Is Recreational Therapy Is Based Off Of Recreational Exercises

The world is becoming a rapidly changing place in terms of population growth, cultural values, and intertwined beliefs not only in the United States, but also on an international scale. According to Terry Robertson and Terry Long, authors of Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation, “significant changes in culture and interdependent belief systems are happening all around us. These cultural changes are occurring worldwide,” (2008, p. 270). With these rapidly occurring global changes, Recreational Therapy as a profession needs to be changing along with this new global society. As professionals, recreational therapists need to be able to be flexible and “meet many roles,” while on the job (Long, Robertson, 2008, p. 273). This is why the future of Recreational Therapy will not only grow in clinical settings, but on a community basis as well.

When we observe the demographics of today¡¦s society, we notice that there is quite a change in the average age, as well as life expectancy. In 1993, the average life expectancy rose to an amazing 75.5 years, with women living an average of 79 years and men living an average of 72 years (Hawkins, 1996, p. 4). With this gradual rise in age, the idea of therapeutic recreation for the aging population has taken on a significant role. Therapeutic recreation uses recreation and leisure activities to meet the needs of people in order to improve their quality of life. These needs include social, physical, cognitive, emotional, and spiritual. The experience of engaging in recreation is perceived to have therapeutic benefits. Engaging in

Recreation is something that not only gives us pleasure, but also helps to renew or recreate the mind and body.

To understand stereotypes about of a recreational therapist, one must learn what therapeutic recreation does and how it benefits patients. Recreational therapists are people that plan, direct, recreational – based treatment people for people with illnesses and disabilities. There are myths about recreational therapists that come from a society not understanding the term “recreational therapy”. Recreational therapists play an active role in helping people young or old learn to carry daily activities to aid them in their daily lives.

Dieser, R. (2013). Special issues: Global therapeutic recreation: Should the United States therapeutic recreation profession and the United States National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) be replicated in other nations. World Leisure Journal, 55(4), 307-319

Everyone has their own set of strengths and weaknesses. Those with disabilities are no different they just have a different set then everyone else. I chose this project topic because in 5th and 6th grade I was part of a program called Peer Pals. Once a week during recess I volunteered in a special needs classroom. This work opened my eyes to the world of special needs and Peer Pals is one of the things I miss about elementary school. I realized that I needed to continue helping the special needs community. No solutions presented themselves and then one day the solution stared me in the face from it’s home in the Reston Community Center Program Guide. “Volunteer at the Adapted Aquatics Class,” I had found a solution to my problem.

According to Disabled Spots USA, “National Handicapped Sports and Recreation Association renamed Disabled Sports USA in 1994. It has 91 chapters and 36 states in the United States. It gives sports and recreation programs not only the military people who get serious physical disabling because of their mission, but also people who have disability.” There are 303 million people, who have either mental disabilities or physical disabilities, living in the United States. “Disabled Sports USA provided sports and recreation programs to over 60,000 youth and adults who have some disabilities now according to Australian Paralympic Committee. ” Disabled people, who do some physical activity, are possible to spend happy life compare with disabled people, who did not do any activities. According to Disabled USA’ survey said, “The survey found that DSUSA Chapter Participants (CP) are twice as likely to be employed as the general population of adults with disabilities (68% vs. 33%). ”

As I make my way on this journey that is my life, I realize that I have always believed in the fundamental worth of all humanity and my responsibility as a fellow human being to respect this premise and also to support individuals, as much as I am able, to help unearth it should this basic truth become hidden to them. This is a guiding principle for me and I believe that many of the constructs of the field of Therapeutic Recreation (TR) are congruent with this philosophy. Making the decision to obtain a Therapeutic Recreation Specialization (TRS) degree offered a theoretical rationale in which to further explore the concept of leisure, define my professional philosophy and an opportunity to reflect critically on the field which I have

In ninth grade, my mother suggested that I volunteer with peers at my high school who are special needs. She thought it would be good for me to meet other people my age who have their unique struggles in school, much like myself. I protested originally, but little did I know I would love volunteering with my peers, regardless of their disability. During this time, I signed up to volunteer with a local organization called Buddy Ball. At Buddy Ball, I had the opportunity to teach children with disabilities ages five through twenty-one baseball. When I volunteered with my peers, I mainly saw high schoolers with severe autism, intellectual disabilities, and emotional disturbances, whereas with Buddy Ball most of the participants had severe autism, intellectual disability, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, spina bifida, epilepsy, or a multiple of disabilities. Both of these experiences allowed me to gain knowledge of a variety of special

Everyday so many people are conflicted with injuries that may or may not change their life and find themselves in need of someone to help them to get back on their feet. Recreational therapists are that someone who will be a shoulder for anyone to lean on that needs a little extra support, both figuratively and literally. Every day Recreational therapists are working hard to help people get their life back on track. The mental drive to help people is a big part of what makes this job so incredibly appealing. Recreational therapists must be supportive and patient and kind in order for the treatments to be effective in keeping the patients' happy and feeling taken care of. Being a go getter is such a big part of being

The past two days, I have been truly privileged to attend the 2017 Newfoundland & Labrador Therapeutic Recreation Association Conference. The conference consisted of sessions delivered by those in the field of Therapeutic Recreation and related areas in Newfoundland and Labrador. I was able to attend many sessions involving topics like inclusion, mental health and empowerment, and through which, attained many new skills and perspectives for my future in therapeutic recreation. Before this conference, I did not have a solid idea as to what therapeutic recreation truly looked like in Newfoundland. However, through involvement in sessions, and interaction with other delegates and therapeutic recreation professionals, I was able to broaden my

Despite many crucial developments surrounding acceptance of others there is still a long and arduous path ahead of our society. People with disabilities, whatever a given disability may be and mean for the individual, are frequently stigmatized. They are not always offered equal opportunities, nor are they always offered the proper support to fortify their capabilities so that the individual may be the best they can be. Because of this there are many people who never go or return to college, are unemployed, or are isolated from the community.

Therapeutic Recreation is the provision of Treatment Services and the provision of Recreation Services to people with illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes of treatment services which are often referred to as Recreational Therapy, are to restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability. The primary purposes of Recreational Services are to

In America as of fall 2015 according to National Center for Education Sciences there happens to be 20.2 million students attending American colleges and universities, That's an increase of about 4.9 million people. 43,186 students graduate form 4 year universities with a bachelor's degree in therapeutic recreation. the median pay in Illinois is $44,000, Employment is growing at an average rate of about 11% projecting about 6,700 openings nationwide in the next 10 years. This major is in demand because of the foreshadowing of the upcoming baby boomers. Recreational Therapy is a human service profession, which is heavily physical based, mainly dealing with using intervention to implement self-independence.

Over the years, perceptions towards disability have been significantly changing as result of the long pathway the disable community has taken fighting for Civil Rights, inclusion and against discrimination. Unfortunately, this last one has not been totally accomplished yet. Barriers to social integration still exist in the society. Perhaps the greatest barrier is not the disability itself; is the attitude of people.