My Therapeutic Recreation Degree . . . PRICELE$$

1. My Therapeutic Recreation Degree . . .PRICELE$$ Presented by Heather Limberg and Sara Grenzow

2. What is Therapeutic Recreation (TR)? • Therapeutic recreation is purposeful intervention designed to bring about emotional, social, physical, or other positive changes in individuals with disabilities through leisure and recreation activities • Therapeutic recreation seeks to help individuals increase independence and develop skills for improved quality of life

3. What Lights You Up? • Everyone has a leisure lifestyle, whether we realize it or not. • Take time to write down 3 activities that you enjoy participating in: • __________________________________ • __________________________________ • __________________________________

4. What does this activity have to do with TR? • It is often difficult for individuals with disabilities to participate in leisure activities, which is where Therapeutic Recreation Specialists come in . . . • Difficulties include: • Reduced awareness of leisure opportunities when experiencing a disabling condition, illness, or injury • Lack of transportation to activities • Limited leisure skills • Small social network • Inappropriate social interactions

5. What does Therapeutic Recreation mean to UW-La Crosse MAJORS? • Therapeutic recreation is challenging individual limitations through positive motivation and determination. -Jonathon Blake, Senior • Therapeutic recreation is learning through your abilities, not your disabilities. -Andrew Buchberger, Senior • Therapeutic recreation is self-healing through leisure. -Sara Grenzow, Graduate Student

6. What does Therapeutic Recreation mean to UW-L TR Majors? • Therapeutic recreation offers an unconditional acceptance that goes beyond the basics to inspire individuals and help enhance abilities. -Heather Limberg, Senior • Therapeutic recreation is adventure, exploring, and discovering. -Matt Hendricks, Graduate Student • Therapeutic recreation is promoting health and wellness through leisure and recreation activities. -Christina Schulte, Senior

7. Therapeutic Recreation is NOT . . . • The same as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or sports medicine • An easy major that only includes ‘playing’ with little academic complexity • BINGO and birthday parties • A job that anyone can do • Babysitting • A position only at camps or nursing homes • A volunteer opportunity, not a real job

8. What are important terms to know? • Leisure: Freedom from time-consuming duties, responsibilities, or activities • Play: To occupy oneself spontaneously in amusement, or other recreation • Recreation: Refreshment of one's mind or body after work through activity that amuses or stimulates www.dictionary.com

9. Where could YOU work? • Psychiatric Hospitals • Rehabilitation Hospitals • Long-term Care Facilities • Correctional Facilities • Pediatric Hospitals • Outpatient Facilities • Residential Facilities • Group Homes for persons with developmental disabilities • Day Treatment or Recovery Centers • Schools • Community Recreation Departments/Inclusion Programs • Camps and Wilderness Therapy Settings http://www.rogershospital.org/vtour_rmh_Oconomowoc_1.php

10. Who will YOU be helping? • Across the lifespan: infants, children, teens, adults, and seniors with… • Musculoskeletal (bone), neurological (brain), and neuromuscular (muscle) impairments • Sensory impairments (lights, noise, sound) • Cognitive impairments (learning, memory) • Psychological impairments (thinking, acting) • Social or behavioral impairments (undeveloped interactions skills, negative or criminal behavior)

11. What is the Therapeutic Recreation Process? • Assessment: gathering information with and about an individual to discover their dreams and goals and how functioning can be improved • Planning: goal setting and creating an individualized plan focused on learning, adapting, and growing • Implementation: carrying out the plan through individual or group programmed activity sessions • Evaluation: reviewing an individual’s progress to see if they are reaching their goals and dreams • APIE is a process used by health care providers. Therapeutic recreation includes the physical, mental, social, emotional, and spiritual domains in this process.

12. What are the PHYSICAL benefits of TR? • Engaging in downhill skiing can improve coordination and balance; sit-skiing provides the same outcome for participants with physical impairments . • Chair aerobics can help increase cardiovascular fitness. • Stretching can increase range of motion and flexibility. • Playing wheelchair basketball can increase arm strength.

13. What are the COGNITIVE benefits of TR? • Playing Cribbage can improve sequencing skills. • Playing Monopoly can increase money management and counting skills. • Looking through photo albums can stimulate memories. • Participating in “Simon Says” can increase the ability to follow verbal directions.

14. What are the EMOTIONAL benefits of TR? • Learning and practicing meditation can help reduce anxiety. • Engaging in gardening can assist in reducing stress. • Listening to soothing music can create a calming effect. • Taking on extreme challenges in wilderness camping can increase self-esteem and mastery of a challenge.

15. What are the SOCIAL benefits of TR? • Participating in team building activities can help build trust. • Joining a card club can help people make new friends. • Interacting at a holiday party can improve conversation skills. • Ordering a movie ticket can increase social initiation. http://www.rogershospital.org/vtour_rmh_Oconomowoc_8.php

16. What are the SPIRITUAL benefits of TR? • Going on a hike can unite one with the natural world. • Participating in yoga can connect the mind and body as one. • Creating a scrapbook allows a client to visually see accomplishments or realize their personal legacy as living a meaningful life.

17. Stacey’s Testimonial 17 year old female with a spinal cord injury, resulting in paraplegia “ Before going on the trip, I did not know if I would be able to ski at all. Amazingly, I was able to ski just like any other beginner. I came back with many bumps and bruises, but also with a renewed sense of accomplishment, that I can do anything that I set my mind to.” Bent, L., Johnson, K., Klaas, S., Rathsam, S., Schottler, J. Parks & Recreation, Apr2003, Vol. 38 Issue 4, p58, 5p.

18. Jeanie’s Progress Report Cedar Breaks Academy in Utah is a fully licensed Residential Treatment Center for Teenage Girls between the ages of 12 and 17 who are experiencing emotional or behavior problems within their homes, schools, or society. Their staff includes a therapeutic recreation specialist. Life Skills:This week Jeanie and the other level 4 girls chose to help at the animal shelter and participate in adopt a pet weekend. Jeanie helped organize this project and helped find homes for 8 dogs and 12 cats. She and the other girls were excited and happy with their days work. They were tired and hungry after 6 hours of helping with the animals. They finished up by going for hamburgers and milkshakes at Iceberg.

19. What must YOU do to receive a TR degree from UW-L and become a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist? • Complete Volunteer Experiences • 50 hours required prior to program admission • 3-5 classes require additional volunteer hours beyond course work • Hands-on contact with clients and gaining confidence helping various populations gives students insight into which population or setting they may want to focus on • Finish Required Coursework: • A minimum of 120 credits is required for graduation • To see specific course descriptions click here: http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/rmtr/ug_tr_courses.htm • Participate In a 16-Week Internship: • One semester at an approved internship site under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) as a senior-level field placement • Students are able to put their skills and abilities into practice, while learning additional job task competencies under the guidance of a CTRS • Pass a National Certification Exam • Voluntary exam taken by an individual to ensure quality of services of the CTRS • Completed after internship and graduation • National passing rate for 2004: 78% ; UW-La Crosse passing rate: 99%

20. What is the job outlook for YOU as a CTRS? • UW-L graduates have over a 93 percent success rate of securing jobs within the profession immediately upon graduation. • Salaries vary by service setting with an average annual salary of $38,956 for the CTRS • The TR program at UW-L continues a proud tradition of producing highly competent Therapeutic Recreation Specialists who serve an increasingly diverse population of persons with disabling conditions in Wisconsin and throughout the world.

21. Jessamin’s Success Story . . . Working at KidsPeace jessamin helder [mailto:jessaminhelder@hotmail.com] Sent: Thursday, March 03, 2005 I have accepted a job offer at KidsPeace in Pennsylvania. I will be going to work at KidsPeace National Center with youth with behavioral/emotional needs. It’s a residential setting with a school, athletic centers, ropes course, and 300 acres. I will be able to lead small 1-2 day outdoor trips, be involved with equine assisted therapy, adventure therapy/experiential education, and create a Therapeutic Recreation program for 16 youth.

22. Kelly’s Success Story . . . Aquatics and Rehabilitation for All Ages From: Kelly Keskimaki [mailto:k_keskimaki@yahoo.com]Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2004 9:13 AMSubject: New Job I wanted to tell you about my new job!  I absolutely love it!  I am working at St. Ann's Center for Intergenerational Care in Milwaukee.  I am helping the aquatic program get on it's feet. The place is a day care for adults and children of all abilities and is open to the public for rehab and the pool.  I will eventually be splitting my time between aquatics and therapy, but right now I am just aquatics.  Kelly

23. Chad’s Success Story-Empowering Older Adults in Long Term Care! From: chad adams [mailto:celebratelife@care2.com] Sent: Friday, November 12, 2004 12:52 PMSubject: New Job! Hello there fellow Therapeutic Recreation Specialists!! Just thought I would inform you of my new job. I'm currently working at a long-term care facility in Milwaukee, St. Johns on the Lake. The facility has switched from a medical model to a social/community model, more holistic and focusing much more on residents' needs and desires. I just started and already have developed some amazing relationships with the residents. Today, we had a singer/songwriter come in and play for the residents. Of course, you know me, I got the ladies to dance with me and the fellas to sing their hearts out.

24. Explore More about Therapeutic Recreation • American Therapeutic Recreation Association http://www.atra-tr.org • National Therapeutic Recreation Society http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=530 • Therapeutic Recreation Directory http://www.recreationtherapy.com • UW-L Therapeutic Recreation Homepage http://www.uwlax.edu/sah/rmtr/ug_tr.htm

25. Who can I talk to about TR? • Call 785-8207 or visit 128 Wittich Hall to speak with the program assistant or a UW-L faculty member who teaches therapeutic recreation