Specialized Needs Recreation brings participants joy

 

By Kaye Hult

To walk into the Specialized Needs Recreation (SNR) gathering place at 3700 Government Way in Coeur d'Alene is to walk into an atmosphere electric with joy, enthusiasm and hope.

No matter where one looks, people are involved, helping greet visitors, playing a card game together, attending a puppet show or helping with a variety of chores.

As SNR board member Suzanne Knutson walks around, people continually come up to greet her and tell her what is going on with them.

"SNR fills a need for people with special needs to develop independent living skills through recreation and socialization," she said. "It is here to enrich their lives and enhance their growth as individuals."

Signs posted on the walls throughout the building reinforce these goals: "You Belong." "You Matter." "You are Enough." "You are Strong."

"Many participants, if they were not here, would be home alone, isolated, possibly depressed," she said.

"Additionally, being a caregiver to an individual with special needs can be isolating and lonely. SNR provides respite for caregivers," she continued.

The program serves more than 300 people with more than 6,000 annual visits. Participants come from Kootenai, Boundary, Benewah and Shoshone counties and Spokane Valley.

Suzanne moved to Coeur d'Alene in 2017 to be guardian for a cousin in Montana. Her cousin told her she didn't want her to live in Montana, but living in Coeur d'Alene was okay.

"When my cousin passed away a couple years ago," she said, "it opened up the possibility for me to join the board."

Before coming here, she had taught home economics and was a stay-at-home mom, homeschooling her kids.

"When I moved here, I had an identity crisis," she said.

Like many others who move here, she was looking for resources to help her help her cousin. She found Specialized Needs Recreation and has been involved with them ever since.

Suzanne brought people to SNR events before becoming formally involved. Now she describes herself as a full-time volunteer. She helps with writing grants, marketing and community outreach for the board.

"We assume competence for SNR participants," she explained. "If our participants need help, they ask for it. If I need help at SNR, I go to the participants first. They know where things are. They know the routine. We want to offer opportunities for their input. They should be included. SNR is their space.

"SNR is a safe place with no judgment or stigma. It is where people experience massive amounts of kindness and acceptance," Suzanne continued.

At the center itself, activities abound. On the center's TV, they can participate in Wii sports such as bowling, tennis, golfing, snowboarding, surfing and pickleball. There are puzzles and games and crafts in which people can engage.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Monday through Friday, SNR's Life Group provides a place for participants ages 18 and up to spend time with friends, staff and volunteers, while also practicing social interactions as they learn to live a more independent life.

Suzanne said a typical week includes crafts, sports, outings, cooking, social events, bowling and volunteer projects.

Every day at 10 a.m., they have a morning meeting, when they go through the day's schedule. They take responsibility at every level, including cleaning up at the end of the day.

Mondays generally are a social day at the center. For example, women come to teach table looming. Participants also bring projects they want to work on.

Tuesdays, participants go over to the Post Falls Real Life Ministries gym for basketball.

Wednesday bowling recently expanded to two sessions, doubling to 47 participants.

Thursdays, participants go into the community. They eat lunch at local restaurants. They may visit a park, movie, theater or museum.

Every other Friday, they cook. Fred Meyer provided enough gift cards last year to pay for the groceries they needed. Recently, they cooked chicken noodle soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.

On alternate Fridays, Kiwanis holds an Aktion Club. Participants may plant garden plots at Shared Harvest Community Garden or place wreaths on veterans' graves for holidays. A favorite activity is distributing food at the Second Harvest Community Food Bank. They also pick up trash at community parks.

"They like to volunteer," Suzanne said. "They also like to participate in outreach events where Specialized Needs Recreation has a display table.

"It's their place," she said. "We do what our participants want to do."

Beyond the Life Group, SNR has a kids' camp, Camp All-Stars, in the summer for those aged eight through 17. It also includes a sports program and an evening group for ages eight and up.

At one time, the City of Coeur d'Alene Parks and Recreation Department had a therapeutic recreation program. When that ended, the special needs community wanted to have something. That became SNR. They became a nonprofit in 1984.

"We receive no state or federal funding," Suzanne said. "We rely on community support through grants, donations and volunteers.

"Most adults with disabilities are on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)," she said. "We have to keep our program affordable. Many apply for scholarships. We raise money so people can come and have fun."

"Recently several nonprofits and others have created events to help us raise funds," Suzanne said, noting that those events have included golf, pickleball and kickball tournaments.

"Any time we can be out in the community or bring the community into our space for awareness of what we do, it raises understanding," said Suzanne, who is one of 11 board members.

SNR has three full-time staff—Lindsay Patterson, executive director; Brianna Shirey, program director, and Wendy Wetzel, program coordinator—and several part-time staff.

Specialized Needs Recreation recently launched a capital campaign for a new, larger building.

"The City of Coeur d'Alene has set aside almost five acres for us to build a recreation center for people with disabilities at Cherry Hill Park on 15th," she said.

"We have contracted with the city to raise $3.5 million in three to six years," she said. "We're bursting at the seams."

Specialized Needs Recreation, which currently has a 3,000 square foot facility, seeks to build a dedicated space where individuals with special needs can participate in meaningful activities, build friendships, develop skills and experience a greater sense of belonging.

As this campaign moves forward, they are reaching beyond their current families and participants to Coeur d'Alene, Post Falls, Hayden and Rathdrum.

"Building awareness is a community-wide responsibility," Suzanne said. "By engaging local businesses, civic organizations, community leaders and residents, we can help more people understand the need, recognize the impact SNR has on local families, and discover meaningful ways to support this effort.

"The building will be an investment in inclusion, opportunity and a community," she said.

She was reminded recently why SNR is so important.

"One participant, Dave, is hard to understand when he speaks. To my knowledge, Lucas did not speak," she said. "I looked up to see them in an animated conversation. Hearing them talk and laugh was so special. Participants are here because they feel included. They feel they belong and are understood."

For information, call 208-755-6781 or visit SNRIdaho.org.