Biography

Andrea Griffin is Superintendent of Recreation at Northwest Special Recreation Association (NWSRA). She has been with NWSRA for 16 years. She oversees the Collaborative Department, focusing on collaborative programs and the Community Adult Day Program, PURSUIT, as well as the Inclusion Department, working with NWSRA Member Park Districts, to provide inclusive recreation opportunities. She is the recipient for the 2020 American Therapeutic Recreation Association Certificate of Recognition for her support of recreational therapy. Andrea is involved in professional organizations through Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) Recreation Section and the Therapeutic Recreation Section. Within each of these sections at some point in her career she has taken on a leadership role. Andrea is a member of American Therapeutic Recreation Associations (ATRA) Leadership Committee. She is a member of the Kent State University Inclusion Advisory Board and is the National Delegate for the Chicago Chapter of Woman in Leisure Services (WILS). She is also a member of the Mt. Prospect Woman’s Club and the City of Rolling Meadows Events Foundation. Andrea has presented at the national, regional, state and local level on Recreational Therapy, the ADA, inclusion, behavior management, disability awareness, sensory rooms and sensory therapy and collaborative programs. She wrote a chapter on Administrative Inclusion in the textbook Inclusive Leisure: A Strengths Based Approach. Andrea earned a bachelor’s degree with an emphasis in Therapeutic Recreation from Aurora University. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), a Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP), a Certified Play Expert (CPE) and a Certified Inclusivity Assessor (CIA).