Celebrating
50 Years
1980 - 1990
On Monday, March 9, 2020, Northern Suburban Special Recreation
Association (NSSRA) will mark 50 years of commitment and service
to its participants, families, partners, staff and communities. Formed
in 1970, NSSRA was the first special recreation association (SRA) in
the country, and over the next year we are going to be sharing and
celebrating our history together.
(mid-80s)
Camp Wigwam
In last season's winter guide we explored the story of our formation
and first decade of services, and now we're on to the 1980s! Read
below for a few highlights from our second decade.
NSSED/NSSRA Summer Program (mid-80s)
1980: NSSRA celebrated 10 years by
winning the prestigious Gold Medal Award,
presented by the National Recreation and
Park Association (NRPA). It was the first time
an organization dedicated to recreation
programming and services for individuals
with disabilities was honored with the
national award.
1982: NSSRA's Board of Directors set
up a long-running scholarship, the "Joey
Brown Memorial Scholarship," in honor of
participant Joey Brown. Brown participated
in many NSSRA programs including the
"Homebound Program." Scholarship funds
were used to provide financial assistance to
participants in the Homebound Program.
1983: "Alternative Day Services," an
adult day program for participants with
Alzheimers and dementia was started by
then Executive Director Mike Muldoon.
Held at Green Bay Pavilion, a site owned by
14
Highland Park Hospital, the program ran for
3-4 years, and then became a cooperative
program with the hospital. The hospital later
took the program over entirely.
1984: Carolyn Nagle, then an NSSRA
Superintendent, was promoted to Executive
Director after Muldoon's departure. Nagle
steered NSSRA through a vibrant period
of growth in the 80s, and with other
colleagues in the field helped SRAs gain
recognition and legitimacy throughout the
state. Her tenure at NSSRA lasted nearly
a decade, through 1992, when she left to
become Executive Director at Fox Valley
Special Recreation Association, a position
she held for 27 years.
1986:
• NSSRA formalizes partnership with Special
Olympics Illinois and begins using the
name "Gators" for its Special Olympics
athletes and teams.
• Friday night Roundabout programs begin!
• NSSRA and Northbrook Park District's
long-running ice skating partnership
is formalized with name "SPICE" (Special
People's Ice Skating Experience).
• New legislation allowed .02% tax levy
rate limit for special rec associations to
be increased to .04% and all referendum
requirements were removed from Section
5-8 of the Park District Code.
1987: New SRAs were formed,
primarily in more rural communities.
Metro Chicagoland associations expanded
services, creating models for inclusion and
integration support services, developing
wheelchair sports facilities and increasing
Special Olympics and specialized service
opportunities.
1988: The NSSED/NSSRA Summer
Program, established in 1970, grew to serve
nearly 400 participants each summer at 13
sites, with an additional 100 participants
served in other NSSRA summer programs.
1990: The Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990 (ADA) was signed into law on
July 26, 1990, by President George H. W.
Bush.