About Us

Included. Always.

Picture of therapist with child standing

Our Story

Rec2Connect began with a simple but powerful goal: to create inclusive recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities and their families. Founded by Jen Knott, a recreation therapist and passionate advocate, she saw a gap in accessible, meaningful community based recreation programs that promote physical, social, and emotional wellness. Since 2009, we’ve been connecting people of all abilities to experiences that foster growth, confidence, and connection.


Rec2Connect began with 2 participants, a bag of adapted equipment in Jen’s car, and access to any pool that would let her in to provide vital aquatic therapy programming. Word spread quickly about Rec2Connect, and before she knew it, Jen was working 7 days a week at 2 locations, the Beachwood High School and Gemini Center in Fairview Park.


As Rec2Connect grew, so did our team and program offerings. We began to offer gross motor and social groups, Razorsharks swim team, fitness groups, hiking, bike riding, rock climbing, kayaking, cheerleading, and more programs added daily! Ultimately, we started partnering with multiple recreation centers, senior centers, adult day programs, and Veteran Affairs organizations across Northeast Ohio. We also partner with community organizations to make their programs and spaces more accessible, increasing recreational opportunities and choices for people with disabilities. Our growth over the past 16 years demonstrates that recreation therapy is not only needed—it is deeply valued by the communities we serve.

We have over 20 team members and continue to grow to serve the need of our community. Rec2Connect is a home for our team to develop creative and innovative programming, that meet the interests and needs of our participants.

Why We Do What We DO

We believe that everyone deserves the chance to play, connect, and thrive. Recreation is more than fun—it builds skills, independence, and lifelong relationships. At Rec2Connect, we design programs that celebrate every person’s unique strengths and support them in reaching their full potential.


Rec2Connect is committed to ensuring that recreation is accessible to all participants and their families. We work to identify needs and barriers, but most importantly, we focus on finding solutions so individuals with disabilities can participate in the activities they choose. Our mindset is never to say “no,” but rather, “let’s figure it out."


While many people take for granted the ease of access to sports and recreation in schools, neighborhoods and community centers, that access is not the reality for individuals with disabilities. Rec2Connect exists to change that—so that recreation in Northeast Ohio becomes equitable and accessible for everyone.

Barriers We Address

Jen’s previous experience as a recreation therapist at Cleveland Clinic Children’s Hospital for Rehabilitation and as a behavior therapist at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Autism provided insight into the strong need for community-based recreation therapy.


In school and inpatient rehabilitation settings, recreation therapy is often provided daily. However, when individuals with disabilities return home, community recreation and therapy opportunities are limited—if they exist at all.  Many people with disabilities face significant challenges accessing lifelong therapeutic programs that grow with them and their evolving needs. Rec2Connect was founded to meet this need and break down barriers to inclusive recreation in the community.


People with disabilities often face:

  • Limited access to adaptive recreation programs

  • Social isolation and lack of inclusive peer interactions

  • Physical, sensory, and communication challenges and qualified staffing to address each individuals needs   

  • Increased cost to access programming 

We break down these barriers by offering customized, therapeutic recreation experiences that are inclusive, supportive, and community-based—empowering individuals and families to connect, grow, and belong.  We live and breathe our motto in everything we do so that everyone is Included. Always.

$30,000

Financial Assistance for recreation programs provided Annually

35

Number of recurring recreation therapy programs

1,446

Number of People Served Through Donor Support