The National Inclusion Project Partners with Melwood's Camp Accomplish

The National Inclusion Project Partners With Melwood To Create Recreational Opportunities

Washington, D.C. - The National Inclusion Project has partnered for a 3rd year with Camp Accomplish to implement Let’s ALL Play—Inclusion in Recreational Programs. The partnership will allow children with disabilities to enjoy successful recreational experiences in an inclusive setting. As part of this initiative, the National Inclusion Project provides Melwood with a program model, training, expertise, and an award of $10,000.

The National Inclusion Project was co-founded in 2003 by entertainer Clay Aiken, and works to bridge the gap between young people with disabilities and the world around them by opening doors for all children to be included together, primarily achieved through recreational programs and training to make after school programs, summer camps and classroom activities inclusive for all children. Its Let’s ALL Play program is a research-validated national model funded by the Project that brings an inclusive recreational experience to children with disabilities by giving them the same experience as children without disabilities. All children come together to participate in typical recreational activities such as swimming, arts and crafts, community service, physical fitness and more. Over the last three years, the Project has provided training, curriculum, and support to YMCAs, Boys & Girls Clubs, 4H, CampFire USA, and other community organizations.

In 2013, the Project is partnering with 85 recreational programs in 34 states. Teaming with Melwood is another exciting step toward their goal of full inclusion. “We feel that working with Camp Accomplish will help us further our mission to open doors in communities nationwide for children with disabilities to experience everything life has to offer,” says Jerry Aiken, Executive Director.

“Our partnership with The National Inclusion Project further supports Melwood’s vision for a world where people with disabilities are fully included,” says Melwood’s Team Leader, Dana Stebbins “Let’s ALL Play will make a huge impact on the children who participate in Camp Accomplish.”

About Melwood: Melwood is a dynamic 501(c)(3) organization that creates jobs and opportunities to improve the lives of people with disabilities. Now celebrating its 50th year, Melwood supports more than 2,400 people with disabilities in the greater Washington, DC area through career training, job placement, individual support, and recreation according to their individual preferences. Melwood employs more than 1,200 people with disabilities at approximately 70 contract sites through partnerships with community employers and through the AbilityOne Program, which pairs federal agencies with approved organizations to provide job opportunities for people with disabilities. Melwood employees with disabilities, otherwise eligible to receive government benefits, earned $13 million and paid $2.7 million in taxes. For more information, visit Melwood on Facebook or at www.melwood.org.

About Camp Accomplish: Camp Accomplish is a part of Melwood’s Recreation Center. It is a fully inclusive program for youth and teens aged 5-18. Campers enjoy a variety of different activities including swimming, climbing wall and ropes courses, archery, creative arts, sports, canoeing, horseback riding, campfires, talent shows, and much more. Camp Accomplish offers options for day and overnight camp in addition to a two-week teen program. Activities and schedules are designed in a way that all campers get to spend extra time doing what is most interesting and exciting to them. Coupled with a qualified and person-centered group of staff members, a summer at Camp Accomplish will surely be nonstop fun in the sun! For more information on Camp Accomplish please visit: www.melwoodrecreation.org/camp.

About the National Inclusion Project: The National Inclusion Project serves to bridge the gap that exists between young people with disabilities and the world around them. They partner with communities and programs to teach others how to be inclusive so that kids with and without disabilities can experience life - long benefits. By driving the movement for social inclusion in after school programs, summer camps, and in the classroom, children of all abilities learn, play and serve together. To date, the Project has partnered with over 200 programs nationally and has impacted over 50,000 children. For more information on the National Inclusion Project and to help ensure no child sits on the sidelines visit their website at www.inclusionproject.org.