Our Philosophy
The Recreational Sports Club of San Joaquin (RSC) believes that recreational sports activities can provide the framework for fostering personal interaction and mentoring between people with special needs and members of the San Joaquin County community.
Our Mission
RSC was established to provide sports and leisure opportunities for people with special needs in San Joaquin County
Our Goal
RSC strives for the inclusion of people with special needs into the larger community with an emphasis on those individuals transitioning from school into adulthood
The Organization
RSC was founnded by a group of dedicated community volunteers and parents of special needs children. This group recognized that the recreational and leisure opportunities are very limited in San Joaquin County for young adults with special needs who have transitioned out of the school system.
RSC is based on the principle that organized athletic and leisure events are a very effective means of providing vocational, social and life skills training for people with special needs. At the same time, these events also give the community at large an excellent opportunity to mentor individuals with special needs and create lasting friendships.
What We Offer
RSC works collaboratively with other community programs providing resources and enrichment to their existing programs. We provide the resources necessary to plan, organize and coordinate with care providers, families and other community based groups an ongoing calendar of events throughout the year. Our staff and volunteers have many years of experience in working with special needs individuals. We have experts in adaptive PE, transition planning, social skills development, athletic competition planning and event management (see bios).
Our events are staffed and run by volunteers and our special needs club members. This provides much needed job skills training in a venue that is fun and exciting. We strive to provide a broad range of activities in an effort to appeal to a diverse special needs community. A critical part of what we do is based on our motto: “A friend is a gift you give yourself.” Our events are planned with the San Joaquin County special needs community in mind. We bring together the special needs community and the able bodied volunteers to form bonds and friendships on an ongoing basis.
Meet the Board
Roger Slingerman, Executive Director
Roger has served as the Assistant Director of Recreational and Intramural Sports for Old Dominion University, 12 years with Special Olympics in Kentucky, Connecticut and most recent as the Vice President of Sports for Northern California. Roger, his wife Monica and their young two sons Rynear and Rory make their home in Stockton, California.
Floyd Bohnett, President
27 years as Lincoln Unified School District Adapted PE Specialist. Coached Special Olympic athletes for over 25 years. Founder of the Friends of Special Olympics Club in 1991.
Frank Quacinella, Board Member
First Vice President with Merrill Lynch; specializing in Estate and Financial Planning for families with Special Needs Extensive volunteer and professional experience working with non-profit groups Frank and his wife Nancy are the proud parents of a special needs son.
Jason Brown, Board Member
8 years as Modesto City Schools and Manteca Unified Adapted PE Specialist Founder of the Exceptional Games in Manteca for K-12 special needs students 10 years of coaching experience with Special Olympics Currently pursuing a Special Administration credential Jason and his wife Teri are proud to have a son with special needs.
Mary Nicholson, Board Member
Owner of Healings in Motion. Mary has spent her career in Radio and Marketing. Member of the Mayor’s Task Force for Persons with Disabilities.
Joe Curtis, Board Member
Owner of Allstate Insurance in Stockton and Galt. Long time supporter of Special Needs Programs in San Joaquin and serves on the Board for the First Tee Program of Stockton. Joe also serves on the board with First Tee of San Joaquin and Hospice of San Joaquin.
Pat Murray, Board Member
30 years as a high school physical education teacher in Lodi Unified School District Athletics coach both at Delta College and Tokay High School in Lodi 15 years of coaching experience with Special Olympic athletes Pat and his wife Judy are the proud parents of a special needs son.
Stacey Carniglia, Board Member
19 years as an Adapted PE specialist for Tracy Unified School District Volunteer at the Children’s Home of Stockton 32 years as a Special Olympics coach and volunteer.
Gina Berlin, Board Member
Special Ed Teacher for 18 to 22 year-old adults transitioning into the community 23 years of Parks and Recreation experience in the Tracy area Assisted in the development of SNAP (Special Needs Activity Program) for Tracy.
Community Involvement
All members of RSC are currently active in all aspects of individuals with special needs throughout the greater San Joaquin County. The professional experience, training, and occupations of the staff and volunteers allow for successful collaboration with and support of regional organizations that have an interest in providing and improving the potential for community recreation services to their clientele with special needs.
RSC collaborates with United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) of San Joaquin County through its advisory board member, Julie Schumacher, who also serves as the Executive Director of UCP. RSC will improve and support the community recreation opportunities for the clientele of UCP in San Joaquin County. RSC collaborates with the Family Resource Network (FRN) through its Advisory Board Member, Ann Cirremele, who also serves as the Executive Director of FRN. RSC will improve and support the community recreation opportunities for the clientele of FRN in San Joaquin County. RSC also is a member of the City of Stockton’s Mayor’s Task Force on People with Disabilities and strives to improve community awareness and involvement of people with special needs.
RSC collaborates with parents and families of high school students and adults with special needs within San Joaquin County through its staff and volunteers. Several RSC members are community activists for their own children with special needs, and many are part of parent-advocacy networks and committees.
RSC collaborates with the School Districts of San Joaquin County in improving transition recreation services for high school students through the many special education staff, physical education staff, and Adapted Physical Educators who provide school-based activities everyday to students with special needs. These School Districts include Lincoln Unified School District, Lodi Unified School District, Manteca Unified School District, and Tracy Unified School District. The knowledge of potential future transition recreation opportunities to the high school individuals with disabilities in San Joaquin County is exciting.
Resources and Community Links
The Arc of the United States
National organization of and for people with mental retardation and related developmental disabilities and their families.
Bazelon Center for Mental Health LawCenter for legal advocacy for the civil rights and human dignity of people with mental disability.
Center for Medicare AdvocacyIncludes great information on Medicare, e-mail link to request the Center’s printed materials, a "quick screen" to identify potential Medicare coverage, and a useful summary/comparison of supplemental policies and summary of gaps in coverage.
Child and Adolescent Bipolar FoundationDevoted to early-onset bipolar disorder information. Links to a site for subscribing to an internet discussion group for "significant others" of those with bipolar disorder
Department of Justice "Disabilities" PageU.S. Dept. of Justice site, including technical assistance manuals.
National Information Center for Children and Youth with DisabilitiesNational information and referral center that provides information on disabilities and disability-related issues for families, educators, and other professionals, with a focus on birth to age 22.
National Alliance for the Mentally IllNAMI also advocates for the families of those with mental illness. This comprehensive site discusses new developments and treatments, and links to state and local affiliate sites. You can subscribe to their mailing list for frequent updates on legal developments affecting the mentally ill.
City of Stockton: Task Force on People w/DisabilitiesPromoting community participation and awareness of persons with disabilities.
Special Needs Advocates for ParentsSupport group and information source for parents of children with special needs. Now offers help getting medical insurance companies to authorize or reimburse for therapies, medical equipment or other items not seen as "medically necessary.
American Heart AssociationThe American Heart Association (AHA) is a non-profit organization in the United States that fosters appropriate cardiac care in an effort to reduce disability and deaths caused by cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Family Resource NetworkServing families raising children with special needs in the California counties of Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolomne.
The Are Board VI Disabilities BoardThe Area VI Developmental Disabilities Board works to protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities and their families. They serve Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties.
Valley Mountain Regional CenterVMRC is a private, not-for-profit corporation contracted with the State of California for the provision of services to persons with developmental disabilities pursuant to the Lanterman Act. They serve Amador, Calaveras, San Joaquin, Stanislaus, and Tuolumne Counties.
The California Dept. of EducationThe California Department of Education is the agency through which the State of California provides public education.
The California Dept. of Development ServicesThe California Department of Development Services is the agency through which the State of California provides services and supports to children and adults with developmental disabilities. These disabilities include mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, and related conditions.
Support Families Legislative GroupCurious about what issues are being discussed right now in government? Want to know how a law specifically affects you? Want to keep track of an issue, but don't know where to go? Want a list of sites that keep track of every issue you can think of? This site is your guide.
Resources for Healthcare ProvidersThe Resources for Healthcare providers is a dedicated organization that focuses on current California-based programs.
Access and Fairness Advisory CommitteeState program promoting equitable access and treatment to the disabled population.
