Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association

What Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association does

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), founded in 1970, is a non-profit Special Recreation Association operating as the first of its kind in the United States. It functions as a programmatic extension of 13 partner agencies — 10 park districts (Deerfield, Glencoe, Glenview, Highland Park, Kenilworth, Lake Bluff, Northbrook, Northfield, Wilmette, Winnetka), 2 cities (Highwood, Lake Forest), and 1 village (Riverwoods) — in the northern suburbs of Chicago. NSSRA delivers year-round recreation services to children, teens, and adults with disabilities across these partner communities from its headquarters at the Mitchell L. Slotnick Center in Highland Park, IL. Core offerings include Youth Programs and Adult Programs (athletics, camps, cultural arts, social groups, special events, trips), Gator Athletics Special Olympics sports, the Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA) day program for adults 22+, Inclusion Services (free to partner-community residents), a Resource Lending Library for adaptive equipment, the LEAD school-day leisure education program, and volunteer Buddy and Creative Companion programs. Service design and delivery is anchored by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS).

The operating technology stack is composed of off-the-shelf SaaS: ePACT for secure participant health/medication/emergency data, Webtrac for online registration and lottery management, BambooHR for human resources, and UKG Ready/NetLink for payroll. There are no proprietary AI/ML systems or models. Programs are delivered through partner-agency facilities, the Slotnick Center, community venues, and trip destinations; registration channels include an online portal, in-person, mail, and email.

NSSRA's revenue model blends recurring annual program fees — ELA full-week at $33,384/year, MWF at $20,030/year, T/Th at $13,354/year — with a $2,200 annual administrative fee for non-residents, $4-per-student Leisure Education unit pricing, optional usage-based transportation fees, and philanthropic contributions routed through the NSSRA Foundation (which has raised over $300,000 since 2020). Distribution is community-led across the 13 partner agencies; marketing relies on seasonal program guides, email newsletters, social media (Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn), and community events such as the annual Shining Stars Awards & Recognition Banquet that draws 400+ participants, families, staff, board members, and supporters.

Name

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association

Legal name

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association

Website

https://nssra.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1970

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association (NSSRA), founded in 1970, is the first Special Recreation Association in the United States. It delivers year-round recreation, Special Olympics athletics, and inclusion services for people with disabilities across 13 partner communities in Chicago's northern suburbs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Therapeutic Recreation Services

NAICS

Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (62412), Services for the Elderly and Persons with Disabilities (624120), Sports and Recreation Instruction (61162), Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Nursing & Personal Care Facilities (8050)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Needs Adult Day Programs (Developmental/Physical Disabilities, Seniors) (HLADAIAI)

akta.pro secondary industries

Adventure Therapy & Therapeutic Wilderness Programs (THAAAOAG), Down Syndrome & Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities (IDD) Childcare (HSAAAIAC), Benefits Counseling & Financial Literacy for Transition-Age Youth (EDAKANAJ)

Keywords

• Therapeutic recreation services
• Disability recreation programs
• Special olympics athletics
• Adult day programs
• Inclusion support services

Headquarters

HQ city

Highland Park

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: NSSRA generates revenue through program registration fees for recreation activities including camps, athletics, cultural arts, social groups, trips, and the Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA) day program. Fee structures vary by program intensity and frequency.
2. ELA Day Program Fees: Annual program fees for the Enriched Lifestyles for Adults day program: Monday-Friday at $33,384/year, MWF at $20,030/year, and T/Th at $13,354/year.
3. Non-Resident Administrative Fee: Individuals residing outside NSSRA boundaries pay an annual administrative fee of approximately $2,200 for program participation.
4. Donations and Foundation Support: NSSRA Foundation raises funds through sponsorships, fundraising events, and donations to support programs and scholarships. The foundation has helped raise over $300,000 since 2020 for the ELA program.
5. Transportation Fees: Optional transportation services are offered for many programs with separate fees listed in the program guide.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

NSSRA provides year-round therapeutic recreation programs and services for children, teens, and adults with disabilities who live in its 13 partner communities across the northern suburbs of Chicago. Core offerings include Youth Programs (athletics, camps, cultural arts, social groups, special events, trips), Adult Programs, Gator Athletics (Special Olympics competitive sports), and the Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA) day program, with wrap-around services such as Inclusion Services, a Resource Lending Library, and Disability Awareness education.

Product overview

NSSRA provides and facilitates year-round recreation programs and services for children, teens, and adults with disabilities across 13 partner communities in the northern suburbs of Chicago. The organization operates as a Special Recreation Association (SRA), the first in the country, established in 1970. Core service offerings include Youth Programs (athletics, camps, cultural arts, social groups, special events, trips), Adult Programs (similar categories adapted for adults), Gator Athletics (competitive Special Olympics sports), and Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA) day programming. Support services include Inclusion Services for partner agency programs, Resource Lending Library for adaptive equipment, Leisure Education (LEAD) in schools, and Disability Awareness education. Volunteer programs include Buddy Programs and Creative Companion theater support. All services are designed to promote independence, social skills, community integration, and quality of life for people with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NSSRA: Primary operating name and brand for Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association
• Gator Athletics
• Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA)

Products and services

• Youth Programs
• Adult Programs
• Gator Athletics (Special Olympics)
• Enriched Lifestyles for Adults (ELA)
• Inclusion Services
• Resource Lending Library
• Leisure Education Awareness and Discovery (LEAD)
• Disability Awareness and Community Education

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 400 participants, families, staff and partners engage in annual recognition events
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature1 record

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Deerfield Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Deerfield Park District, one of 13 partner agencies. Park district provides facilities and refers residents needing disability recreation services to NSSRA programs. Contact: Laura McCarty, Interim Executive Director.
• Glencoe Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Glencoe Park District. Contact: Lisa Sheppard, Executive Director.
• Glenview Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Glenview Park District. Contact: Michael McCarty, Executive Director.
• Park District of Highland ParkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Park District of Highland Park. Contact: Brian Romes, Executive Director.
• Kenilworth Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Kenilworth Park District. Contact: Michael Hixenbaugh, Executive Director.
• Lake Bluff Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Lake Bluff Park District. Contact: John Bealer, Executive Director.
• Northbrook Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Northbrook Park District. Contact: Chris Leiner, Executive Director.
• Northfield Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Northfield Park District. Contact: Bill Byron, Executive Director.
• Wilmette Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Wilmette Park District. Contact: Chris Lindgren, Executive Director.
• Winnetka Park DistrictcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Winnetka Park District. Contact: Shannon Nazzal, Executive Director.
• City of HighwoodcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the City of Highwood. Contact: Jim Hospodarsky.
• City of Lake ForestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the City of Lake Forest Recreation Department. Contact: Mike Wick, Director of Parks & Recreation.
• Village of RiverwoodscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNSSRA is an extension of the Village of Riverwoods. Contact: Kris Ford, Trustee.
• Special Olympics IllinoiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSSRA Gators compete in Special Olympics Illinois as a Region B team. Programs include 10 sports: Basketball, Bocce, Bowling, Golf, Powerlifting, Softball, Swimming, Tennis, Track & Field, and Volleyball. Special Olympics provides competition structure and statewide athlete network.
• TrueNorth Educational CooperativeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCooperative partnership for Leisure Education Awareness and Discovery (LEAD) program bringing leisure awareness to students with disabilities during school hours through cooperative effort between special education staff and NSSRA program staff.
• YMCA Camp DuncanminorOthersYMCA Camp Duncan in Ingleside, IL serves as the venue for NSSRA's weeklong overnight summer camp, providing facilities for boating, hiking, climbing wall, swimming, and arts and crafts activities.
• Camp WigwamminorOthersCamp Wigwam on Bear Lake in Waterford, Maine serves as the venue for NSSRA's overnight summer camp offering swimming, tubing, fishing, and boating activities.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SEASPAR (South East Association for Special Parks And Recreation): SEASPAR is a Special Recreation Association serving residents with disabilities across 13 communities in southeast DuPage, Will, and Kendall counties in Illinois. Directly comparable to NSSRA as another cooperative intergovernmental SRA model operating year-round recreation programs, inclusion services, and adult day programs under the same Illinois park district framework.
• WDSRA (Western DuPage Special Recreation Association): WDSRA serves individuals with disabilities in western DuPage County, Illinois through partner park districts. Operates the same SRA cooperative model as NSSRA, offering similar recreation programming, Special Olympics training, inclusion support, and adult day services for special needs populations.
• NSRAA (Northwest Special Recreation Association): NSRAA is a Special Recreation Association providing year-round recreation services for individuals with disabilities in the northwest suburban Chicago area. Closely mirrors NSSRA's service model (youth/adult programs, Special Olympics, inclusion services) through a multi-park-district cooperative structure in Illinois.
• FVASRD (Fox Valley Special Recreation Association): FVASRD provides adaptive recreation and inclusion services for individuals with disabilities across Fox Valley communities in Illinois. Another direct SRA peer to NSSRA, sharing the cooperative intergovernmental funding model, therapeutic recreation staffing (CTRS), and adult/specialty programming for special needs populations.
• SASR (Southwest Association of Special Recreation): SASR is a Special Recreation Association serving southwest suburban Chicago communities through partner park districts. Operates the same year-round disability recreation, Special Olympics training, and inclusion services model as NSSRA, making it a like-for-like peer in Illinois's SRA ecosystem.
• Special Olympics Illinois: Special Olympics Illinois is the statewide affiliate through which NSSRA's Gator Athletics compete, providing competition structure across 10 sports and a network of 20,000+ Illinois athletes. While broader in scope, it is a direct peer in delivering disability athletics programming and a key strategic partner for NSSRA's competitive sports offering.

Broad incumbents

• Easterseals: Easterseals is a large national nonprofit providing disability services including recreation, autism services, and adult day programs. As a broad incumbent, it overlaps with NSSRA's adult day and inclusion offerings at greater scale across multiple states but does not focus on the SRA cooperative intergovernmental model.
• North Shore YMCA: The North Shore YMCA operates recreation and inclusion programming in NSSRA's service geography, including adaptive swim, youth development, and family programming. While broader in offering, it competes for the same participant families and operates inclusion/aquatics services that overlap with NSSRA's mission.

Others

• TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 802: TrueNorth Educational Cooperative 802 partners with NSSRA on the LEAD (Leisure Education Awareness and Discovery) school-day program. It is a special education cooperative serving school districts in northern suburban Chicago and acts as an enabling/strategic partner rather than a direct competitor, bridging NSSRA into K-12 special education classrooms.
• National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA): NRPA is the national professional association for park and recreation agencies. It does not deliver services directly but sets industry standards, certifications (including CPRP), and advocacy frameworks that NSSRA's partner park districts and recreation professionals operate within. It is an ecosystem/thematic peer rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCVwGNeAbCYxVGkVFY6q68RA?utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=nssrawebyt&utm_medium=website
• Facebookfacebook.com/NSSRA
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nssra
• Instagraminstagram.com/playwithnssra/?utm_source=instagram&utm_campaign=nssrawebinsta&utm_medium=website

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Northern Suburban Special Recreation Association