Did you know the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) has designated National Therapeutic Recreation Week, July 12-18? How will you and others with disabilities in your community mark this fun and leisure occasion in your community?

National Therapeutic Recreation Week raises awareness of therapeutic recreation programs and services, and widens fun opportunities for individuals with disabilities in the community. Not only do the programs give you opportunities to meet others with your same disability or others with different disabilities, but the programs also boost your ability to participate in integrated programs that are open and accessible to all.

This particular leisure observance highlights the importance of recreational opportunities for all people, including those of us with various disabilities. Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education, and recreational services to help people with chronic illnesses, a wide range of disabilities and other conditions, as well as of all ages, to plan and use leisure time in ways to boost their health, sharpen abilities, heighten independence, and maximize quality of life.

Clinical settings such as hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and nursing homes provide many programs for therapeutic recreation opportunities. Many communities also have therapeutic recreational offices that are a part of your community’s typical parks and recreation department offerings. In addition, you might be able to find recreational opportunities accessible to you at adult day care centers, Centers for Independent Living (CILs), in the school system and community mental health centers. Many indoor and outdoor opportunities are available and are easy to organize.

According to the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), there are many ways to celebrate and observe the week, as well as enhance your community's offerings for people with disabilities to participate in leisure activities.

Here are 15 simple ways the NRPA suggests marking the week for all to enjoy and celebrate accessible leisure activities, by land, by sea and any other means you enjoy:

1. Speak before your town board or city council about accessible recreation needs.
2. Request to have your local leaders proclaim “National Therapeutic Recreation Week”
3. Plan a community disability awareness event.
4. Organize an “Olympics Day”: Have events such as speed walking (or rolling), a softball throw, a golf putt, Frisbee toss, basketball shoot-out, playing card toss and other activities.
5. Present to co-workers on the benefits of therapeutic recreation.
6. Organize a team-based tournament event involving people with disabilities.
7. Print up flyers and pamphlets with leisure education activities on them to hand out to co-workers and friends.
8. Hold an open house and workshop on therapeutic recreation for local health care professionals.
9. Organize a coaches' seminar on recreational inclusion and the benefits of sports for youth with disabilities.
10. Organize a community "Buddy Walk" for persons with disabilities and a community partner. Promote inclusion and health lifestyles.
11. Organize an event for a panel discussion in which people who have benefited from therapeutic recreation may share their success stories.
12. Organize a barrier-free day to promote the importance of removing barriers for people with disabilities from participating.
13. Write a press release on National Therapeutic Recreation Week and submit to your local media.
14. Invite equipment vendors to demonstrate adaptive recreation equipment (such as hand bikes and upper body exercisers) and ask them to help you explain simple modifications that can enhance a recreation program's accessibility for everyone.
15. Invite community parks and recreation staff to an open discussion on including people with disabilities in their program planning





For more information about therapeutic recreation and even more ways to participate in ways that are more accessible and disability-friendly, go here to the National Recreation and Parks Association website: http://www.nrpa.org/content/default.aspx?documentId=530