Regional inclusive recreation coordinator outlines services to help Saint Anne make parks programs accessible

At the beginning of public comment on Sept. 2, Rachel Hickey, the Inclusive Recreation Counts coordinator, told the Saint Anne Board of Aldermen she will help the city adapt parks and recreation programming to serve residents with intellectual, developmental, sensory and physical disabilities.

Hickey said her position is supported regionally by the Recreation Council of Greater St. Louis and the Productive Living Board and that her role is to assist municipalities across North County with program design, outreach and resource connections so parks programming meets both the letter and the spirit of Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

She described practical technical assistance she has provided in nearby communities: adapting promotional and registration materials to be more welcoming and accessible, creating flexible registration processes, recruiting "buddies" for participants who need assistance, developing behavior accommodation and safety plans for participants with conditions such as autism or epilepsy, and ensuring events such as "dive‑in" movies include captions and quiet spaces.

Hickey also said she connects families to community resources and third‑party financial supports, citing St. Luke's Health, the HELP equipment loan program, the Special School District assistive technology loans, and recreation council vouchers that can cover most program costs or pay for a trusted companion to attend with a participant.

She asked city staff and families to contact her and offered to work directly with Saint Anne staff on priorities and program adaptations. City staff and at least one attendee praised Hickey’s outreach and experience in neighboring municipalities during the public comment period.