ATRA SoCal : 2026 Session Description

Dr. Jaehyun (Jay) Kim earned his Ph.D. in Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management from Pennsylvania State University, with a focus on Leisure, Health, and Wellness. After completing his Ph.D., Dr. Kim pursued a second master’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation at Texas State University, becoming a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. His overarching mission as a professional is to design and implement effective therapeutic interventions for diverse, often underserved groups, including people with disabilities, immigrants, and older adults. Dr. Kim's research focuses on the efficacy of technology-based interventions, such as nature-based virtual reality and virtual reality Tai Chi programs, for older adults with dementia and individuals with physical disabilities. He engages both graduate and undergraduate students in his projects, providing them with valuable hands-on experience in the recreation therapy field. Dr. Kim actively collaborates with colleagues in the Department of Recreation Sciences and the College of Health and Human Performance, as well as with institutions in the US and South Korea, to further his research. He is a member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), and he regularly presents his research at state, national, and international conferences.

Ph.D., LRT, CTRS, CARSS, FDRT

Dr. Loy is the Jerry E. McGee Distinguished Professor of Recreational Therapy and has worked at East Carolina University since 2001 where he has served as Recreational Therapy Program Director, Departmental Graduate Director, and Associate Dean in the College of Health and Human Performance. Dr. Loy is leading the College’s Design4Disability Initiative that aims to improve the lives of individuals with disabilities through professional preparation, research, inclusion and advocacy, and product design. He received his PhD in Recreation and Leisure Studies (Concentration: Therapeutic Recreation) and MS in Education from the University of Georgia. He received his undergraduate degree from Georgia Southern University in Recreation and Park Administration with an emphasis in therapeutic recreation. Dr. Loy is a Certified Adapted Recreation and Sport Specialist (CARSS), a certified and licensed recreational therapist, a fellow in the National Academy of Recreational Therapists (NART) and spent most of his career helping individuals with disabilities participate and perform in adaptive sports and recreation including adaptive waterski, kayaking, quad rugby, wheelchair basketball, and adaptive SCUBA. Dr. Loy has over 50 publications and made over 100 presentations on topics including the therapeutic effects of adapted sports and recreation; wheelchair propulsion biomechanics; assessment, measurement, and psychometrics; sensory integration in neurodivergent populations; and issues related to recreational therapy education. Dr. Loy’s research grants and publications have focused on a) biomechanics and performance in adaptive sports and b) sensory integration with neurodivergent populations to promote inclusion, health, and quality of life issues for individuals with disabilities.

Ph.D., LRT, CTRS

Cari E. Autry, Ph.D., LRT, CTRS is an Associate Professor and Director of the Recreational Therapy (RT) Program and Sailing Simulation Lab in the Department of Recreation Sciences and Sport Management at East Carolina University (ECU). She earned her Ph.D. in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Therapeutic Recreation (TR) and a minor in Special Education from the University of Florida, and an M.S. in Recreation Administration with an emphasis in TR from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dr. Autry has delivered over 100 presentations at local, state, national, and international conferences on her research in recreational therapy, therapeutic sailing and virtual reality sailing simulation, adventure therapy, youth and community development, homelessness, social capital, and RT/TR in higher education. She has authored more than 25 publications in refereed journals, including World Leisure Journal (WLJ), International Leisure Review (ILR), Therapeutic Recreation Journal (TRJ), The ATRA Annual in TR, Leisure Sciences, Leisure/Loisir, SCHOLE, Sociology of Sport Journal, and Palaestra. Currently, she is a co-editor for Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences (Disability, Rehabilitation, and Inclusion section) and has been an Associate Editor of TRJ since 2004. She also reviews for journals including WLJ, ILR, Leisure Sciences, and others. She served six years as Poster Session Co-Chair for ATRA’s Research Institute and currently serves on the National Academy of Recreational Therapists Fellow Nomination Committee. Internationally, she is an Executive Board Member and committee chair/member for the World Leisure Organization (WLO) and serves on the WLJ Editorial Board.

PhD, LRT, CTRS

Lindsey R. Oakes, Ph.D., LRT, CTRS is a recreational therapy (RT) Assistant Professor (tenure-track) in the Department of Recreation Sciences at East Carolina University. Lindsey also serves as Senior Associate within a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, InFocus Advocacy, and previously served as RT Program Director and Assistant Professor of Instruction in the Department of Health and Rehabilitation at Temple University. Prior to this, Lindsey served as Assistant Professor (tenure-track) of Therapeutic Recreation in the Department of Health and Human Performance at Texas State University. She received her Ph.D. in Public Health Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro (UNCG) in 2020 and served as the Student Support Coordinator at UNCG's inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) program, Integrative Community Studies, for four years where she supported college students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD) through a certificate program and provided RT services to enrolled students with IDD. Dr. Oakes’ research interests include overall health/wellness and community inclusion of individuals/college students with IDD, inclusion of individuals/college students with IDD in community/campus recreation, best practices for inclusive service delivery within community/campus recreation, use of virtual reality among individuals with IDD, IPSE programs, and use of photovoice with individuals with disabilities to increase community inclusion.