2019 Annual Conference

Community integration programs provide opportunities for individuals to develop the skills necessary to participate independently in the community. However, community integration can only be successful when organizations within the mainstream community are welcoming to individuals with disabilities. Based on findings from the Temple University Collaborative on Community Inclusion's Welcoming Spaces research project, this session presents the types of spaces individuals with serious mental illnesses identify as welcoming and factors within the space that contribute to the individual's perception. Additionally, strategies recreational therapists can use to advocate and train mainstream organizations to be more welcoming will be presented.