· · ·  Cutting-Edge Programs  · · ·

Today, our society stands at another crucial juncture in disability history.

We have begun to make fitness a part of disability culture, but we aren't getting to the people who need us most. Realizing this, BORP is now fund-raising to create cutting-edge programs, once again, the first of their kind in California.

Bringing Disabled Immigrants & Minorities into BORP's Recreation Programs

About half the Bay Area's 868,000 disabled residents are immigrants or minorities. They are the least served of any disability group. BORP is working to create an innovative, language and culturally appropriate outreach structure to bring in 420 new immigrants and minorities to existing programs during next three years. Participants will derive the following benefits: community integration, independence, decreased social isolation, the advantages of fitness and good health, acquisition of skills that aid employment-use of public transport, exposure to working peers, increased social group, access to resources and education. A how-to handbook will be published to aid other service providers in identifying and serving effectively these groups.

Including Disabled High School Athletes in Interscholastic Competition

There are at least 12,000 disabled high school students in California. 100 high school-aged kids now take part in community-based sports programs. We estimate that, through this project, 300 new athletes will play interscholastic high school sports during the next three years, and 3,000 within a decade. A three-pronged strategy will accomplish this: 1) Build local support and momentum with students and parents. 2) Collaborate with coaches and local school administrators. 3) Convince the California Interscholastic Federation that, because the law provides for equality, the students want to play, many coaches and officials are willing, and inclusion will not inconvenience any present programs, the time is ripe for them, the CIF, to take over the leadership role in this integration effort. BORP will publish a handbook for recreation programs and school officials describing how integration can be achieved without disrupting present sports programs.