Recreation Therapy

ICRE-R's Recreation Therapy Department is staffed by Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS), who are also state-certified activity therapists. The recreation therapists provide recreation as a related service and work with other therapists to develop appropriate treatment and educational programs for the students.

Therapeutic Recreation uses recreation activities to habilitate or rehabilitate functional activities, which contribute to behavioral change. Therapeutic Recreation is a process involving assessment, development of goals and objectives, and the implementation, documentation, and evaluation of intervention strategies.

Recreation Therapy organizes, conducts, and administers therapeutic recreation and leisure programs designed to assist in the habilitation or rehabilitation of persons with emotional, physical, or cognitive disabilities.

Recreation Therapy utilizes play, recreation, and leisure activities to help students develop functional skills, activities of daily living, and academic skills.

A variety of assessments are used to determine the current functional strengths and needs of students with disabilities in terms of skills, abilities, and attitudes related to recreation and leisure.

Assessments used include:

Individual and Group Activity Assessment, Leisure and Recreation Interest Survey, STEPS to Successful Living assessment, and the Leisure Life Satisfaction Survey.

The Recreation Therapy program consists of the following components:

TREATMENT:

This is a process involving an assessment of a student's need, a statement of the problem, formulation of treatment goal(s), design of a treatment plan, implementation, monitoring, and progress reporting, and designation of criteria for decision-making regarding termination, continuation, or change.

LEISURE EDUCATION:

This program provides students with instruction to promote positive attitudes towards leisure, recognition of the benefits of recreation involvement, the development of skills necessary for recreation participation such as social, decision-making, planning, and knowledge of recreation resources, and attitudes and skills that facilitate independent, satisfying leisure experiences.

RECREATION PARTICIPATION:

This program provides recreation in school and community agencies and provides recreational services to facilitate the full participation of students in school and community programs. Activities are used to promote health, growth, development, and independence through self-rewarding leisure pursuits.

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