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What is the Leisure Access Foundation?
The Leisure Access Foundation was created in 1991 to improve opportunities for persons with disabilities to participate in quality leisure programs, both recreational and competitive. People with disabilities are a minority, who have historically been severely disadvantaged and overlooked in the area of recreation and leisure.
Many recreation activities require special instruction, wheelchairs or other equipment that can increase the cost of these programs to participants. The foundation was created to raise the funds to provide this extra funding.
What has the Leisure Access Foundation accomplished?
The following annual events, and weekly programs supported by the Foundation, all continue to give people with disabilities recreational outlets today:
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A weekly wheelchair tennis class was the first Foundation program. Since 1992, these classes have been taught by a local tennis pro every Saturday morning and are free of charge to all wheelchair users. These lessons enable wheelchair athletes to prepare for local and national wheelchair tennis tournaments.
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A seasonal tandem biking program was started to allow people who are blind to exercise. A sighted volunteer rides in front and a blind participant rides on the rear seat. Visual impairments can limit the ability to move freely and quickly for fun and exercise, so this is a unique program enjoyed by many.
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Adapted Sports Clinics in which Recreation Therapists teach DCPS Special Education Students how to use adaptive sports equipment, and play adapted sports like beepball and goalball for children with visual impairments, wheelchair tennis and basketball, bicycling and others.
What are the goals of the Leisure Access Foundation?
The goals of the Leisure Access Foundation are:
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Provide additional quality recreation/sports programs for persons with disabilities
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Work with Leisure Access Services, Miami-Dade Parks, and other organizations serving persons with disabilities to hold events and create programs
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Fund special adaptive equipment needs for these programs
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Train volunteers to assist in implementing events and programs
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Hold annual fundraising events to fund activities
How can I help promote programs for people with disabilities?
The Leisure Access Foundation is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit agency. You can help by contributing:
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volunteer time at one of the events or programs
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in-kind donations of sports/recreation equipment, t-shirts, food for events, etc.
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monetary donations
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