Adapted Activities

Taking part in recreation and arts programs and activities are important for your child or the person in your care who has allergies. They’ll be in the company of others who may not be aware of or understand the practices to follow to keep your child safe—or how serious an allergic reaction can be.

Our Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC) staff are committed to keeping all participants at our facilities safe. That's why we're so careful about ensuring we have important information about severe allergies. If we know about it, we can take the steps necessary to help them enjoy their class as safely as possible.

Step 1: Contact the recreation facility or arts and cultural facility that has the program you're interested in and ask to speak with the program supervisor so you can share information to ensure your child is set to participate as fully as possible.

Step 2: After speaking to the program supervisor, register your child for the program as early as possible.

Step 3: Complete and submit to the program supervisor 1 of following documents at least 2 weeks before the program starts

Our adapted programs enable children, youth and adults with physical and/or developmental disabilities to join in, get social and get active in safe spaces that are welcoming, respectful and supportive.

View adapted activities

Please bring an attendant, caregiver or family member if you require personal care support with changing, transferring, washroom assistance or administration of medication. Staff may be available to help with participation and provide minimal support to some participants. As always, our program supervisors are happy to work with you to discuss the best options for participating.

1:1 Support in Parks, Recreation and Culture (PRC)

Access Services provides one-on-one support for participants with diverse abilities to fully participate in PRC activities. Access Services reduces barriers to participation by providing individual participant support in PRC activities for people who cannot participate on their own, including programs such as summer camps, preschool, afterschool, outdoor and culture activities.  Access staff create adaptations by working collaboratively with program staff and advocating for participant needs to create an inclusive environment allowing accessible opportunities within PRC. 
 
Each person requesting support currently receives up to 4 weeks or 120 hours of support per calendar year, with no additional cost to families for this support. 

More information is available on our Access & Inclusion web page.

Contact the Access Programmer, Laura McGrath for assistance:

Phone: 604-294-7904
Email: [email protected]

You can also find program descriptions using the glossary below:

We have adapted equipment at our recreation facilities to ensure you can participate safely and enjoyably in sports and leisure activities. Each rec facility page includes information about accessible amenities and equipment, so you'll know before you go.

Here's a sample of the type of adapted equipment we have:

Pools: Our pools have various accessibility features, including graduated access, ramps, aquatic wheelchairs, lifts and portable stairs.

Arenas: We have ice sledges at Bill Copeland Sports Centre, Burnaby Lake Sports Complex and Kensington Complex.

Weight and cardio rooms: Our facilities offer adapted equipment.