July has been designated Recreation and Parks Month by the National Recreation and Park Association in part to recognize the importance of leisure activities in enhancing the quality of life for both the individual and the community. While many of us are familiar with the programs and services offered by our local departments of Recreation and Parks, we may not be so aware of one specific area of services offered, that of therapeutic recreation.
Therapeutic recreation is the use of recreational activities to help people with disabilities and special needs to enrich their lives, enhance their health, and increase their independence. Unlike traditional recreational services, therapeutic recreation utilizes various activities as a form of treatment to “improve the physical, cognitive, emotional, and social functioning and to increase independence in life activities” of disabled persons (U.S. Department of Labor). Permanent disabilities resulting from congenital conditions, traumatic injury, or disease affect 44 million Americans. Such conditions include spinal cord injury, mental retardation, autism, diabetes, cancer, cardiac disorder, stroke, visual and hearing impairments, and asthma, to name a few. Therapeutic recreation programs can also be useful in reducing depression, stress, and anxiety disorders.
The law has provided for public education for people with disabilities for some time now. It was amended again in 1997 by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments (IDEA), which mandates free, appropriate public education for all children between the ages of birth to 21. Additionally, the provision of certain related services is also mandated, including recreation. The regulations of the IDEA recognize Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) as the professionals who are responsible for providing such service. Their role is to “organize, conduct, and administer therapeutic recreation and leisure programs designed to assist in the habilitation or rehabilitation of persons with emotional, physical, or cognitive disabilities.
Therapeutic recreation programs help young people with disabilities to develop academic, functional, and social skills, as well as activities of daily living, through play, recreation, and leisure activities. By participating in such programs, benefits are derived in the following areas:
--Physical: improvements in balance, agility, perceptual motor skills, and athletic skills.
--Cognitive: increased short and long-term memory and attention span, and enhanced decision-making, problem-solving, and planning skills.
--Behavioral: decreased displays of inappropriate, non-adaptive, or self-abusive behaviors, increased ability to participate in age-appropriate activities.
--Social: enhanced level of assertiveness, cooperation, sharing, and competition, and increased conversational skills.
--Affective: improved emotional health through reduction of stress, depression and anxiety; increased sense of self-esteem, self-concept, and adjustment to disability.
The National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research sponsored a study to determine the effectiveness of therapeutic recreation programs in achieving their goals. The research indicates that participation in therapeutic recreation programs improved physical health (increased strength, endurance, and coordination, improved cardiovascular and respiratory functioning), reduced secondary disability and reliance upon the health care system, lowered higher health care costs commonly associated with various disabilities, improved cognitive functioning, psychosocial health and well-being (increased life satisfaction, improved social relationships, resulted in a greater sense of self-confidence and independence), and enhanced coping abilities and cooperative behaviors. It appears therapeutic recreation is cost beneficial, and a win-win alternative in dealing with disabilities. To find out which therapeutic recreational programs and services are available in your community, contact the local department of recreation and parks.