Inclusion Services | Town of Cary

Four campers on a swing all smiling and enjoying the summer day.

A group of children sit together on a playground swing, smiling and enjoying a sunny day outdoors, surrounded by trees. Other kids play in the background, creating a lively and cheerful camp atmosphere.

An Inclusive Approach

Cary is committed to an inclusive approach to recreation and encourages individuals with and without disabilities to participate together. In order for individuals with disabilities to participate as fully as possible, reasonable accommodations will be provided under the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you or a family member requires a reasonable modification to participate in a program, please check the appropriate box on the registration form. At least a two-week notice is needed.

Please review our Inclusion Services Policy for more details.

Reasonable Accommodations

Requesting and Receiving an Accommodation

During program registration in RecTrac, select “Yes” when asked:

"We’re committed to making our programs accessible to everyone. Do you require any modifications or accommodations due to a disability or other accessibility need? If you select Yes, you’ll receive a link to our Accommodation Form via email. To best support you, please complete the Accommodation Form at least two weeks before the program begins; otherwise, we may not be able to ensure accommodations are available."

To complete the process, follow these steps:

Complete and submit the Accommodation Request Form. The Inclusion Services Team will review your request to determine the best way to support participation.
If additional information is needed, a staff member may contact you by phone or email.
Once approved, an Accommodation Plan is created and shared only with the staff directly supporting the participant.

Determining if Inclusive Recreation is the Right Fit

Observe the program first-hand and ask yourself…

If school-aged, do your child’s current classroom activities or goals prepare them for an inclusive recreation experience?
Has the individual shown an interest in the program activity or subject matter?
Are they comfortable and able to function appropriately, with or without assistance, in inclusive environments (malls, restaurants, parks, etc.)
Will an accommodation give the participant adequate support to fully participate in a general recreation program without disruption to others?

Frequently Asked Questions

Are accommodations available to non-residents?

Is there an additional cost to receive accommodations?

What services are not considered part of inclusion support?

Direct personal care, such as support from a one-to-one aide.
Bathroom or personal care assistance, including entering stalls or helping with toileting or hygiene.
Feeding support, such as hand-over-hand assistance or feeding by mouth or tube.
Mobility or transfer assistance, such as physically lifting or moving participants between locations or equipment.
Provision of personal or specialized equipment, such as wheelchairs, communication devices, or other individually prescribed items. Families are welcome to provide these.
Modifications to program rules or safety regulations established for participant safety.

Can our family provide our own aid?

You are a valued participant, and your involvement in our programs, our parks system, and our facilities is important to us. Contact us with questions or ideas.

Sarah Gamsey BS. Ed, MA ASD, NIP Inclusive Recreation Specialist, Specialized Recreation & Inclusion Operations Supervisor

(919) 462-2027 | Email

Laura Morton LRT, CTRS, NIP Inclusive Recreation Specialist, Specialized Recreation & Inclusion Program Specialist
(919) 462-3961 | Email