Final Report
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FINAL REPORT Technology Upgrade and Conducting Accessibility Assessments at 400 State‐Operated Recreation Sites Inclusive Recreation Resource Center December 2013 to November 2015 PROJECT SUMMARY Since its inception in 2007, the Inclusive Recreation Resource Center has actively promoted and helped sustain inclusive recreation for ALL people. Through the development of the Inclusivity Assessment Tool, the day‐long Inclusion U training, and the ever‐ growing online recreation database, the IRRC has been instrumental in helping all people play wherever they choose. This project focused on making the IRRC’s work even more accessible to even more people with even more relevant recreation data. How? Through the migration of the Inclusion U training to an online format, Inclusion U Online The redesign of the website The redesign of the online recreation database to a more streamlined and mobile platform The streamlining of the Inclusivity Assessment Tool (IAT) to allow data to be entered into the database more efficiently and by more people The development of an app for mobile use The development of a trail assessment checklist Working with two partners, NYS DEC and NYS OPRHP to assessing state‐administered recreation sites throughout the state of New York Our project rolled out according to plans. This report shares the outcomes of this work and future steps. 2 OUTCOMES Inclusion U Online Target Outcome: 1 Inclusion U Online Actual Outcome: 1 Inclusion U Online Inclusion U Online is a 9‐module training that can be completed in 10 hours. Working with Gorges, Inc., based in Ithaca, NY, we developed and implemented a learning management system that is responsive in design, allowing users to complete the training on any device. Inclusion U Online Curriculum and Design 9 Modules (Module 10 is the Inclusion U Final Exam) 3 MODULES: Each module opens up into lessons that contain presentations, videos, readings, resources, and quizzes. Students must score 80% or more on each module quiz to progress to the next module. Here are two sample modules. LESSONS: Each lesson opens up into its respective content. Here is one part of one lesson. QUIZZES: Here is a sample of a few quiz questions: 4 Training Videos 20 training videos were produced and embedded in the Inclusion U Online Training: Video Topic Video 1 Route of Travel Part One Video 2 Route of Travel Part Two Video 3 Parking Video 4 Measuring Distance Video 5 Measuring Entrances Video 6 Measuring Slope Video 7 Registration Areas Part One Video 8 Registration Areas Part Two Video 9 Restrooms Overview Video 10 Restroom Signage and Entrance Video 11 Bathroom Stalls Video 12 Restroom Toilets and Grab Bars Video 13 Restroom Sinks Video 14 Restroom Dispensers Video 15 Elevators Video 16 Stairs Video 17 Comfort Stations, Locker Rooms, and Showers Part One Video 18 Comfort Stations, Locker Rooms, and Showers Part Two Video 19 Trails Part One Video 20 Trails Part Two IAT User Manual 2015 version of the Inclusivity Assessment Tool User Manual is part of Inclusion U Online as an eBook. 5 Certificate of Completion and CIA Card When students successfully complete Inclusion U Online, they can print their Certificate of Completion/report card and their CIA card Continuing Education Units for Professionals IRRC was awarded CEU‐granting status for Inclusion U Online with CEU‐provider NYSRPS. CEU status was granted for 10 contact hours or 1.0 CEUs. The process is now on the website on the Inclusion U Online information/registration page at this link: https://www.inclusiverec.org/inclusion‐u‐online. In addition, pre‐approval of CEUs with the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) was granted. NCTRC deemed that Inclusion U Online meets its continuing education standards for professionals certified as recreation therapists. This pre‐approval will make Inclusion U Online highly marketable to Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists across the U.S. and Canada. 6 Inclusion U Online Impact Number of participants in Inclusion U Online from 2014‐1015 Target Outcome: 110 people trained Actual Outcome: 452 people trained 383 people trained online 69 people trained in person Who was trained through Inclusion U? 371 college students (SUNY Cortland, SUNY Upstate, Ithaca College, Tompkins Cortland Community College, San Jose State University, University of Wisconsin‐Stevens Point, University of Wisconsin‐La Crosse, Syracuse University) 60 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Historic Preservation employees 21 Others (self‐advocates from various agencies like independent living centers, OPWDD, DDPC, Global Abilities, ANCA, faculty at other universities, community members, parks and recreation professionals, etc.) 7 Changes in knowledge and attitude toward inclusion Pre‐ and post‐tests were given about attitudes toward inclusion and knowledge of inclusion practices. Comparison of face‐to‐face Inclusion U outcomes with Inclusion U Online outcomes were made. Contrary to the belief that face‐to‐face training is more effective, the results showed that the online version of Inclusion U was more effective in increasing knowledge about inclusion and as effective in changing attitudes. Pre to Post Knowledge of Pre to Post Attitude Toward Inclusion Scores Inclusion Scores 7.8 115 7.6 110 7.4 105 7.2 7 100 IU Online IU Live IU Online IU Live Pre‐knowledge Post‐knowledge Pre‐attitude Post‐attitude Satisfaction Results of Inclusion U Online satisfaction surveys showed overall high satisfaction. Evaluation Statement Avg. Rating (on a 5‐point scale) I learned a lot in this training. 4.46 This training taught me a great deal about inclusion and accessibility in parks and 4.43 recreation. I feel prepared to conduct an Inclusivity Assessment at a recreation agency after 4.23 completing this online training. The progression of the modules in Inclusion U Online was logical and clear. 4.49 The final exam for Inclusion U Online appropriately tested my knowledge of the 4.40 material present in the training. I feel a sense of accomplishment in becoming a Certified Inclusivity Assessor (CIA). 4.6 I plan to complete an Inclusivity Assessment within the next few months. 4.09 Overall, I am satisfied with the Inclusion U Online training. 4.43 8 New Responsive Design Website Target Outcome: 1 Website Actual Outcome: 1 Website The new website is a responsive design, meaning that it displays well on any device, mobile or otherwise. It was designed with accessibility in mind. Here is the website menu on a mobile device: 9 New Online Recreation Database Target Outcome: 1 Database Actual Outcome: 1 Database View on a computer View on a smartphone Searchable by: Name Location Nearby Map Activity Key word On February 17, 2016 there were 1,097 entries in the database and growing! 10 Drilling down in the database 11 12 Automated messaging updating system in the online recreation database Each year on the date an assessment is completed, the recreation site will receive an email asking them to review their entry and send updates; for older assessments, a manual system is in place to send the update email. Any staff with CIA Editor status can edit all assessments in the database and enter updates. In addition, assessments can be archived or redone. The updating system should allow the database to remain relevant and useful. 13 New Electronic & Mobile Tools for the Inclusivity Assessment Tool Target Outcome: 1 Electronic Data Entry System Actual Outcome: 1 Electronic Data Entry System Target Outcome: 1 Mobile App Actual Outcome: 2 Mobile Apps New Online Data Entry Forms The Inclusivity Assessment Tool and all specialty checklists are now all updated, streamlined and in a responsive electronic form. When completing an assessment, all data goes immediately into the online recreation database, pending review by IRRC staff. Once reviewed, the inclusivity assessment is released to the database and two emails are automatically sent: One to the CIA, thanking them for doing an assessment and asking them to review their assessment for accuracy One to the assessed recreation agency, thanking them for participating in an assessment and asking them to review the assessment for accuracy 14 Downloadable PDF Forms The electronic forms are also still available for downloads as PDF files if a CIA prefers to take hand‐written notes when completing an assessment, to be entered later into the online recreation database. 15 New App for Data Entry for CIAs A new app was completed and is being piloted. The app is for CIAs to enter assessments in the field on a mobile device, with or without internet connection/cell service. If the pilot goes well, the app will be incorporated in the Inclusion U Online curriculum and will become a more convenient and easy method of data collection during an inclusivity assessment. The app can be viewed at this link for CIAs: https://assess.inclusiverec.org 16 New App for Data Display for the Public – the “IRRC Recreation Finder” The IRRC is also working with Gorges, Inc. to develop a mobile app for the public side of the online recreation database, the IRRC Recreation Finder. It is near completion. However, since the database is responsive design and works on any device, this was made a lower priority over the other work we needed to accomplish. Watch for this new app in the App Store and Google Play soon! 17 New Trail Accessibility Checklist Target Outcome: 1 Trail Accessibility Checklist Actual Outcome: 1 Trail Accessibility Checklist Development of the trail checklist