Online Exclusive: Campus Rec hires adaptive recreation coordinator

Portland State’s Academic and Recreation Center is home to a gym complete with elliptical machines and bikes, several dance rooms, an aquatic center, a rock wall and several other recreational options that cater to the health of the wide range of students on campus.

Although Campus Rec has worked well with both students and the community over the years, it is not without issues. Currently, many of its programs and facilities are not accessible to disabled students.

“It takes resources to help people,” said Campus Rec Director Alex Accetta. “When we built the Rec Center, it wasn’t quite the model of accessibility, and we hope to change that.”

In order to make its programs more accessible, Campus Rec created an adaptive recreation coordinator. The ideal candidate needed to be familiar with the challenges disabled individuals face.

“This job is two-fold,” Accetta said. “This position will be responsible for a number of community service projects, as well as coordinating and renovating the department.”

After a nationwide search, Jennifer Armbruster was hired as the new coordinator.

“Jennifer has over 10 years of professional experience in the field of adaptive recreation and sport,” said Jenny Welnick, the associate director of programs and student development for Campus Rec. “She most recently was a Recreation Specialist at the Lakeshore Foundation in Birmingham, Ala.” 

Armbruster was also the project director for a 12-state national sports education camp for visually impaired or blind students.

“Jen [Armbruster]…is also an accomplished athlete, having competed in five Paralympic Games and winning three medals, including the gold in Beijing, in goalball,” Welnick said.

Armbruster’s new position is intended to provide leadership, vision and a strong strategic direction for the new Adaptive Recreation Program. This will include adapting existing activities and services to provide access for all Rec Center members, providing direct one-on-one service to individuals with disabilities and creating new activities and programs.

Campus Rec currently has a few pieces of adaptive equipment, including several pieces of free motion equipment in its weight lifting room and Cybex treadmills that provide visually impaired students with bright colors.

In addition, Armbruster will coordinate a minimum of four annual department-wide community service events. She will also perform outreach and provide training for Campus Rec’s staff.

Armbruster will begin on Oct. 7 and will work for a week, and will then return again on Oct. 20. 

For more information about Campus Rec’s Adaptive Recreation Program, visit www.pdx.edu/recreation/adaptive.