1. Nate Voigt
My Inclusionary Philosophy
Inclusive recreation is where individuals with disabilities are given the opportunity to
participate in recreational activities. Through activity modifications and assistive devices
individuals with disabilities are able to participate in athletic activities with their non-disabled
peers. An activity modification is where changes are made to make it a more even game for all
involved. An example of an activity modification would be wheelchair basketball. Wheelchair
basketball is where all participants are using a wheelchair to move around out on the court,
their inability to walk has no effect on the game, or how well they play. Assistive devices are
any piece of equipment or machine that is used to make the competition more equal in a
competitive manner, or simply to allow an individual with a disability the chance to participate
in the event that could not be accomplished without the device. A great example of an assistive
device would be swimming pool lifts that are used for lowering non-ambulatory swimmers into
the swimming pool. Many municipal governments in the United States use this adaptive
recreation as a way to meet the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
especially in its section dealing with public services. Governments are required by ADA law to
provide reasonable accommodation to individuals with disabilities so that they may have the
same rights as individuals without disabilities to participate in recreational activities.
The benefits of inclusionary recreation are simple to me. Recreational activities are a
crucial part of life for individuals with disabilities. It helps improve their quality of life
dramatically. They are great because it gives them an outlet to have fun, meet new friends,

2. socialize with others, and develop new skills and competencies. It gives individuals with
disabilities a way healthier and positive outlook on life, that there life isn’t over and there is still
plenty they can do and accomplish.
The overall purpose of inclusive recreation is to give everyone a chance to participate in
activities that they like or would like to try. Some people have a congenital disability, which
means they have a disability from birth, but others have what is known as an acquired or
adventitious disability, which means that they became disabled later in life. Some individuals
may have been great at basketball when they were younger, but have an acquired disability
that no longer allows them to play basketball. That is why we have invented wheelchair
basketball wired to those individuals with a disability with a love for the game so that they may
still play the great game of basketball. Other individuals may have a congenital disability, and
they see a recreational activity that they have always wished to try, and now they have an
opportunity to.
Working in recreation programming will provide a unique opportunity to make an effort
to make inclusionary recreation programs the norm. Depending on the career environment I
will be working in, I plan to implement inclusionary practices into every program built, as well
as create programs to specifically cater to people with disabilities. I believe this will best serve
the needs of a whole community. My ultimate goal is to work with the Minnesota
Timberwolves. If I were to work with the Timberwolves I could help design events and
tournaments for wheelchair basketball. It would be a great idea to set-up tournaments for
wheelchair basketball once a month.

3. Inclusionary practices are an important part of life for individuals with disabilities, as
well as the people involved in the community. By having inclusionary practices in our society it
shows individuals with different types of disabilities, that they can still have fun and compete
with others in competitions, or in most cases just to get out and have fun. The benefits of
inclusionary practices far outweigh not having them at all.