POWER OF PLAY

Virtual Conference

Nov 12-15th

$75

Join our Power of Play On-Demand Virtual Conference and get ready to LEARN, ADAPT and INCLUDE! Asynchronous online sessions provide participants with the strategies, resources, and best practices needed to make inclusion possible across all settings, in all activities, for children with and without disabilities.

Power of Play participants have access to recorded traditional LEARN sessions full of information aligned to the Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs, short recorded ADAPT sessions with tips and tricks to add to your toolbox, as well as LIVE INCLUDE Q&A sessions from the presenters answering submitted questions from attendees on Nov 14 & 15.

"The content of each session was engaging, and it shows the serious, yet playful side of inclusion which is what is needed to make inclusion successful. The speakers were all incredibly knowledgeable, and being able to watch on my own time was invaluable." - POP Participant and Inclusion Manager

LEARN

Traditional conference sessions in which speakers share content, information, research, strategies, etc. via slide presentations. These are recorded for asynchronous learning at your own pace with handouts available for download to supplement the video and use for reference.

ADAPT

Mini-sessions demonstrating an inclusion strategy, inclusive game, creative craft, accessible activity or adaptation tip recorded for learning on your own schedule. These are hands-on and practical recorded sessions designed to provide resources you can add to your “bag of tricks”.

INCLUDE

The INCLUDE Q&A sessions will be held live on zoom throughout the day on Thurs & Fri, Nov 14-15th with our LEARN and ADAPT presenters & inclusion experts. These sessions are recorded and include speakers answering attendee questions about their presentation(s), and sharing advice about issues impacting the field.

WHO SHOULD REGISTER?

Recreation Professionals
Teachers & Educators
Parents & Advocates
Therapists & Clinicians
Recreation & Community Organization Directors
Afterschool Program Staff
Camp Counselors
Teaching Assistants
Inclusion Specialists
Anyone passionate about inclusion & the power of play!

Click Here to register

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

All virtual sessions that you can watch from anywhere! No need to worry with flights, hotels, mileage, etc

Unlimited access up to 6 months (or thru Summer 2025) to all conference presentations and sessions
Downloadable session materials, activity guides, games, & tip sheets, etc. to add to your repertoire
Direct connections to all speakers through email

Click Here to register

PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKERS

Speakers from across the country have prepared sessions just for YOU! Speaker backgrounds include Arts Programs, Camps, Non-profit Organizations, Parks & Recreation Departments, Community Programs, Consultants, Universities, Research Centers, Museums, Families & Advocates, Afterschool Programs, Policymakers, Past POP presenters, New POP presenters, NIP Inclusive Recreation Specialists and more! There's something for everyone and you're not going to want to miss out. These are all recorded so participants can watch them on their own schedule. See session descriptions and speakers below. Details subject to change. Keep checking as we get closer, more sessions may be added.

LEARN SESSIONS

Calling All Inclusionators!!

Feeling stuck in your staff training agenda? Feeling like you do the same activities each training? Feeling like you’re not covering topics that your workgroup needs to be successful? Join us for this “Learn” session as we discuss how to take your team from support staff to Inclusionators! Our team will talk through different helpful topics to embrace in your staff training agenda as well as various tips and tricks to best train both new and experienced staff for working in inclusive settings.

Felicia Barnhart is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)with the City of Colorado Springs Therapeutic Recreation Program and has worked in a communitysettingforover25years. She received her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Middle Tennessee State University. Felicia has worked with people with a wide range of disabilities and ages helping enhance skills through Sports, Fitness and Aquatics; Outdoor Adventure; Social Enrichment; Community Integration; and Arts and Culture. She also served as the Inclusion Coordinator for 15 years and is an Inclusive Recreation Specialist through the National Inclusion Project. Currently she serves at the program supervisor of the Therapeutic Recreation Program and the Operations Manager of Westside Community Center.

Ashley Bordenet is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) with the City of Colorado Springs Therapeutic Recreation Program and has worked in the field of recreational therapy since 2016.Ashley received her master’s degree with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation from the University of Tennessee. She has worked with individuals with a broad range of disabilities and ages in a multitude of settings: clinical with a focus on youth with autism spectrum disorder and individuals of all ages with personality disorders, educational with an emphasis on team-building in a camp setting, outdoor experiential learning with individuals with multiple intellectual, physical, and/or personality disorders, and community-based with youth and adults with intellectual/developmental and physical disabilities. Currently, she serves as a Program Administrator to provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate and engage in a variety of leisure activities. She also is an Inclusive Recreation Specialist through the National Inclusion Project and serves as the Inclusion Coordinator.

Casey Grice is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) with the City of Colorado Springs Therapeutic Recreation Program and has worked in the field for over10 years. Casey received his bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from SUNY Brockport. He is a National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA)“30 Under 30”AwardRecipientfor his innovative work on bringing the Therapeutic Recreation Program’s boxing series to life. Currently, he serves as a Program Administrator and focuses on implementing a wide variety of programming for youth, adolescents, adults, and older adults.

Cambrie Garner is a student at Brigham Young University-Idaho studying therapeutic recreation. She is working as an intern for the Therapeutic Recreation Program in Colorado Springs for Fall 2024. This is her last step in her schooling before receiving her bachelor's degree and CTRS certification at the end of this year. Afterwards, Cambrie plans to continue to graduate school to earn a master's degree in occupational therapy. Throughout her undergraduate program, she has volunteered over 700 hours working with individuals with disabilities of diverse populations. This includes intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities ranging in ages 18 months to 99-years-old.

Do you CARE? The Art of Inclusive Customer Care

Does your organization have training in place to equip all staff to serve everyone effectively? First impressions matter, and it’s essential that our frontline staff possess both empathy and the tools necessary to support individuals of all abilities. In this session we will discover the essential principles of inclusivity, exploring how empathy and understanding can enhance customer experiences for diverse audiences. Together, let’s explore customer care through the lens of inclusivity!

Olivia Atkinson: Olivia is a Certified and Licensed Recreation Therapist with extensive experience as a programmer and inclusion specialist in parks and recreation. Passionate about training staff for inclusive service delivery, Olivia received the 2022 Excellence in Recreation Award. Currently, she serves as the Inclusion Specialist at the National Inclusion Project.

Empowering Independence: Rethinking 1:1 Support in Inclusive Recreation

This presentation explores innovative approaches to support individuals with disabilities in inclusive recreation settings by rethinking the traditional 1:1 support model. Focusing on fostering greater independence, community integration, and social engagement, the session will introduce new strategies that empower participants while still providing the necessary assistance. By shifting from reliance on direct, individualized support to flexible models encouraging independence and peer collaboration, recreation programs can enhance the overall experience for both individuals with and without disabilities.

Stephanie Darnell: Since Stephanie was at a young age, she has dedicated her education and career to supporting individuals with disabilities. Stephanie began her career as a Summer Camp Counselor and Special Olympics coach in 2011 and has excelled professionally in the non-profit sector. Graduating with her bachelors in 2016, she became a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and then in 2019, graduated with her master’s in Organizational Leadership and Management from Lewis University. Throughout this time, Stephanie has developed multiple programs creating inclusiveness and learning opportunities for all individuals to achieve their highest quality of life.

Jennifer Phillips is an accomplished special education professional with more than 30 years of experience in classroom, recreational and residential settings. She is currently the President and Chief Executive Officer of Keshet. She has extensive experience as an administrator, trainer, consultant and direct service provider. Phillips began her career with Keshet in 1994 as a one-on-one summer camp counselor. This experience motivated her to become a special education teacher and she subsequently spent 18 years teaching before leaving the classroom.

Her leadership contributed to Keshet’s model of inclusive summer camps to be recognized as an industry best practice. Phillips is regularly called upon by other camps and community centers for consultations and to lead trainings about inclusion. She believes in the power of inclusion and works tirelessly to ensure that people with disabilities have meaningful lives in their home communities. Jennifer is a strong, hands-on and team-focused leader with a deep passion for inclusion and the well-being of the community.

Inclusion in Action: Engaging Adults with Disabilities in Our Communities

Join us as we explore unique, meaningful and impactful ways to provide community members with the opportunity to interact with and engage with participants with disabilities. We will learn about real-life examples and stories from those who have benefited, we’ll highlight what works and why it matters. Plus, we’ll discuss the importance of having individuals with disabilities involved in decision making and advocacy work. Let’s explore together how we can work to build vibrant, supportive communities where everyone can thrive!

Katie Lindgren is the Adaptive Recreation & Inclusion Specialist at the West Allis-West Milwaukee Recreation & Community Services Department. Having spent the last 18 years working with the disability community, she is passionate about creating quality programming and inclusive opportunities for all. In her free time, you can find Katie exploring the outdoors and enjoying

Inclusive Staffing: Camp Jaycee’s Tiered Support Model

The Inclusion Program at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center began in 1995, and nearly 30 years later we hit a record number of 112 young people with disabilities attending our summer day camp, representing 15% of our total camp population. Camp Jaycee serves children at all levels of need, ranging from mainstream support to 1:1 care. This session will dive in-depth into our tiered staffing model which makes this inclusive programming work. The session will cover the staff structure, how we assess the needs of incoming campers, and how we fund staff salaries.

Wendy Smith supervises inclusion services for all areas of the LFJCC. Wendy holds a Masters Degree from the University of North Dakota in Forensic Psychology, is a Certified Autism Specialist and past Behavior Specialist, and has over 20 years in the field working with individuals on the Autism spectrum

Molly Mattaini coordinates inclusion services for preschool and K-8 youth, including Camp Jaycee. Molly holds a PhD from the University of Wisconsin - Madison in Interdisciplinary Theatre Studies with a doctoral minor in Special Education, where she studied arts programming created specifically for young people on the autism spectrum.

Partnering with Campers & Families - Being Intentional & Proactive

A positive, inclusive experience for a child is often closely correlated to the quality of the partnership between the program and the family. This partnership starts with you being fully transparent about the environment, activities and support that the program can provide. Following up with open conversations and pre-program engagement sets the tone for the rest of the relationship.(Based on Standards A.5, 6 & 7, Standards for Inclusive Recreation Programs)And what happens if you discover that your program may not be what the child wants to needs at this moment? We will explore this challenge and how best to navigate these conversations as well.

Jessie Bari: Jessie is a Child Care Program Executive Director at YMCA Buffalo Niagara where sheoversees before-and after-school programs and summer day camps in the city of Buffalo andsurrounding suburbs. Jessie holds an MS in Nonprofit Management fromNortheasternUniversity and has worked toward creating more inclusive out-of-school time programs forchildren with disabilities in various organizations over the past 10 years

Principles and Best Practices of Inclusion and Accessibility

In this presentation, we’ll cover models of disability, disability language and etiquette, common misconceptions of inclusion, and how to look at accessibility through a multidisciplinary lens. Our goal is to offer you a unique perspective and provide you with a framework that you can use to assess the inclusivity of your programs and improve the experience for all participant.

Brendan Aylward: Brendan is the owner of Unified Health and Performance, an inclusive strength and conditioning facility, and Executive Director of AdaptX, a non-profit organization that aims to improve the health and fitness of individuals with disabilities through education, opportunity, advocacy, and scholarship. They contribute to the growing body of adaptive fitness literature through The Rick Hoyt Research Lab, where their team has published papers on fitness interventions for individuals with Cerebral Palsy. Brendan and his friend, Jacob, have been a part of Team Hoyt New England since 2014, completing more than 100 races, including six marathons, together as a duo.

Together Including Every Student (TIES)

Together Including Every Student (TIES) promotes the participation of students and young adults who have developmental disabilities in inclusive, extracurricular and community activities of their choice, with the support of trained peer volunteers. TIES volunteers provide natural support while including someone in an inclusive activity. The TIES Senior Manager will provide a presentation that will highlight a variety of topics such as the value and benefits of inclusive experiences for people with and without disabilities, perspectives from parents, participants, peer volunteers, community leaders and school administrators and how to start up TIES in your community.

Sarah Salamone, TIES Program Manager at Starbridge, joined the TIES Program in 2017 as a TIES Coordinator in the school district that her family resides. Being the mom of Brinley, a little girl with Down Syndrome, inclusion in all aspects has become a passion of hers. Once hearing about the benefits of TIES, Sarah knew her school district should implement it to benefit all students

Training Adult and Youth Volunteers to Create Inclusive Environments

Many out-of-school environments are led or supported by volunteers. This presentation will provide tools and resources for training volunteers, both youth and adults, to build inclusive experiences for youth with disabilities. Effective volunteers need to understand best practices and have effective tools. They also must feel confident in order to create an effective environment for youth with disabilities to thrive. Minnesota 4-H has been working with the Institute on Community Integration to research the needs of families of youth with disabilities and pilot effective practices. We are excited to share our research and resources with you.

Sarah Hall, PhD, FAAIDD, Research Associate, University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration, previously taught special education at Ashland University and published research on the social inclusion of adults with disabilities, their siblings, and
ways to include them in research. She is a sibling of a brother with multiple disabilities.

Darcy Cole, M.Ed, 4-H Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development, has co-led 4-H disability-related trainings and serves as the lead contact for Minnesota 4-H disability work. She is a parent of four
children, two of whom are on the Autism Spectrum.

Betsy Olson Minnaert, 4-H Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development, has an M.A. in International Community Development from the University of Denver and a Program Evaluation Certificate from
the University of Minnesota’s Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. She has co-led 4-H disability-related trainings.

ADAPT SESSIONS

5 Minute Mindfulness Activities for All Ages

Mindfulness is more than a buzzword—it’s a best practice! Teaching and practicing mindfulness positively impacts all areas of development. It keeps us emotionally, socially, behaviorally, intellectually, creatively, and physically healthy. So, whether you are staff or student, programmer or participant, leader or learner…try these 5-minute activities to calm, center, and connect.

Dr. Amanda Kloo, PhD is NIP’s Director of Inclusive Recreation. She is an educator, a mom, a wife, and a life-long student. She is a veteran teacher, interventionist, and developmental specialist with over 20 years of experience teaching children of all ages, stages, and abilities. She is a frequent presenter, widely published author, and sought-after consultant. She is also a person with Cerebral Palsy who embraces life’s unique adventures filled with living, giving, learning, and growing. Above all, she is passional about all things inclusion and the power of play.

Building Dances Together

Building dances together is a powerful way for children to express their creativity while fostering meaningful connections with their peers. In this 20-minute Adapt session, Frame Dance Director of Curriculum & Pedagogy, Ashley Horn, will guide participants through a playful movement-based activity that encourages children of all abilities to explore the relationship between their bodies, given materials, and each other, culminating in an interactive community mural. Through partner work and reflection, this activity nurtures body awareness, cooperation, and nonverbal communication, creating an inclusive space where every child can connect and thrive.

Ashley Horn is a dance educator, curriculum writer, costume designer, choreographer, and installation artist based in Houston, TX. She has been teaching dance, with focus on early childhood, neural development, pedagogy for over 20 years public schools, studios community centers.

Lydia Hance is the Founder and Artistic Director of Frame Dance, a choreographer, curator, filmmaker, and educator. A leader in early childhood dance education, she co-developed the Little Framers Curriculum, used in preschools and community programs. Lydia fosters interdisciplinary, multigenerational collaboration through her performances and educational initiatives in Houston

Connecting through Catchball

This presentation will introduce Catchball, a simple and easily-adaptable game that helps players connect to themselves and others. This presentation will introduce the principles, materials, and mindset for using Catchball to help players stay calm, connected, curious and content.

Danny Lightheart is the Inclusion Manager at Jewish for Good in Durham, NC. Over the past 20 years, Danny has provided therapy and program coordination to children, adults and parents in homes, schools, clinics and community centers. Among the things he has taught are: soccer, basketball, juggling, yoga, skateboarding, and rope flow.

Cat Martin-Massink is the PE teacher at The Lerner Jewish Day School in Durham, NC. Cat currently teaches PE to Pre-K through fifth grade students. Prior to working at Lerner, Cat started and developed the curriculum for USA Ninja Challenge in Durham.

Engaged Waiting - The Secret Sauce for Turn Taking

Are kids struggling to wait their turn? Do challenging behaviors escalate during down time? Are you frustrated by chaotic transitions? Teach “engaged waiting!” This easy-to-implement strategy is efficient, effective, and essential. It keeps everyone active even when inactive. Because although nobody likes to wait…everybody has to!

Impactful Training to Support Understanding Youth Behavior

Parents of youth with disabilities often express concern that their
child’s behavior will not be understood in an out-of-school
environment. Training volunteers and staff to understand a variety of
behaviors can be challenging. Join us to hear about curriculum that
has been effective in helping people with little experience with youth
with disabilities be ready to support a variety of different behaviors.

Betsy Olson Minnaert, 4-H Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development, has an M.A. in International Community Development from the University of Denver and a Program Evaluation Certificate from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. She has co-led 4-H disability-related trainings.

MODIFY on the Fly!

Join us for "Modify on the Fly," a session that equips you with practical tools to adapt your camps, programs, and activities in real-time. Learn strategies to enhance engagement, ensure inclusivity, and tackle unexpected challenges with ease. Whether dealing with sudden changes or diverse participant needs, this session empowers you to think creatively and act swiftly. Enhance your flexibility and effectiveness in leading successful programs!

Pay Attention! - To the 5 Different Ways We Pay Attention

Ever have days when you wish your kids would just… PAY ATTENTION!? Me too! That is, until I realized it was a me problem, not a them problem. Join with me to learn about the five different attentional styles and how they influence the ways we learn, behave, and interact. Then discover strategies to make them click instead of clash to maximize focus and fun for everyone!

Using One-Page Descriptions as an Organizational Tool

One-Page Descriptions are gaining popularity as an effective tool to
introduce young people to program staff in a quick and useful way.
They are simple documents that outline a person’s strengths, values,
needs, and learning goals. The One-Page Description can also be used to help with program planning and as a tool to guide initial
conversations with families to ensure accommodations and supports are put in place as youth dive into a new experience. This session will review a few of the ways we have used One-Page Descriptions as a planning, adaptation, and evaluation tool.

Sarah Hall, PhD, FAAIDD, Research Associate, University of Minnesota Institute on Community Integration, previously taught special education at Ashland University and published research on the social inclusion of adults with disabilities, their siblings, and ways to include them in research. She is a sibling of a brother with multiple disabilities.

Betsy Olson Minnaert, 4-H Extension Educator, University of Minnesota Extension Department of Youth Development, has an M.A. in International Community Development from the University of Denver and a Program Evaluation Certificate from the University of Minnesota’s Department of Organizational Leadership, Policy, and Development. She has co-led 4-H disability-related trainings.

CEUs/CEs

CEUs/CEs will not be awarded or processed by NIP directly. However, we will provide documentation of conference attendance upon participant request. This completion certificate will include a brief description of the conference, dates of attendance, confirmation of contact hours, and signature/contact details from Dr. Amanda Kloo, NIP's Director of Inclusive Recreation. Participants should follow the guidelines established by their professional organization or licensing body for earning continuing education units/credits. Participants are individually responsible for understanding these guidelines, securing, and submitting relevant documentation.

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Have questions about the conference? Have a group of 5 or more? Just want to talk through the logistics with someone to make sure it's the right fit for you? Give our Director of Inclusive Recreation Dr. Amanda Kloo a call @ 919-314-5540 or shoot her an email at amandakloo@inclusionproject.org.

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POWER OF PLAY

Virtual Conference

Nov 12-15th

$75

"The content of each session was engaging, and it shows the serious, yet playful side of inclusion which is what is needed to make inclusion successful. The speakers were all incredibly knowledgeable, and being able to watch on my own time was invaluable." - POP Participant and Inclusion Manager

LEARN

ADAPT

INCLUDE

WHO SHOULD REGISTER?

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKERS

LEARN SESSIONS

ADAPT SESSIONS

CEUs/CEs

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Join Our Cause

Everybody Participates Everybody Belongs

About Us

Advocates & Families

Programs & Professionals

News & Events

Sign up for our newsletter:

POWER OF PLAY

Virtual Conference

Nov 12-15th

$75

"The content of each session was engaging, and it shows the serious, yet playful side of inclusion which is what is needed to make inclusion successful. The speakers were all incredibly knowledgeable, and being able to watch on my own time was invaluable." - POP Participant and Inclusion Manager

LEARN

ADAPT

INCLUDE

WHO SHOULD REGISTER?

WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT?

PRESENTATIONS & SPEAKERS

LEARN SESSIONS

ADAPT SESSIONS

CEUs/CEs

HAVE QUESTIONS?

Join Our Cause

Everybody Participates Everybody Belongs

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