing that othr members of thecommunity can do." This year the roup focused on children's programs and specificlly those that are held in the summer. Four organizations were chosen as excellent examples of inclusive, acessible children's programs and Northwest Park was one of the four. "The organizations we chose didn't just set up "special" programs or faciliites and then segregate them from other children," Eberle explained. "They made their regular activities and facilites accessible and welcoming to all children which fosters the interaction of children with disabilities with their non-disabled peers." |