2022 ATRA Annual Conference IN-PERSON Intensives and Workshops Proposal

Developed with the expertise and input of a variety of professionals in the adaptive sports and recreation field, CARSS reflects more accurately where the field of adaptive sports and recreation has evolved. Core content areas of the CARSS certification include: history of adaptive sports & related laws; understanding disabilities & disability awareness; program planning, implementation & evaluation; risk management & injury prevention; partnership building; recruitment & promotion; adaptive equipment and facilities. The curriculum addresses the needs of children/youth, adults and veterans with various physical disabilities.

*PRE-REGISTRATION and ADDITIONAL FEE REQUIRED. Space is LIMITED to 30 attendees.

Research indicates a disproportionate number of individuals with disabilities avoid travel when compared to individuals without disability. This avoidance is often due to perceived barriers. The goal of this session is to provide the tools and resources to Recreation Therapy practitioners to help our clients to feel more confident to navigate travel accessibility. The session leaders will review current laws pertaining to accessibility in air travel, cruise travel, and hotel accommodations as well as resources the traveler can access in planning their travel to help make their experience as stress-free as possible. We will review some travel education and also explore virtual training tools and online resources. Throughout the session we will provide tips and tricks for how to advocate through all phases of travel, from making the initial reservation through arriving at the terminal, boarding the plane or ship, and arriving at the destination. We will discuss when to advocate, to whom to advocate, and how to problem solve through any surprises along the journey. We will provide resources and do active problem solving with session participants to build their knowledge repertoire so they can then assist their clients in building their own.

The purpose of this Session is two fold. First, it will provide an overview of accreditation under the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) and the Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE). Second and more
importantly, the session will provide information and hands-on experience in completing the forms and process for academic accreditation under CAAHEP-CARTE.

Have you ever been out in the community and witnessed something amazing or horrific? (Yes) Did you stop and take a photo? (Maybe) Did you post it on social media with an impactful message? No?? Why not? This session answers the possible answers to the "why not" by allowing individuals to explore social media and the power of spontaneous advocacy. After a educational session on social media and some tips and tricks to using features of the platforms, participants will put their new knowledge to action while exploring Birmingham. Digital devices and appropriate comfortable attire are a must for this interactive session!

LIMITED TO 20 - PRE-REGISTRATION REQUIRED (no additional fee).

Across the world, people living with dementia, care partners and other family/community members, dementia and health professionals, activists, academics and artists are coming together to develop and advocate for a diverse and humanizing vision of care and support that promotes inclusion, relationality, creativity, joy and the possibility of growth for everyone living with, and impacted by, dementia.

This experiential workshop will use improvisational games, creative exercises and philosophical/performed conversation to give participants a real-time experience in creating an environment in which “non-knowing growing” is possible. We will work together on challenging the individualized loss and tragedy narrative we are all socialized to and on freeing ourselves, if only for a moment, from a repressively cognitive culture that relates to dementia and related conditions with stigma, shame and isolation.

We welcome anyone looking for more intimate, emotionally supportive and growth-filled ways to live with memory loss, aging and dementia; who are interested in using diagnosis as a starting point for creativity; and who want to discover together how to create more connection, inclusion, hope…and yes, joy in even the most difficult and uncertain of life situations.

The rapid growth and evolution of virtual reality (VR) has introduced new ways to participate in recreational activities. Commercial VR equipment and applications (apps) are also being used for therapeutic purposes. However, before introducing VR activities to clients, therapists need general competency in using equipment and familiarity with a variety of different VR apps. This will allow them to structure appropriate recreational therapy (RT) treatment interventions. In this experiential session, participants will set-up and use the Oculus Quest 2 VR system in simulated RT practice sessions. Multiple VR applications will be introduced so practitioners can gain experience with apps that have relevance for diverse clients and service settings. Attendees will have the opportunity to role play VR sessions from both a “practitioner” and “client” perspective. Through informal and formal discussion and feedback, participants will share their clinical insights on how to follow the APIE(D) process to generate clinical outcomes in VR sessions offered through their professional practice.

LIMIT OF 30: Pre-Registration Required

ATRA’s Diversity Task Force will present an interactive, engaging, and explorative half-day session at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute where participants will be able to connect the Civil Rights era to the legacies of racism, discrimination, and inadequate healthcare of African Americans. Additionally, participants will be able to develop an understanding of the intersectionality of racism as a determinant of health and health outcomes, in order to understand and counterbalance the challenges to treatment, hesitancy, and access for individuals in marginalized communities.

No backpacks are allowed on the tour. Photography is permitted in some area of the building.

PRE-REGISTRATION AND ADDITIONAL FEE REQUIRED. Session will be off-site for its entirety.

We love books! We love using books in our practice! But how do therapists select books that target the specific goals and objectives appropriate for our clients? How do we know we are working within an evidence based practice? How do we make sure the APIE process is followed?

In this session, the participant will explore a process to analyze and select books appropriate for pediatric, geriatric and mental health populations. A sample protocol will be used in hands-on book critiques. Participants are asked to bring a storybook type of book they might use in practice, in order to actively participate in the workshop portion of this session.

The ATRA Quality Internships subcommittee was established to assist in improving the consistency and quality of recreational therapy internships nationally. This session outlines the assets of a qualified internship supervisor and provides a template to create an agency internship manual. Bring your materials (departmental policies, organizational chart, and current internship information) and get ready to work! Participants will self-assess the quality of their current internship supervision and have an opportunity to begin or modify their internship manual. Laptops encouraged for this workshop session.

Music and Mindfulness Self-Care Strategies for Everyone is an interactive and lively keynote presentation filled with practical strategies your audience can use everyday to elicit calm, focus and mindfulness -especially during the most challenging of times.

The active use of music based self care is scientifically proven to improve your mood, relieve stress, increase mental focus and to build social connections. Musical experience is not required. Beginners are warmly welcomed and rhythm tubes are provided for all to use during the program.

*PRE-REGISTRATION and an ADD-ON Fee are required for this session to ensure that we have transportation space.
*Session will meet at the hotel on 3 mornings, and off-site 2 afternoons. Pool/lab time in the afternoon is required.

This Intensive in Aquatic Therapy is a workshop for those recreational therapists who desire to expand their aquatic therapy knowledge and prepare for the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute (ATRI) Certification Exam. This intensive will be taught by CTRS’s who are certified by ATRI and are well known experts in aquatic therapy. As a recreational therapist interested in aquatic therapy, this intensive is designed to provide you with the information you need to get started in this growing intervention strategy. The AT intensive will include an introduction to why water is a good therapeutic environment, popular treatment techniques, assessment, appropriate efficacy based outcomes from aquatic therapy, and the process of aquatic justification. The hands on lab segment will involve 8 hours of training in various AT techniques that can be used to achieve RT treatment outcomes.

Important Aquatic Therapy Certification Information. If you participate in this workshop, the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Institute has agreed to offer the Certification (ATRIC) Exam for a fee of $200 (regular fee $255). In addition, those who register for this workshop will be able to take the Aquatic Therapy Exam Quick Prep online course for free (a $159 value!). The Aquatic Therapy Workshop will meet and exceed your 15 hours needed towards exam qualification. Be sure to review the guidelines https://www.atri.org/atri-information/certification.html.

Email info@aeawave.org to register for the exam and receive the discount. Let them know you are taking the ATRA Aquatic Therapy Intensive with Ellen Broach. After you register you can take the quick prep course for free and view it before the exam.

The exam tests the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Industry Standards and includes knowledge regarding the following topics with the percentage of questions on the exam listed:
• Movement Mechanics and Science - 21%
• Aquatic Principles - 22%
• Aquatic Therapy Principles / Methods - 31%
• Professional Responsibility - 8%
• Safety and Risk Awareness - 14%
• Legal Considerations - 4%

Exam Preparation
1. Review the full definitions of the Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation Industry Standards. https://www.atri.org/Certification/Standards.pdf.
2. Purchase the ATRIC study guide, Essential Principles of Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation. It is a preview of materials presented on the exam and designed to go along with the following recommended study resources. You may purchase Essential Principles first (at https://ruth-sova-103927.square.site/) and go through the self-tests before deciding if you need additional resource books:
- Aquatic Fitness Professional Manual (AEA)
• AQUATICS: The Complete Reference Guide for Aquatic Fitness Professionals (Sova)

Working as an allied health professional with individuals who have dementia can be challenging, especially when behavioral challenges are present. This intensive workshop will provide the attendee with extensive training in using the Dementia Practice Guidelines. After completion of the Dementia Practice Guidelines course, you will receive a Certificate of Training as a Certified Dementia Behavioral Specialist. This evidence-based guideline and training will improve individual skills in management of disturbing behaviors and enhance the services and quality of life of persons with dementia.

This training program will teach participants how to use beginner friendly interactive musical activities to support self-expression, mood improvement, stress and anxiety relief and as a means to encourage socialization.

Participants in this training will understand how to comfortably and effectively use music and wellness activities for themselves and with others, adapt existing activities to their own specific client needs, and create an atmosphere of inclusion and safety prior to implementing any activity.

It is important to note that non-musicians can effectively use interactive music for improved wellness, prior musical experience and the ability to read music is not a requirement, and using music is not necessarily loud and disruptive.

Session Description
The Qualified Internship Supervisor Training will include content that prepares the agency internship supervisor/ clinical instructor for recreational therapy internship supervision. This training is appropriate for both incoming and seasoned supervisors and will include discussion panels with the training modules throughout the day. Final testing will occur at the end of the day for attendees to receive their training credential.

Journaling is an activity that is low cost, can be done anywhere by anyone at anytime. This session will specifically talk about journaling activities for mental health, older adults, students in higher education, and for anyone in daily life. The benefits and outcomes will be discussed, techniques and journaling ideas will be presented, and participants will learn to make "safe" journals for mental health settings.

This session promotes scholarly writing, reviewing, and publishing in TRJ-Annual, a professional refereed journal. Discover recreational therapy dissemination priorities and current initiatives to increase the profile of recreational therapy scholarship. Bring your ideas and drafts to this interactive session. The first hour will familiarize participants with TRJ-Annual operating practices, general manuscript elements and format, scholarly writing and publishing principles, and an overview of how manuscripts are submitted and published, with specific review of the new Sagamore online management system. The second hour focuses on idea development and manuscript preparation. Participants will apply the Journal Article Reporting Standards of APA and the publication process of various types of manuscripts as they develop drafts. Session leaders will provide support to scholars at all stages of the writing process from idea development to fully developed manuscripts. In the last hour participants will engage in peer reviews of their writing samples, examining the APA and TRJ-Annual review guidelines and protocols. The session will conclude with discussion of team decisions and professional practices governing publication in refereed journals. Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop computer to this session to fully engage in interactive learning activities.

The term “resilience” has been incorporated heavily into our culture, especially since the pandemic. We are told that we need to find it, and as an effective CTRS we need to help our clients see it in themselves. But what, exactly, is resilience? First, we will spend time exploring the origins of resilience in the research and Richardson’s model representing how it manifests in our clients. Then, we will examine how building resilience through the protective factors is a part of a trauma informed care approach. Rather than assessing client deficits through a pathogenic model, we will approach building resilience from a salutogenic, health and wellness model, building upon the strengths that moved them to the place they are today, helping them continue to find ways to adapt these strengths into useful tools. Through experiential learning, attendees will practice ways to use drawing, song, and movement to assist clients in building the protective factors that lead to resilience. Participants will walk away having experienced moments of self-regulation, co-regulation and community building. These moments will be explicitly noticed by the group so that attendees are able to replicate in their own practice. Research shows that the arts, and specifically music, expedite connection and build resilience. Learn from a trauma responsive care trainer and board-certified music therapist how to utilize the arts to build connection and foster resilience.

Practicing cultural humility is necessary for recreation therapists to provide appropriate care to clients with diverse values, beliefs, and behaviors. Attendees will explore modern barriers to healthcare and learn cultural considerations to successfully meet the needs of clients from diverse backgrounds (race, gender identity, age, etc.). Topics will also address anti-racism, intersectionality, reflection of ones’ own cultural sensitivity and implicit bias.

This session is the first of a three part series for the Educator’s Institute led by the ATRA Academic Action Task Force. The session will focus on the current state and possible future of fieldwork in RT/TR education. In this context, fieldwork is defined as: a learning opportunity for RT/TR students to develop practice competencies through hands-on experiences in applied RT/TR service settings. The current available information on RT/TR fieldwork will be presented, particularly the results from the 2022 ATRA RT/TR Fieldwork Education Survey. Laptops and access to curricular materials are encouraged for the session series.

This session will provide practitioners with a practical framework that they can use for evaluating their agency's current method of client assessment. Client assessment will be looked at in terms of being a systematic process that involves gathering and interpreting information for the purpose of making decisions. The framework will be presented via lecture with some large and small group discussions and an interactive application of the framework to examples provided by the audience and/or presenter. Please bring assessment material from your facility if possible to serve as the basis for some of the small group work.

*PLEASE BRING A COPY OF YOUR ASSESSMENT TO USE DURING THE SESSION.

This session focuses on chronic pain in older adults (in home, community, long-term care) and how to use a seated yoga intervention to control pain symptoms. Chronic pain in older adults results from multiple factors and impacts physical, social, emotional, and cognitive domains of function. CMS federal guidelines for skilled nursing facilities support non-pharmacological approaches to pain management. This session provides an opportunity to work through the Assessment, Planning, Implementation and Evaluation process for chronic pain and design a session plan to take back to your work site.

The benefits of aquatics are widely recognized. Through extensive research BlazeSports has developed a therapeutic learn to swim program for children youth, adults and veterans with disabilities. This presentation will provide you with the knowledge to provide therapeutic aquatic programming and processes for teaching swimming skills to a variety of diagnosis.

Building upon Part 1, Part 2 of the Educator’s Institute will dive deeper into the 2022 ATRA RT/TR Fieldwork Education Survey results pertaining to curricula and coursework not including the NCTRC-eligible internship. Attendees will compare the use of fieldwork in their own curriculum considering the survey findings and engage in discussion about ways to improve the quality and consistency of fieldwork within their RT/TR curricula as well as across academic programs. This session is appropriate for current and future RT/TR educators and fieldwork coordinators. Laptops and access to curricular materials are highly encouraged for this session.

This session provides an in-depth coverage of the NCTRC Certification Standards. It will include the requirements for application, interactive application process, internship requirements, exam information, and requirements to maintain your certification.

LIMITED TO 40 STUDENTS: No CEUs for this session.

Recreational therapists have consistently used the principles of motivational interviewing, behavior modification, health and wellness coaching, and goal facilitation from the inception of our profession. This 9- hour health coaching intensive will provide (and in some cases, re-introduce) RTs with the necessary competencies in order to bolster their leisure and recreation coaching with their clients. Those who wish to become Board Certified Health and Wellness coaches can begin their journey towards the 75-hour curriculum requirement in order to earn their NBC-HWC credential and practice as a dual-certified Recreational Therapist and Health and Wellness Coach.

Additional information will be discussed on certification pathways, benefits of dual-certification and how these two complementary fields can support each others advancements and, ultimately, benefit the clients we serve.

Continuation of Part 1 and 2 from earlier in the day.
*One hour session is REQUIRED to receive 6 CEUs from today's Educators' Institute sessions.

Participants will explore the content of the ATRA Standards of Practice manual. Participants will learn how the standards can and should guide their practice, and the process of developing policies and procedures for their Recreational Therapy department or program. They will learn the basics of policy and procedure writing to aid in the development and/or revision of their current policies and procedures. Participants should bring a copy of the SOP Manual to this session.

PLEASE BRING A COPY OF THE ATRA STANDARDS OF PRACTICE FOR USE DURING THE SESSION.
Session limited to 40.

Chronic substance use is a barrier to experiencing joy and a life worth living. How do you help
a client move from hopelessness to hope, hurt to health, or despair to optimism? Strength based therapeutic recreation interventions can be the conduit to fostering this relationship
and growth. Bring an open mind and a willingness to think abstractly about the interventions
and skills you can utilize with clients.

Building upon Part 1 and 2, Part 3 of the Educator’s Institute will dive deeper into the 2022 ATRA RT/TR Fieldwork Education Survey results pertaining to the NCTRC-eligible internship. Attendees will compare the use of fieldwork in their own curriculum considering the survey findings and engage in discussion about ways to improve the quality and consistency of the academic portion of internships within their RT/TR curricula as well as across academic programs. This session is appropriate for current and future RT/TR educators and fieldwork coordinators. Laptops and access to curricular materials are highly encouraged for this session.

Research has found that older adult populations, those over 65 years of age, experience falls at a higher rate than any other population. About 1 in 3 older adults experience a fall each year, and half of those who do fall, experience more than one. Falls can produce injuries as serious as bone fractures, soft-tissue damage, or even a TBI. Six percent of all urgent hospitalizations among older adults are due to a fall and falls can lead to decreased physical activity, cessation of recreational pursuits, and the development of a disability. Shockingly, 90% of all hip fractures are caused by a fall. Treatments that target the ability to balance and physical functioning maintenance have been found to reduce falling by up to 39 percent.

This session will focus on educating attendees of common balance problems that older adults experience and the potential cost and negative outcomes that come from falls. Current research trends in balance treatments for older adults will be discussed and the instruction of research-based treatments that target balancing abilities of those who are over 65 years of age. Attendees will learn proper exercise, tai chi, boxing, and gait training modalities that directly target balance and independence, while also being appropriate for the average older adult over 65. Special modifications for specific conditions including but not limited to Parkinson’s, Diabetes, Heart Disease, Dementia, and Arthritis. Attendees experience hands-on instruction that will leave them with the ability to create their own balance focused group.

In this experiential/interactive session you will be part of a team playing “Missions and Madness” an empowering outdoor cooperative adventure game that retains the fun and engagement of sports without the divisiveness of competition. It’s part scavenger hunt, part Dungeons and Dragons, and part boot camp. Players roll dice to discover their mission which could be anything from being chased by zombies or stalked by dinosaurs and where to go from a list of local sites. The team must get to the location within a time limit while performing various physical activities and puzzles along the way. Team members help each other accomplish the mission by asking for support and using their personal strengths as needed. “Missions and Madness” is fun and challenging, yet not overwhelming.

“Missions and Madness” can act as a supervised group activity or players can run a game themselves from the comprehensive instruction material. Either way, the adventure writes itself through randomization and creative fun scenarios. “Missions and Madness” can be an important part of any recreational therapy treatment plan because of easy set-up and operation, firm but flexible procedural structure, and an exceptional level of player engagement and a sense of fun. “Missions and Madness” has been carefully designed to be accessible and easily modified to suit any population.

“Missions and Madness” can ease clients out of social isolation. It can provide gentle leadership opportunities. It supports life-skills like navigation, negotiation, and communication. It even provides the sense of camaraderie and purpose that veterans often complain of missing after transitioning to civilian life.

A game of “Missions and Madness” is played within a defined outdoor area, cultivates careful observation through memory games, easily integrates players from various backgrounds with various skills and needs, and gives every player a chance to lead the team through a set of challenges.

ACON2022 Convention attendees will play “Missions and Madness” while they explore nearby Birmingham and experience first-hand the dynamic benefits of this innovative, cooperative adventure game. PLEASE DRESS FOR OUTDOOR ACTIVITY.

The aim of this workshop is to provide hands-on experience to enhance ability and skills in grant search and development. The presenters will review primary funding sources and provide tips in locating the right funding to support your research needs in promoting evidence-based practice. During the session, we will also discuss the key components in developing a grant proposal. Participants will start to work through the process of finding and writing grants to gain experience in this.

How do we portray ourselves to our clients, professionals, and other stakeholders? Are you frustrated with “not getting respect”? Are you needing to let others know what your department does and what the benefits of RT programming are? This session will examine ways we address each of the concerns while not losing what is unique to our profession, humor and fun. The session is a hands-on opportunity to develop an educational program for stakeholders, as part of the program development process we will discuss outcomes and objectives as they relate to a variety of stakeholders. We will highlight why recreation is important with various populations as we find a balance between fun and therapy in our settings.

Have you have wondered how an organization can combine the work of therapeutic recreation and physical therapy? This session will discuss the results of a case study utilizing virtual reality and a Lokomat Gait Training Machine to increase endurance, multitasking, and correct ambulation of gait in a patient with cerebral palsy.

CTRS do important work in every setting we work in but at times we fall short when helping others to understand our contributions. In this session will discuss and explore how we ensure that we as CTRS are working to their top of our scope through the use of EBP, assertive communication, networking, self-promotion, processing, psycho-social education, and outcome driven practices to ensure we are demonstrating our professionalism to our patients, co-workers, and the administration. In addition, we will discuss how to take the next steps to position yourself to move up the career ladder and to position yourself for success.