Welcome to the 2022 ATRA Virtual Conference!
The virtual conference is uniquely different from the face-to-face conference being held in Birmingham AL September 10 - 13, 2022. Attendees registered for the face-to-face conference also receive access to the virtual conference. Individuals interested in the virtual conference may register separately for just the virtual conference. To register, go to https://www.atra-online.com/page/ACON2022
“I Want to Make a Difference”: Simple and Effective Techniques to Advocate for Recreational Therapy
Session Description/Research Abstract
Despite decades of growth and accomplishments in the field of recreational therapy (RT), the need to promote RT as a legitimate treatment modality still exists as new and greater healthcare challenges emerge. Although “Awareness and Advocacy” is listed as one of the 10 job task domains (2014 NCTRC Job Analysis Survey), diverse and increasing job expectations make it difficult for RT practitioners to find feasible ways to advocate by themselves.
Regardless, we cannot (and should not) rely on a handful of leaders to do everything necessary to advance the field of RT. Advocacy is a professional imperative (Kirsch, 2015) and to move our field forward, everyone has a role and must contribute.
To that end, this session will address critical issues facing RT today, and describe easy and proven actions that RT practitioners can implement to address the issues and advocate for the RT field and practice. Examples include simple advocacy techniques in marketing, mentoring, legislation, expanding RT programs, using EBP, garnering administrative and community support, and enhancing occupational prestige.
A reference list as well as a handout with examples and links to resources will be provided.
Learning Outcomes
1. State at least five (5) accomplishments of RT/TR field over the last 75 years;
2. Identify at least five (5) current critical issues related to the RT field that warrant awareness and advocacy;
3. Identify at least (5) specific advocacy techniques that RTs can use to address the issues in their own settings and the RT field.
Population/Setting:
All
CEUs:
0.15
Primary Presenter
Leandra A. Bedini, UNC-Greensboro (emerita)
Credentials
PhD, LRT, CTRS, FDRT
Biographical Information
Leandra Bedini is a Professor Emerita in the Department of Community and Therapeutic Recreation at UNC Greensboro. She is NCTRC certified and licensed as an LRT in NC. Prior to entering academia, she worked as a recreation therapist with children and youth with physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities in hospital, school, and community recreation settings. Leandra has been a lifelong advocate for the field of RT through her teaching, professional service, and research. Her primary research interests have focused on access to leisure for individuals who are typically disenfranchised/stigmatized (e.g., family caregivers, girls and women with physical disabilities) as well as on professional issues such as effective marketing in RT. These topics as well as her work in areas of research methods, diversity, and magic as a therapeutic intervention have been published as book chapters and in therapeutic and leisure research journals. She has been the recipient of the Professional Research Award from the National Therapeutic Recreation Society, the Scholarly Achievement Award from the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, received the Centennial Leader Award from East Carolina University. She is also a Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences, the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, and the North Carolina Recreation and Parks Association. In her own leisure time, she enjoys hiking, bicycling, reading mysteries, and antiquing.