The Summit Community Programs TryCAN Program was recently awarded two prestigious awards at the New Jersey Commission on Recreation for Individuals with Disabilities’ (NJ CRID) Annual Conference. NJ CRID is dedicated to the statewide development and implementation of recreation and leisure services for individuals with disabilities, promoting and supporting recreation, and related services, through education and advocacy.
The New Jersey Distinguished Agency Recreation Services Award was given to TryCAN and the Summit Department of Community Programs. This award is presented annually to an agency that has developed outstanding recreation programs and services that demonstrate a commitment to the integration of people with and without disabilities. NJ CRID felt that TryCAN is an exemplary model for replication by other agencies and organizations.
In addition, TryCAN Coordinator Kevin Taylor received the Dr. Jacquelyn “Jacquie” Stanley Professional Administrator Award. This new NJ CRID award was presented to Kevin Taylor for consistently exhibiting leadership skills, serving as a role model, and for having a passion for the development and implementation of innovative, inclusive therapeutic recreation programs. Mr. Taylor was recognizes as well for being a mentor and catalyst for inspiring other Therapeutic Recreation Professionals in the pursuit of serving all individuals with disabilities.
Prior to TryCAN’s start in 2007; children with special needs had limited opportunities to participate in activities throughout the community, particularly in recreation and social programs. In response to this need, a group of Summit parents formed TryCAN with the goal to educate and train the local community to understand and actively include children with disabilities in recreational, social, and vocational activities.
Nine years later, TryCAN is now an awardwinning collaboration of more than 12 communities. All programs incorporate trained Peer Mentors in a “kids helping kids” approach. These typical teenage volunteers are paired up with special needs children to boost their confidence while they tackle new sports and demonstrate improved social and other life skills.
More than 900 students to date have completed the necessary Peer Mentor Training session and many have gone on to volunteer with TryCAN. Mentors are instrumental to the success of this program and serve as a bridge to inclusion for TryCAN children within the school system and within the community at large, while learning more about diversity in others.
In accepting the awards, Kevin Taylor, TryCAN Co-founder and Coordinator of the TryCAN/Summit DCP programs, remarked, “We feel honored to be recognized by NJ CRID and our peer for doing what we feel is a privilege for us; serving youth with unique needs.” “We humbly accept these awards on behalf of our kids, Peer Mentors, Coaches and the communities in our TryCAN Collaboration.”
The communities of the TryCAN Collaboration include: Summit, New Providence, Berkeley Heights, Millburn, Mountainside, Maplewood, South Orange, Springfield, Scotch Plains, Union, Cranford and Madison.
If you know of someone with a special needs child, consider enrolling in an upcoming program with the TryCAN Collaboration. Whether interested in sports, improving social and life skills, or dance and music, TryCAN has a program for almost everyone including sports, social skills, dance and music. Learn more at cityofsummit.org/TryCAN.
Summit Department of Community Programs strives to provide recreational and other related programs and services to meet the community’s needs, with a special consideration for seniors and youth. Go to www.summitcommunityprograms.com for more information on TryCAN.
(above) (Middle) Kevin Taylor receives award from NJ CRID Board Members (l-r) Michelle Collins and Pat Swartz at the annual NJ CRID Conference.
