The pandemic created obstacles for our therapeutic recreation students who could not find or participate in an in-person internship. The only viable option was to create a virtual internship experience that still met NCTRC standards for national certification. This learning activity details the steps taken to create the experience, what was…

Classroom teaching has many challenges, and these are compounded when you're also preparing students to navigate the world in a way that is healthy and forward-looking. But what if you could take a few minutes every day to not only help your students develop social-emotional skills, but also take stock, recenter, and reset yourself? This engaging…

In undergraduate courses, case studies are often used to bring material to life for students in ways that allow them to connect theory to applied practice. Case studies can be of particular use in Therapeutic Recreation courses, where students are able to obtain a glimpse into the complex thinking that must occur when working with participants…

Traditional literary criticism, reader-response research, and the techniques of systemic therapy are brought together to provide guidelines for teachers and counselors concerned with using stories to further the emotional development of children. A theory of reader-story interaction is proposed, and a case is made for individually composed…

Contends that art therapy promotes mental health beyond diagnosing and treating illness. Outlines four overlapping ways that art contributes to mental health: (1) giving people a sense of identity and place; (2) conferring status; (3) expanding and directing thought processes; and (4) utilizing the security of the rhythmic "takeover"…

This manual provides information on the practicum program offered by Moraine Valley Community College (MVCC) for students in its therapeutic recreation program. Sections I and II outline the rationale and goals for providing practical, on-the-job work experiences for therapeutic recreation students. Section III specifies MVCC's responsibilities…

This practicum was designed to increase the ability of physical therapy students to be innovative in the treatment of children, 0 to 3 years old, by creatively using toys and games. The practicum involved: (1) administering a test to seven senior physical therapy majors to determine students' current knowledge; (2) administering a questionnaire to…

This book was developed to assist recreation service providers, as well as families, to understand strategies for supporting individuals with ASD in community and school recreation programs. The ideas have many practical uses in generic and specialized recreation programs. A variety of audiences, including teachers, recreation service providers,…

Designed for teachers interested in therapeutic recreation, the document lists sources of adaptive recreational equipment and their homemade counterparts. Brief descriptions for ordering or constructing recreational equipment for the visually impaired, poorly coordinated, physically impaired, and mentally retarded are given. Specific adaptations…

Profiles a summer music and arts program specifically designed for children and adults with Williams Syndrome. Williams Syndrome is a chromosomal aberration, usually resulting in mild or moderate retardation often accompanied by an acute sensitivity to sound and perfect pitch. The summer program focused on music and performing arts. (MJP)

This trends and issues paper considers the emerging presence of credentialing programs in the health, leisure, and movement professions in which such diverse occupations as health education teachers, aerobics instructors, exercise physiologists, dance therapists, community park managers, intramural directors, and military fitness instructors are…

This curriculum for activity director in a long-term care facility consists of a student manual and instructor key. The student manual is designed to be used independently by students in secondary health occupations programs or by individuals receiving on-the-job training in a long-term care facility. A clinical site is needed for individuals to…

This text on physical education for children and adolescents with disabilities attempts to bring together current research findings and best educational practices from the fields of adapted physical education, special education, psychology, medicine, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and therapeutic recreation. The book is organized into…

Britain's National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work qualifications that measure what an employee or potential employee can do as well as how much he or she knows and understands about a particular job. Used as written proof of usable workplace skills that can be put to profitable use by an employer, NVQs range from basic Level 1, for…