MODHP is working with statewide and local YMCAs to implement sustainable changes within their facilities and throughout the region to improve accessibility and promote inclusion for all their current and potential community members.
Since 2022, MODHP, partnering with the Missouri Alliance of YMCAs, have impacted:
Facilities
Policy Changes
Environmental Changes
Policy changes include ordinances, resolutions, protocols, procedures, or agreements that guide or influence behavior across an organization.
Environmental changes include any physical, social, and/or architectural changes to the environment that influence behavior and/or the practices of people within the environment.
Utilize the Community Health Inclusion Index (CHII) Organizational Assessment to examine how your policies, spaces, and programs provide equal access to all, including people with disabilities. Developed by the National Center for Health, Physical Activity, and Disability (NCHPAD), this survey is part of a larger index designed to help communities and organizations assess and improve their level of inclusion.
The CHII Organizational Assessment is recommended as a starting point for this process; however, organizations are encouraged to select the assessment that best aligns with their specific needs. Additional assessments to consider include:
Below is a compiled list of online trainings for all types of recreational facility staff to implement best practices when working with people with disabilities. Topics include an introduction to intellectual disability, communication, and inclusive fitness programming.
Detailed recommendations for recreational facilities on writing an inclusive policy, including an example of establishing a Direct Support Person accommodation for members with disabilities.
Practical guidance for YMCAs, gyms, and fitness centers on how to include people with disabilities in facilities and
programs. This Toolkit was created through a partnership between Able South Carolina and NCHPAD.
A comprehensive resource explaining the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) Accessibility Standards. This guide provides practical examples, explanations, and best practices to help organizations ensure facilities meet accessibility requirements.
