Live / Beyond the Minimums: Accessibility Webinar Series / Part 4: Recreation for All: Best Practices in Therapeutic & Multigenerational Play

Botten who currently works as an accessibility consultant joined the U.S. Access Board in 2000 and served for 22 years (retired in 2022) in several capacities while on staff including as a senior accessibility specialist, technical assistance coordinator, and the training coordinator. He was part of a team that developed the combined guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Architectural Barriers Act and was the lead staff for the development of guidelines and technical assistance materials for the rulemaking on outdoor developed areas. Bill specializes in accessibility issues related to recreation facilities and outdoor developed areas.

Tracey Crawford is the former Executive Director at Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA) and the President of Special Leisure Services Foundation (SLSF). Crawford’s 34 years of professional experience in parks and recreation includes Inclusion Coordinator/Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Assistant Director at Fox Valley Special Recreation Association (FVSRA) in Aurora, IL; the Manager of Inclusion Services, Superintendent of Recreation, Superintendent of Development and Interim Director at Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA. Bachelor of Science degree in TR University of Iowa. A CTRS and a CPRP. Past Chairman for IPRA Board of Directors, a Past President of the branch of NRPA that was dedicated to therapeutic recreation. Serves on the IPR Foundation (IPRF) Board, the IPRA Diversity Leadership Task Force, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as Past President and on the Illinois Recreation Therapeutic Association (ILRTA) Board as the ITRS Liaison. Was a on the Rolling Meadows Rotary Club and awarded the Paul Harris Fellow Award. Tracey serves on the Rolling Meadows Chamber of Commerce Board. Crawford was awarded the Robert Artz Lifetime Achievement Award for Illinois Park and Recreation professionals. 

Brent D. Wolfe, PhD, CTRS, FDRT is an Associate Professor in the Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation at the University of North Carolina, Greensboro and has more than 20 years of experience in the RT profession as a practitioner and educator. Dr. Wolfe graduated with his undergraduate degree from Houghton College in New York and earned his Masters and PhD from the University of Georgia. As a practitioner, Dr. Wolfe’s background is adolescent psych and he worked in a locked, residential treatment center for two years. He served as President of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) from 2009-2010 and more recently served on the Board of Directors for the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) as the Treasurer (2016-2019). In addition to his work at UNCG, Dr. Wolfe currently serves as the Executive Director for ATRA. His work has been published in the Therapeutic Recreation Journal, Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement, and the Journal of Experiential Education. Dr. Wolfe has also written book chapters for numerous Recreational Therapy and Leadership textbooks. His research interests have included team building, volunteering, and adults with developmental disabilities. Dr. Wolfe is currently engaging in research focused on the lived experiences of adults with developmental disabilities and giving them a voice to share their perspectives of the world around them. He has presented on a variety of topics related to leadership, disability, and recreational therapy at local, state, regional, national, and international conferences. Dr. Wolfe believes that the two most important keys to being a successful leader, student, therapist, and person are listening and empathy. He spends his free time with his wife Becky, their two daughters, Austyn Grace and Taylor Faith, their dog Bella, cats Leyla and Blue, and any other critters his daughters catch.

Ann Przybysz is a Supports Coordinator at Network180, Kent County’s Community Mental Health Authority, where she facilitates the person-centered planning process to develop an Individual Plan of Service (IPOS) for clients with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Ann is an advocate and champion for her clients to be empowered to have self-determined lives and reach their personal goals with the appropriate supports that they need.

Prior to her role with Network180, Ann served as a Recreation Program Coordinator with the City of Kentwood Parks and Recreation Department in Southwest Michigan, where she planned and implemented Adaptive Recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Ann and her department were awarded the “Excellence in Therapeutic Recreation Programming Award” from the Michigan Recreation and Parks Association in 2023 for developing a highly successful “Limb Loss Awareness 5k” event.

Ann is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) and a Qualified Intellectual Disabilities Professional (QIDP) who helps individuals with disabilities find support and success in their homes, communities, and ancillary services. 

Jennie worked in the field of childhood development and exceptional learning for nearly fifteen years. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Early Childhood Education from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Jennie joined PlayCore in 2008 and serves as the Community Outreach Director within PlayCore’s Center for Outreach, Research and Education. Deeply passionate about inclusive, intergenerational play, Jennie utilizes her expertise and personal experiences as an educator to positively impact the development of innovative play and recreation destinations that focus on community health and wellness.