Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA) provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children, teens and adults with disabilities who live in its 13 northern suburban partner communities.

At NSSRA, play is the name of the game and we have the market cornered. Itching to grab your cleats out of the closet and get out on the mound? Got a pair of swim goggles to put to good use? Or maybe you and the colored pencils are each other’s better half. Whether you have a knack for sports, a flair for artistry, or just want to have some fun, NSSRA is your place to play!

NSSRA has over 500 recreation, sport, cultural, social, and leisure offerings available throughout the year, creating new experiences, opportunities for skill development, leisure time, and perhaps most importantly, friendship. NSSRA serves approximately 1,800 individuals with disabilities through our traditional and cooperative programs. Participants range in age from preschoolers, youth and teens through young adults, adults and seniors. Programs are offered at park district facilities, schools and other locations throughout the northern suburbs. NSSRA’s Inclusion support option provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to enjoy full participation in partner agency programs while receiving the individualized one-on-one support they need to succeed. Through its programs and services, NSSRA removes the barriers that might prevent an individual with disabilities from full participation in the fun and richness of experience that life has to offer.

The first SRA in the country, the success of NSSRA was instrumental in convincing members of the Illinois General Assembly to pass laws allowing park districts and cities to join together to provide leisure services for people with disabilities, supported by local property taxes.

Visit www.nssra.org for more information.