Pueblo has few recreation options for people with special needs, but that could change

A Pueblo mom who started a sensory swim program for people with special needs is working with city leaders to adopt other programs with a similar focus.

Elizabeth Harmes, who started the nonprofit Special Needs Community Connections, said she has been working with the city of Pueblo to find a facility capable of housing an adaptive recreation program, which could feature leagues for sports like soccer, basketball and T-ball, among others.

Harmes is also working to create a special needs inclusion community garden where people can learn about planting, maintenance and harvesting. Activities at that garden could begin as soon as after Mother’s Day, Harmes said.

The push to develop more programs in Pueblo for people with special needs comes after Harmes started a sensory swim program, which is currently on pause after the heated therapy pool used for the program at Pueblo Regional Center closed indefinitely.

Harmes developed that program after searching for recreational opportunities for her 4-year-old son Remington, who is autistic and nonverbal.

She had trouble finding a pool that would accommodate Remington’s needs, so she started her own program and found her own partnering organization, the Pueblo Regional Center.

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“It’s hard to find any recreational sporting activities (for people with special needs) in Pueblo,” said Siera Murrieta, mother to Colton, 4, and Nova, 2, both of whom have autism.

Murrieta, who lived in Pueblo for more than 5 years until moving to Denver last month with her children and husband, said while living in Pueblo she sometimes took her kids to a sensory gym in Denver called The Sensory Club. The gym has mats and swings and is tailored to meet children's sensory health needs.

“There’s a lot of travel that we had to do ... because (that type of club) is not available in Pueblo,” Murrieta said.

Harmes, during the adoption of the sensory swim program, approached Tamara Moore, recreation supervisor for the city of Pueblo’s parks and recreation department, to discuss what type of recreational programs the city might be able to offer specifically for people with special needs.

The city does not offer those types of programs, but “everybody’s welcome” to participate in any of its recreational programs, Moore said. She added that the city is open to exploring what it might adopt or implement to make its programming more inclusive.

“I don’t know whether that would be a league or drop-ins or having lessons,” Moore said, clarifying that an evaluation process would need to be completed before the city took action.

“That’s kind of what we’re trying to figure out exactly — what people are interested in and how we can sustain something that would be beneficial for the community.”

Pueblo isn’t without some recreational options for people with special needs. The Pueblo Rangers, a youth soccer club, has a program tailored for people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The Haven School of Dance offers dance instruction to all students “regardless of their skill or physical ability,” according to its website.

Autism Mana, a CrossFit class in Pueblo West, provides a "non-judgmental and all-inclusive" environment where people among the special needs community can work out and improve social skills, the group shared on Facebook.

But at least a few parents feel Pueblo could offer additional recreational programming for the special needs community.

More:People with disabilities get their chance to 'shine' at Pueblo event celebrating inclusion

“We would strongly agree that more could be done to have more access to opportunities for sporting events that are not only accessible but include adaptive equipment and accommodations for sensory issues,” said Danna Smith, executive director of Colorado Blue Sky, a social services organization that provides assistance and support to adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Harmes said she isn't sure when such an adaptive recreation program could start. She said her initial goal once a suitable facility is secured would be to block off times on Fridays for the facility to host the separate activities.

To learn more about Special Needs Community Connections, visit sncommunityconnections.org or contact Elizabeth Harmes by email at info@sncommunityconnections.org, or by phone at 719-283-6848.

Chieftain reporter Josue Perez can be reached at JHPerez@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @josuepwrites.

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo mom seeks more programs for people with special needs