Disability Awareness Month: F.L.O.W. Recreation Therapy, LLC

Turnstone is proud to collaborate with many local organizations that offer enhanced programming and resources to individuals with developmental disabilities. In celebration of Developmental Disability Month this March, we’re spotlighting a few of the organizations that integrate closely with Turnstone’s programs and services, because when local providers come together to offer more resources and expertise, the community always wins.

Turnstone’s partnership with F.L.O.W. Recreation combines the missions and services of two like-minded organizations to break down barriers for people with disabilities in the community by providing recreational therapy services inside Turnstone’s facility. This partnership is an effort to offer more opportunities for people to positively engage with the community, benefitting clients and staff alike.

When F.L.O.W Recreation’s founder and owner, Sean Sumner, first discovered Turnstone, he immediately had a unique vision for a recreational therapy service.

“When I first moved here, there used to be a walking club at Turnstone that I was familiar with. When I walked in, I immediately thought ‘it would be cool to have recreational therapy here’ so I had that seed in my head several years ago… Over the years, I worked on creating relationships with people here [at Turnstone] to eventually become partners,” said Sean.

Sean’s approach to recreational therapy in his business was intentionally focused on serving people with disabilities in the community. This partnership allows Turnstone to expand its services provided to the community at our facility. It also offers a safe space for F.L.O.W.’s clients to try new things, decompress, and pursue their goals.

“This building is huge and has a ton of resources in one setting and a lot of times the individuals I work with are very apprehensive about trying new things or going outside of their normal routine. When we come here, it makes it a lot easier for transitions and individual comfort levels because everything is in one place. I feel like my clients are happier here which makes a huge difference for the entire session,” said F.L.O.W. Recreational Therapist, Makenzie.

Clients feel comfortable trying new activities at Turnstone and their parents also have a sense of security knowing that they are in a setting that a lot of them have grown up around. One of F.L.O.W.’s clients has also been a client of Turnstone since she was three months old. Now, at age 12, she still has access to the resources Turnstone provides with the added services that F.L.O.W. provides.

“A lot of our clients have barriers in the community. At Turnstone, there are resources and opportunities for our clients to gain more independence and explore different opportunities that help them work on their goals, their freedom of choice, and improve their overall quality of life,” said F.L.O.W. Recreational Therapist, Dominique. “Turnstone really allows for an inclusive and comforting environment for our clients to decompress and enjoy activities.”

F.L.O.W.’s team has become an important contributor to Turnstone’s mission of empowering children and adults with disabilities. They also significantly contribute to the inclusivity movement in our community. Well done, F.L.O.W.!