Tell us about your project

Our project has three objectives. Objective 1 is to create an Affiliate Speaker Grant Program (“Grant Program”), provide information to Affiliate applicants to plan, conduct an accessible conference and fund $1,800 grants to each of five winning Affiliates to host a keynote speaker about a disability topic, provide a disability exhibit and promote the Disabilities MIG at their annual conferences. Concerning progress for Objective 1, five affiliates were selected to receive grants. Two of five of the presentations have been made. Objective 2 is to advocate to the Academy for its annual Leadership Institute (“Institute”) to be accessible and nominate one high-potential Disabilities MIG member to attend the Institute and speak about it during a webinar or virtual meeting with Disabilities MIG members. Concerning progress for Objective 2, the Academy is not hosting this event for the 2024-2025 program year; we are evaluating alternate options. Objective 3 is to advocate to the Academy for its annual Nutrition & Dietetics Advocacy Summit (“Summit”) to be accessible and select one Disabilities MIG member to attend the Summit and speak about it during a webinar or virtual meeting with Disabilities MIG members. Concerning progress for Objective 3, the Academy did not host the Advocacy Summit in the 2023-2024 program year. We are working to arrange a virtual meeting with the Academy Policy Initiatives and Advocacy Team; no cost will be incurred. 

How has the grant positively impacted your organization or community?

Through the NCHPAD virtual training held March 12, 2024, entitled “Hosting Inclusive Meetings/Conferences: Accessible Conference Training – Disabilities MIG,” five Academy affiliates were trained on the importance and how to host an inclusive conference. We would like to explore the opportunity to host similar training for various organizational units and groups within the Academy.

What specific obstacles have you faced during the implementation of the project and how did you overcome those challenges and learn from them? If no specific challenges, put N/A.

Grant Overall:  Administrative delays in completing required paperwork condensed the timeline for executing the grant deliverables. Flexibility and collaboration with grantees resulted in a readjusted timeline and execution is underway.

Objective 1: Academy Affiliate meetings take place in the spring with planning starting in the fall. Due to the delays in implementation, most affiliates already selected speakers for their program, so limited applications were received. If a similar program is delivered in the future, timeline adjustments will be made to optimize the promotion and application periods.

Objective 2: The Academy is not hosting a 2024-2025 Leadership Institute. We will request funds be reallocated to existing virtual leadership training opportunities from the Academy, not to exceed $2,900. 

Objective 3: The Academy is not hosting a 2023-2024 Advocacy Summit. We will request funds be reallocated to a one-year subscription to the Disability Scoop daily newsletter for a select number of our MIG members and to support a select number of Disabilities MIG Volunteer Leaders to obtain the Academy’s Policy and Advocacy Certificate of Training, which consists of four modules that prepare nutrition professionals to advocate for policy change across all levels of government.

If applicable, how have you engaged and involved the community or stakeholders in the project?

Two affiliates of the Academy have hosted speakers via the grant thus far, exposing approximately 250 dietetic practitioners, students and interns to disability-related topics. Disabilities MIG volunteers have engaged in reviewing presentations for content and accessibility.

How have you measured the success of your project, and what are the key performance indicators?

We have not yet measured the success of our project. 

For Objective 1, we plan to evaluate our Affiliate Speaker Grant Program for disability accommodations, disability presentations/exhibits, and individuals reached. 

• For disability accommodations, we will ask our speakers to each explain and rate (1-to-5 scale with 5 as high) the extent to which disability accommodations were a) provided and b) tailored to their disability at the annual conference where they presented and had an exhibit booth; impact will be successful if ratings by speakers are ≥3 for each of a and b. 
• For disability presentations/exhibits, we will use the completed evaluation forms (1-to-5 scale with 5 as high) from Affiliate winners after their annual conferences to evaluate the extent to which our speakers’ presentations fostered disability inclusion and promoted the Disabilities MIG and the extent to which our speakers’ exhibit booths displayed items from our Adapted Kitchen Tool/Utensil Kit and promoted the Disabilities MIG. The impact will be successful if the averages for these items are ≥3 across all Affiliate winners. 
• For individuals reached, we will use evaluation forms from Affiliate winners to identify the number of actual attendees to evaluate the sum (for all Affiliate winners combined) of the number of conference attendees. Using a standard of 10% of the Affiliate’s size, we will consider the impact successful if the number of annual conference attendees is >10% of the Affiliate membership. 
• For Objectives 2 and 3, our plans to evaluate and determine whether the impact is successful will need to be developed because we must re-negotiate the deliverables for both objectives. 

Are there any key partnerships or collaborations that have played a significant role in your project?

Our partnership with NCHPAD has played a significant role in our project in two ways. First, the NCHPAD virtual training titled, “Hosting Inclusive Meetings/Conferences: Accessible Conference Training – Disabilities MIG” held on March 12, 2024, for our 5 winning Affiliates, disability-topic speakers and Disabilities MIG Grant Committee members was invaluable, and hopefully will lead to future training by NCHPAD for other groups within the Academy. Second, the Disabilities MIG Executive Committee had a post-doc/faculty member through late March and continues to have a NCHPAD staff person; they have provided very helpful input concerning disability inclusivity and for our funded project.

End of the year updates:

We reached a total of 581 unique individuals in 20 U.S. states. Specifically, we reached 547 attendees via disability presentations and exhibits at five U.S. state affiliate annual conferences in Arkansas, Delaware, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Oklahoma in Spring 2024. Also, we reached a total of 34 unique members of the Disabilities MIG in 22 U.S. states via either Disability Scoop newsletter one-year subscription (26 members), book titled “Disability Friendly: How to Move from Clueless to Inclusive” by John D. Kemp (27 members), and/or webinars on leadership and or inclusion, diversity, equity, and access (IDEA) [27 members].

Tell us about your project

Promoting Inclusive Health and Physical Literacy (PIHPL) Series workshops and webinars focus on inclusive practices for general health and physical education/activity professionals. Many general health and physical educators and physical activity leaders do not have the knowledge or experience to effectively include persons with disabilities in their classrooms or community settings. The Academy’s focus is to help teachers and professionals in the health and physical literacy fields gain this knowledge and to equip them with inclusive curriculum, strategies and assessment tools to properly teach/serve and meet the needs of diverse learners. The first workshop for the Promoting Inclusive Health and Physical Literacy Series will be held during the National Academy of Health and Physical Literacy (NAHPL) Summit on April 10, 2024, in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Presenters of this 8-hour workshop will include Lauren Lieberman, SUNY Brockport; Joanna Judge, University of Southern Mississippi; Kristen Morgan, Southeastern Louisiana University; Melissa Longo, Custer City Private School, PA; Deb Marcus, Anne Arundel County Public Schools, MD; David Lorenzi, Indiana University of PA; and David Geslak, Exercise Connection. Session topics will include the followingNational Academy of Health & Physical Literacy 

• Introduction to Universal Design for Learning
• The Lieberman-Brian Inclusion Rating Scale for Physical Education (LIRSPE)
• Working with Paraeducators
• Introduction to Health and Special Education
• Modifications and Adaptations to Health Curricula
• Adapted Health and Physical Education Lessons
• Health and Fitness for Adults with Disabilities and Inclusive Strategies to Engage Students with Autism      

How has the grant positively impacted your organization or community?

Attendees of the workshop include 40 educators representing 12 states (LA, PA, MD, TX, AL, AR, SC, KS, TN, NY, GA, MI). These educators are employed in K-12 education, higher education and community agencies. This extensive representation of individuals and states will no doubt impact a countless number of individuals with disabilities. It is a positive for NAHPL to provide this opportunity for our members and the community.             

What specific obstacles have you faced during the implementation of the project and how did you overcome those challenges and learn from them? If no specific challenges, put N/A.

N/A

If applicable, how have you engaged and involved the community or stakeholders in the project?

If stakeholders refer to the individuals registered to attend the workshop, they have not been involved at this point. The presenters listed above are leaders in Inclusive Education. With their extensive knowledge base and understanding of the adapted community, they planned a workshop that positively impacted those attending. They collectively collaborate with stakeholders across the lifespan. Thus, the workshop will impact stakeholders in 12 states representing all levels of education and community agencies.

How have you measured the success of your project, and what are the key performance indicators?

At this point, the key indicator is that 40 individuals presenting 12 states have registered for the workshop.               

Are there any key partnerships or collaborations that have played a significant role in your project?

The workshop was planned collaboratively by NAHPL Adapted Health and Physical Literacy Committee members. These individuals represent K-12, higher education and community agency entities. It is a positive for NAHPL to provide this opportunity for our members and the community.

End of the year updates:

Reached 400 members and 3,000 prospects. Members are professionals who join NAHPL. Prospects are health literacy and physical literacy professionals from across the country working in various health literacy and physical literacy settings. We believe the project is sustainable.

Tell us about your project

We reached 8,099 individuals through social media and webinars. Of these, 1,948 people were significantly impacted, as evidenced by their attendance, link clicks, downloads, and overall engagement.

To gather these numbers, we utilized a combination of insights and analytics from our social media platforms, newsletter website, and webinar viewership data. This approach allowed us to determine the reach of our toolkit and gauge how many people interacted with our product.

What specific obstacles have you faced during the implementation of the project and how did you overcome those challenges and learn from them? If no specific challenges, put N/A.

With the transition of new personnel, there was some disconnect regarding the project’s status. However, the project was designed for long-term success as this toolkit can be disseminated for years to come.

Is your project funded by the NCHPAD grant sustainable?

Yes, our project funded by the NCHPAD grant is designed for sustainability. The grant enabled us to create, collaborate on, market, and produce a toolkit specifically tailored to AI/AN disabilities, enhancing understanding and accessibility. Additionally, by partnering with various organizations and agencies to develop a comprehensive guide, we have created a valuable resource for service providers to gain deeper insights into AI/AN communities, ultimately enhancing the quality of care for individuals with disabilities.

Tell us about your project

Upon notice of the award, National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) created and released a Request for Proposals (RFP) in alignment with NRPA’s equitable procurement process. Through the RFP process, NRPA identified Kabisa International, a leading provider of services such as learning design, instructional design, facilitation and research as a partner in developing a Disability Inclusion in Recreational Programming Certificate (Certificate) curriculum. Kabisa International focuses on creating positive change in the diverse and dynamic landscapes that make up our world, and they do so by providing a wide range of tools and expertise in adult learning and development. During the performance period to date, NRPA has worked with the consultant to mine the requisite information necessary to create an outline of content included as part of the Certificate curriculum. This was accomplished by conducting a comprehensive review of existing curricula content, best practice and implementation guides and other resources such as NRPA’s Annual Conference education sessions. In partnership with NRPA, the consultant identified and engaged key stakeholders from NRPA’s network of park and recreation leaders, cross-sector experts, people with disabilities and other stakeholders to provide input on the Certificate program. The consultant conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders and sustained stakeholder engagement by including the stakeholders as part of the content review process. As a result of these activities, NRPA, in collaboration with the consultant, developed a working outline of a 10-module curriculum, including the associated learning and achievement-based objectives. As of April 15, 2024, the curricular outline for the Certificate is undergoing final review by NRPA, the consultant and key stakeholders.

How has the grant positively impacted your organization or community?

It is still early to gauge the broader impact of the Certificate and grant activities on NRPA, our network and communities. However, internally, we’ve experienced a positive response. The grant has allowed NRPA to lay the groundwork for future growth of professional development offerings for park and recreation professionals to move the needle towards greater equity in their programs, services, facilities, operations and more. We are optimistic that these early reactions and impressions will translate into meaningful benefits for NRPA, our members and the communities our members serve.     

What specific obstacles have you faced during the implementation of the project and how did you overcome those challenges and learn from them? If no specific challenges, put N/A.

N/A

If applicable, how have you engaged and involved the community or stakeholders in the project?

In partnership with NRPA, the consultant identified and engaged key stakeholders from NRPA’s network of park and recreation leaders, cross-sector experts, people with disabilities and other stakeholders to provide input on the Certificate. The consultant conducted key informant interviews with stakeholders and sustained stakeholder engagement by including the stakeholders as part of the content review process.

How have you measured the success of your project, and what are the key performance indicators?

Metrics measured within the grant period to date include the following: 

• Five meetings and reports with a consultant
• 10 stakeholders engaged in the planning and development process
• Four existing partner resources (including Lakeshore Foundation and National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability [NCHPAD]) were referenced during the planning and development process. 

The following resources from Lakeshore and NCHPAD were referenced during the performance period:

• GRAIDs Framework
• Nine Guidelines for Disability and Inclusion
• Roadmap 2 Inclusion
• How to Recruit People with Disabilities for Health Programs

Additional monitoring and evaluation measures will be collected during the remainder of the project period.

Are there any key partnerships or collaborations that have played a significant role in your project?

NRPA’s DEI Leadership Network, a community for sharing and collaborating to support DEI initiatives across park and recreation agencies, has played a significant role in identifying and engaging appropriate stakeholders as partners in the Certificate creation. 

End of the year updates:

NCHPAD’s grant enabled NRPA to create a comprehensive outline for the Disability Inclusion in Recreational Programming Certificate curriculum. During the project period, the grant allowed NRPA to facilitate a thorough stakeholder mapping and engagement process that supported the planning and creation of the outline. Moreover, the grant allowed NRPA to create a strong foundation to support the creation and implementation of future professional development offerings related to disability inclusion in parks and recreation, a key variable for moving towards greater equity in our communities via park and recreation programs, services, facilities, and more.  

Importantly and in alignment with this project, NRPA has intentionally codified Disability Inclusion as one of three focus areas under our Equity in Practice pillar in NRPA’s upcoming FY25-FY29 Strategic Plan which will be announced at NRPA’s Annual Conference in Atlanta on October 10, 2024. However, NRPA does not currently have additional funding available to complete the subsequent activities including the creation of a full course, piloting and evaluation. To enhance sustainability and maximize reach and impact across the park and recreation field, a larger, and more consistent financial investment is essential.