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How special recreation groups are reaching out to clients

When not at one of her two part-time jobs, Kelsey Marks bowls and practices taekwondo.

She acts and plays bocce. She joins her friends attending ballgames, even takes cruises to exotic places. She was set to go to Cancun before the trip was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A 27-year-old Glen Ellyn woman with Down syndrome, Kelsey is able to do all these things through the Carol Stream-based Western DuPage Special Recreation Association, or WDSRA, whose offerings she's enjoyed for 19 years.

Like similar institutions that provide social and recreational programs for toddlers through seniors with special needs, WDSRA has scrambled to create normalcy during an uncertain time.

"When it all comes to a screeching halt it's very challenging," said Kelsey's mother, Pat Marks, a nursing administrator at Amita Health St. Alexius Medical Center in Hoffman Estates.

Consistency and connection are key to participants with special needs. A break in routine "really throws them off," Pat Marks said - and is no picnic for a parent or caregiver.

"Having them at home is an enormous challenge because there are only so many things I can figure out how to do in a day," said Marks, who cares for Kelsey with her husband, Kevin.

In response, WDSRA will offer two sessions of Virtual Spring Programming, the first beginning April 13, accessible through Zoom Video.

Registration starts April 6 at www.wdsra.com. Registrants unfamiliar with Zoom will be able to access a test run before the program. For those who don't have a camera on their computer, tablet or cellphone, WDSRA will share its screen over Zoom.

"Even though they may not see their friends, they're hearing their friends and seeing the program or activity we're providing on their phone," said Becky Prince, manager of athletics.

The first session will offer two to four activities each weekday, including karaoke, exercise and art.

The Northwest Special Recreation Association, based in Rolling Meadows and serving 17 park districts, is unveiling its NWSRA Virtual Programming on April 6. It will provide 35 programs over the Zoom platform, including cooking, crafts and fitness, said Brian Selders, superintendent of communications and information technology.

A brochure for its virtual programming became available Friday at nwsra.org/activity and at Facebook.com/nwsra.

"There's a lot of people that are isolated and don't have access to being with their friends and having social opportunities, seeing the staff and learning these things. We want to make sure we're there for them and their families," Selders said.

The Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association in Addison is using several approaches to serve its clients.

They include Zoom and YouTube videos, emails, Facebook posts and an activity booklet accessible online at #keepingNEDSRAconnected, which is the organization's overall pandemic call-to-arms. A downloadable PDF file also available by mail, the twice-weekly booklet already is in its fourth edition, Kristen Seefurth, marketing and communications manager, said.

"The whole point of all our posts is a mixture of our participants using their brains, using their bodies," she said.

People are responding to such efforts. Pat Marks received a WDSRA "virtual bingo" card, available by emailing virtualrecreation@wdsra.com, and said Kelsey has accomplished 23 of the 25 activities, such as working puzzles and riding her bicycle.

"We've actually had fun," Pat Marks said.

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