Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) empowers people with disabilities to live active, healthy, fulfilling lives. Their talented, credentialed, and welcoming team is trained to support people of all ages and abilities. Through 600+ year-round programs, FVSRA participants make friends, experience new activities, and become part of a supportive community.
Special Recreation Associations are unique to Illinois – and Fox Valley Special Recreation Association is recognized with the highest designation of excellence. They partner with seven area Park Districts or Departments – to ensure people with disabilities have equitable access to programs. FVSRA’s full-time staff have CTRP (Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist) and/or CPRP (Certified Park and Recreation Professionals) certifications, designating expertise and mastery in the park and recreation field. They are honored to receive the Illinois Distinguished Accredited Agency, the highest designation possible.
FVSRA is setting the pace for the future of special recreation programming with its new SootheSpace initiative. If you are a family with a child with special needs, going to an outdoor festival or community special event can be stressful, challenging, and often not even considered. They want to re-write the story and create a culture that promotes individuals with disabilities to be part of all aspects of the community. If an individual is having a difficult time navigating the community event, they can stop at the SootheSpace for a safe sensory oasis to regroup and recharge.
Our hope is that SootheSpaces will be as common as first aid tents or kits, so people with disabilities can attend feeling supported, and not missing out on meaningful community recreation.
Programs would not be possible without the collaborative support from the community and the financial support of our Foundation. The Foundation supports scholarships, hardship grants, the Carolyn Nagle Sensory Room, the Dr. Willian Kelly Resource Library, and now, the SootheSpace.
Fox Valley Special Recreation Association provides hundreds of jobs to year-round and seasonal staff. Their summer programs offer valuable internship opportunities to the next generation of leaders in park and recreation. Summer staff work one-on-one or lead a class, get resume-building experience, and join a vibrant organization. They believe everyone deserves access to leisure and recreation activities.
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