Therapeutic Recreation Exercise Analysis

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

Describe the effects that having a physical disability can have on a person’s day to day life

Disability has been a difficult topic of society for years. Many people find discomfort in the presence of the disabled and many feel pity for those who are disabled. Back in the 1800s, the disabled were perceived as unable to contribute to society, often forced to undergo sterilization, and forced into institutions and asylums (“A Brief History”). In fact, this treatment of the disabled and mentally ill has been persistent until somewhat recently, when the Civil Rights movement took place, and those with disabilities decided to take a stand for their rights. Although people with disabilities continue to face difficulties in finding jobs, legitimizing their opinion, having the right to vote, and choosing whether or not they receive or refuse

In her essay, “On Being a Cripple”, Nancy Mairs, an essayist with multiple sclerosis, writes about her experiences with her disease. She wants her audience of able-bodied people to stop pitying towards disabled people and instead show acceptance. Mairs achieves her purpose by presenting herself as similar and relatable to her able-bodied audience with many anecdotes and a blunt tone. This discussion of her condition removes the discomfort about disabilities felt by her audience and allows for them to accept disabled people. While Maris’s primary audience is an able-bodied person who supports disabled people, other readers, like someone with her condition, may be drawn towards this essay as well. Unlike an able-bodied person, a disabled person

Disability is a topic viewed differently by each set of eyes. To truly understand a disability, one must live through it or frequently view the lives of another, struggling with an infirmity. Living with a disability may be hard, but it does not mean it is not worth living. Nancy Mairs, author of the essay “On Being a Cripple,” has written about her views and experiences, explaining to the public the truth behind being a “cripple,” and proving that disease does not control you. Explained in the paper, able-bodied people make assumptions to how low quality life must be, living with a disease and that these individuals are constantly unhappy however

If you saw a person in the mall in a wheelchair, would you judge them? Or would you look at them like they are a normal human-being? People who have a disability whether they are physically disabled, mentally disabled, or learning disabled, are still themselves. Nancy Mairs was forty-three year old woman with multiple sclerosis. She wrote an essay, “Disability”, that explained her views of her physical disability.

The exact impact of a disability on the life of an individual varies according to a number

In the article The effect of therapeutic recreation on interpersonal and self-management skills of abused adolescent males (2004), Susan Mathieu provides the reader with a descriptive analysis of the effects therapeutic recreation has on interpersonal and self-management skills of abused adolescent males. The primary purpose of this research was to identify behavioural changes among abused adolescent males after participating in a therapeutic recreation program (Mathieu, 2004). The sample population consisted of 18 adolescent males located in a treatment facility from an urban area of Southern California (Mathieu, 2004). Two conducted experimental groups participated in a therapeutic recreation program and a control group was placed in a traditional

Disability simulation is the process where an able-bodied individual assumes a position of the person with disability to try and understand what really happens in the life of a person with disability. It is offers experience that allows one to learn more about people living with disability and hopefully treat them better; have a change of perception. It gives ‘first hand’ experience on how life of person with disability really is. A day alternating as a person on the wheelchair and as assistant had so much to offer as will be illustrated below.

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, a sanctuary in which all people with and illness or disability can go to and or have a therapist come to and get restored, remediated, and rehabilitated and hopefully see results in health.

Therapeutic recreation has been a long-time and frequently used form of healing for many people, including individuals who are elderly, disabled, or have a form of mental illness (Carter & Van Andel, 2011). It was only a short time ago, in the twentieth century, that therapeutic recreation was recognized as a crucial component in health care (Carter & Van Andel, 2011). Therapeutic recreation has a variety of benefits that vary for many age groups. There is outdoor therapeutic recreation for young children who have down syndrome, an example would be swimming, as this is quite beneficial not only to the young age group, but to the older age group as well. These benefits include physical skills, cognitive skills, behavioural issues, and many more. This essay will discuss these specific particularly within the elderly age group.

One of the barriers expressed by 61.6 % of businesses surveyed by the US DOL is the “actual cost of accommodating disability” (“Survey of employer perspectives”, 2008, p. 12). In order to better understand how people with disabilities are viewed by their peers I will create a survey which will ask responders to voice their feedback on what they believe prevents people with disabilities from engaging in the workforce. The survey will also cover stereotypes which the responder can agree or disagree with.

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.

Approximately 15% of the world’s population is, in a way, disabled. Whether it is a physical disability or a serious chronic disease, we have about one billion people in the world that live with a disability every day of their lives. It often occurs that these people are seen as an outcast of society; people that cannot live normal lives. It is important to realize that this is not true at all. People with disabilities are completely able to be part of the world. It is just the world’s duty to accept them.