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 your son or daughter? • 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 your son or daughter? • 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 your son or daughter work? • Psychiatric Hospitals • Rehabilitation Hospitals • Long-term Care Facilities • Correctional Facilities • Pediatric Hospitals • Outpatient Facilities • Residential Facilities • Group Homes for persons with developmental disabilities • Pediatric Hospitals • Schools • Community Recreation Departments/Inclusion Programs http://www.rogershospital.org/vtour_rmh_Oconomowoc_1.php

10. Who is your son or daughter going to 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 does Therapeutic Recreation involve? • Assessment: gathering information with and about an individual to determine an intervention plan • Planning: goal setting and creating an individualized intervention plan • Implementation: carrying out the intervention program through sessions, activities, and games • Evaluation: reviewing an individual’s progress toward goals and objectives

12. What are the PHYSICAL benefits of TR? • Engaging in downhill skiing can improve coordination and balance; sit-skiing . • 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? • Engaging in aerobics can help clear your mind from outside stressors. • 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. Chris’s Success Story • At 6 weeks of age, Chris was diagnosed with a malignant tumor in his stomach, which required three years of chemotherapy • By age 4, he became a patient of Shriners’ Hospital for children, where his left foot and ankle were amputated and he received his first prosthetic leg • Chris first became interested in racquetball at age 7 when his parents bought The Health Club in his hometown • His love of racquetball has helped in other ways. "Chris needs to stay in shape in order to help combat his other medical conditions." • Shriners’ Hospital recently provided Chris with a new prosthetic leg that has better flexibility in the foot and ankle area, making it easier for him to hit forehand shots and allowing him to move quicker. • He was honored by Sports Illustrated magazine in December 2000 with their inaugural "Young Sportsman of the Year" award http://www.shrinershq.org/patients/chriscoy5-01.html

19. What must your son or daughter do to receive a TR degree from UW-L and become a CTRS? • 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/rmtr/tr/courses.htm • Participate In a 16-Week Internship: • Semester long at an approved internship site under the supervision of a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) • Senior-level field placement experience • 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 2003: 74% ; UW-La Crosse passing rate: 99%

20. What are the job prospects for your son or daughter? • UW-L graduates have over a 93 percent success rate of securing jobs within the profession immediately upon graduation. • UW-L graduates have an average starting salary of $31,709 (as of 2003) • 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. UW-L Graduate Success Story . . . The Working World 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. UW-L Graduate Success Story . . . The Working World 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. UW-L Graduate Success Story-The Working World! 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. UW-L Graduate Success Story-TR Opening New Doors From: Mary Ellen Miller [mailto:memiller@jvlnet.com]Sent: Sun 2/27/2005 6:23 PMSubject: Therpeutic Recreation Alumni I wanted to share with you the opportunity of graduating from the TR-Graduate Program has allowed me as a professional. I am currently a Licensed Professional Counselor, due to the program . . . . I completed post-graduate courses at UW-Madison for certification. I am now in Private Practice working with people with Traumatic Brain Injury in redefining their roles and the healing process involved in such an accident and providing workshops for caregivers. In addition, I am a therapist working with autistic children, combining the skills of Therapeutic Recreation and the principles and theories of psychotherapy . . . . I realize my career is very unique and wish to share where one may go with a graduate degree in TR, given the opportunities. I am also an Instructor Trainer for the Badger Chapter, American Red Cross. . . . Again, I wanted to take this opportunity to thank UW-LaCrosse, both undergraduate and graduate programs for the wonderful experience . . . . Sincerely, Mary Ellen (Rabe) Miller '1983

25. UW-L Graduate Success Story-Relocation Opportunity From: Suzanne Barofsky [mailto:suziq4u2@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, February 09, 2005 4:21 PM Subject: Hello from Saint Paul! I am finishing up with my last two weeks with Casey at Saint Paul's Church Home. I received a job offer at HCMC in outpatient psychiatry where I did my internship. I never thought I would have the opportunity to have a job there following my internship. I thought because of the hiring freeze there would be no chance. Anyway, tell your students to keep in touch with absolutely everyone they know in this field! I had two interviews recently because I kept in good contact and have great relationships with my previous internship supervisors. I hope all is well in the land of UW-L and TR. It was so good to see you at the convention in the cities this winter. Good luck in all of your endeavors. Yours truly in TR, Suzanne Barofsky, CTRS

26. A Message from the Therapeutic Recreation Faculty Dear Parents: It is a pleasure to teach and learn with your daughters and sons. It is evident that you have passed on the values of education and helping since Therapeutic Recreation majors are willing readers, fine writers and communicators, with tremendous zest for volunteering and serving. We are proud of them; they honor YOU. See our credentials and interests at www.uwlax.edu/rmtr/tr/faculty.htm; each of us encourage and support your young professional to be a lifelong learner who is thoughtful, wise, and ethical in their calling to help participants with disabilities help themselves to leisure and health. We celebrate your legacy as parents of students whose destiny is to become Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists. Dr. Patricia Ardovino, CTRS, CPRP Dr. Jearold Holland Dr. Susan ‘BOON’ Murray, CCLS, CTRS (Internship Coordinator) Dr. Nancy Navar, CTRS (Program Director)

27. Useful Websites • 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/rmtr/tr/