The YMCA of the USA’s work with what is referred to as "special populations" officially began on a national level when representatives of international organizations serving youth with disabilities came together as a part of a larger meeting in Geneva Switzerland during the International Year of the Disabled Person (IYDP) in 1981.The same year, the YMCA of the USA formed a program division subcommittee on work with special populations. The discussion of the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) of 1990 and the effect that it could have on individual YMCAs and their programs is also mentioned within the collection as is the APD’s EAF (Emergency Assistance Fund) which was set up to assist all employed, retired and potential members of APD, surviving spouses of employed or retired directors in times of financial difficulties due to disabilities, serious family illness and other misfortunes.
#YMCA GOODTIMES PROFESSIONAL#
Other agencies and organizations mentioned throughout the collection are the APD (Association of Professional Directors of the Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States), Boy Scouts of America, March of Dimes, UNICEF, NICHCY (National Information Center for Children and Youth with Handicaps), WAR (Washington Association of Rehabilitation Industries), NOD (National Organization on Disability), PVA (Paralyzed Veterans of America), ARAPC (Association for Research, Administration and Professional Council), SPRCS (Special Populations Resource Centers), and CWOIH (Council of World Organizations Interested in the Handicapped.) The Special Olympics is also mentioned in regards to the Cowlitz County YMCA of Southwest Washington running the first YMCA sponsored Special Olympics.
The Special Olympics are mentioned a great deal within the collection as well, as they supported much of the original Camp Goodtimes program along with the AAHPER (American Alliance for Health, Physical Education and Recreation,) the Joseph P. Many other projects are less focused on, but mentioned, including but not limited to, Project ALLIANCE (the Alliance of Specialized Outdoor Recreation Programs), IEP (Individualized Education Plan), RAP (Reaching Among People), PAR (Prescriptive Administered Recreation), HAP (Health Activities Project), LEAP (Leadership Education for All Professionals) and the Plan for the Decade of Disability (1983-1992). Project FIT (Physical Activities/Fitness for Teens with Disabilities) is also mentioned a great deal. IMAY (International Mainstreaming Activities for Youth) is also discussed within the collection with the IYDP/ NYDP (International/ National Year for Disabled Persons) as international work began to focus on people with disabilities. Operation Waterbug, Camp Goodtimes, the Goodtimes Enrichment Program and PAM (Project Aquatics Mainstreaming) are major projects mentioned, as is MAY (Mainstreaming Activities for Youth) as they tended to coordinate with each other. The collection also touches on the YMCA of the USA’s general history of special service programs as well as the Longview YMCA of Southwest Washington’s work with Washington State Developmental Disabilities Planning Council to develop programs geared towards special populations. The collection documents Demmery’s work in the Longview YMCA of Southwest Washington as the director of Operation Waterbug through her advancement to director of special services for the YMCA of Southwest Washington, especially Project Aquatics and the possibility and importance of mainstreaming for people with disabilities.
Correspondence, minutes, reports, financial documents, pamphlets, instructional exercise charts, program manuals, timelines, journal and newspaper articles, and other records of the YMCA of the USA’s Office of Special Populations and predecessor programs, in large part from the files of Grace Demmery Reynolds.
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