City of Laredo Parks and Recreation staff announced a set of adaptive recreation offerings for residents with disabilities, including quiet swim times, a four-week summer camp capped at 15 children per week, and plans to open an adaptive gym by mid‑June.

Parks and Recreation staff said the adaptive swim slots will limit loud music and flashing lights and will allow caretakers to hold children in the water. “These are adaptive swim times,” the staff member said during the Blue Ribbon Committee for People with Disabilities meeting on May 21.

The department is also running an Angelfish class taught by lifeguards with special certification, and is planning adult adaptive swim sessions at the LC Pool because “it has a ramp,” the staff member said. Parents and committee members were told a weekly registration day is scheduled; one registration period mentioned in the meeting was 3 to 7 p.m. at Haines recreation center.

On camps, Parks and Recreation described four separate week‑long sessions for ages roughly 10–13. Staff said the program is for children who are more independent—able to toilet and eat independently and follow two‑step directions—and that each week will be staffed by a certified teacher plus two assistants, capping enrollment at 15 to yield a roughly 3‑to‑5 adult‑to‑child ratio. Activities include arts, sports, STEM and musical theater, and campers receive a pool pass at the end of the week.

Staff emphasized accommodations such as abbreviated days and an intake form that asks about functional needs rather than school special‑education classifications. “I don’t ask special ed status because you have some kids who are not identified as special ed,” the staff member said, describing the department’s intake approach.

Parks and Recreation also said it received an award for physical accessibility for Faskin and Haines facilities, and that one final piece of equipment is pending delivery for the planned adaptive gym. Staff projected the adaptive gym would be ready by mid‑June if that equipment arrives.

Committee members and attendees encouraged inclusive placement of adaptive programming alongside general recreation offerings rather than isolating them. One member said the department should avoid imposing extra burdens on families—such as medical notes—when reasonable accommodations can be handled administratively.

Discussion only: the meeting record shows these items as program announcements and planning discussions; the transcript contains no motions or votes adopting new policies or allocating budget during this session.