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Committee creates Therapeutic Recreation Working Group; Sensory Club comments on adult recreational needs
Summary
The Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities formed a Therapeutic Recreation Working Group on Sept. 12 and appointed commissioners to serve; a public speaker, Azza Hassan of the Sensory Club, asked to be included as a community partner for adult sensory and recreational programs.
The Mayor's Committee for People with Disabilities voted on Sept. 12 to form a Therapeutic Recreation Working Group and appointed commissioners to serve. The committee also heard from a community member who asked to participate as a partner in the working group.
Commissioners nominated volunteers to the working group; the committee moved and seconded a grouped appointment and voted in favor. The motion to appoint the named volunteers to the Therapeutic Recreation Working Group passed by voice vote; the transcript records a second from Vice Chair Meyer and a motion made by Commissioner Faso (first reference: Commissioner Faso; full name not specified in transcript). The committee then confirmed that staff would coordinate an initial meeting and that the working group would begin outreach to the Parks Department and other city contacts.
During the public-comment portion tied to the working-group item, Azza Hassan of the Sensory Club described a new North Austin sensory club opening in January 2025 and asked to be part of the working group. Hassan said the Sensory Club serves all ages, focuses on sensory input and tactile supports and has been used by families whose members receive therapeutic recreation through Medicaid waivers. Hassan described the Sensory Club as currently for-profit but said the group is pursuing nonprofit status to expand community partnerships and to contract with county providers.
Commissioners thanked Hassan and said they would include community organizations in the working-group outreach and interviews. Staff said the working group would begin by reaching out to Parks Department staff and that commissioners would receive emails to settle the group's first meeting date. The committee also discussed coordination with the budget working group and clarified that the festival planning and working-group schedules might require rescheduling the committee's regular October meeting so members could attend an Oct. 10 Ability Festival event.
The appointment vote was recorded by voice and passed; the committee did not identify specific external partner appointments at that time beyond expressing interest in consulting organizations such as the Sensory Club.
