Municipal Partners for Inclusive Recreation has one full-time employee, Terri Johnson, a certified recreation therapist. Support personnel are hired depending upon need. More support staff are hired

Two girls posing with Santa Clause in front of a fireplace.

during the summer due to increased participation in summer camps and activities. Qualities of successful support staff include: patience, effective communication skills, willingness to try different approaches to meet the same goal, an ability to laugh, and an interest in working with individuals with disabilities. Attitude is paramount, and everyone must be willing and eager to include people with disabilities in programs and make changes as necessary. Program staff and support staff are trained in the following areas: the concept of inclusion, effective communication and appropriate communication with participants and families, behavior management techniques, disability awareness, and adapting programs only when necessary. Additional training from specialists in different areas is also offered on an as-needed basis.

Support staff also receives information about the participant's disability, behavior, appropriate accommodations, and any other information the participant or parents feel is necessary for a positive experience. The information is enough to cover safety concerns, but leaves room for 'gut instinct' on the part of the support staff. The ultimate goal is to make a good, positive connection between two people that facilitates participation and enables everyone to enjoy the activity. Trial and error on the part of both the participant and the staff is sometimes the only method by which to succeed, but with patience and communication, the goals of participation are met, and often exceeded. The overall idea is to 'catch an individual doing right' and encourage the right, thus promoting positive behaviors and a positive experience.