2019 Annual Conference

This pre-conference session will present one replicable model, Head Trauma Support Project (HTSP), that provides interprofessional, educational supportive programs free of charge to all those living with acquired brain injury (ABI). HTSP provides multiple support groups for all of those living with ABI including spouses/partners/significant others, children/siblings, parents, and individuals with ABI. Elements necessary for creation of and sustainability for such a program including interprofessional education/practice, community reintegration events and activities will be provided to the audience along with recent outcome data.

Participants will explore the content and learn the importance of using the ATRA Standards of Practice for developing policies & procedures.  Participants will be guided through the process of using the SOP in developing policies and procedures for a Recreational Therapy department or program. They will also engage in basics of policy and procedure writing techniques, to aid in the development and/or revision of their current policies and procedures.

Dare to Lead was developed by Brene Brown after twenty years of studying courage, vulnerability, shame, and empathy. In addition, she recently completed a seven-year study on brave leadership. Leadership is about the willingness to step up, put yourself out there, and lean into courage. Taking this framework, this session will identify the need for brave leadership in the clinical supervision of Recreational Therapy. This interactive session will help professionals rumble with vulnerability, identify their values, and develop their clinical supervision skill set through the Dare to Lead concepts. This practice will establish the professional and advance the profession.

This session is designed to enhance Recreational Therapists' ability to advocate using social media by providing basic tools and knowledge for developing social media campaigns. As individuals and agencies, advocacy for the field of Therapeutic Recreation, for Recreational Therapists, and for those who use our services is essential to the continued growth and value of the profession. Social media is an increasingly important and powerful method of advocacy, allowing us to reach and influence more individuals and organizations than ever before. However, most Recreational Therapists are not trained in designing effective social media campaigns and do not have the personal or agency resources to hire a social media manager. Therefore, this session will introduce the foundations of social media and social media campaigns, types of social media content, tools for creating social media graphics, and strategies for managing social media campaigns. Participants will put this information into practice by creating a social media campaign and developing a social media toolbox for later use.

The very philosophy of public parks and recreation that all people-regardless of race, ethnicity, age, income level, physical or cognitive ability, sexual orientation, gender or religion-are able to take advantage of quality programs, facilities, places, and spaces that make their communities great and improve quality of life. Many agencies are performing great work in the community to ensure that these philosophies are being implemented by Recreation Therapists and necessary support staff. This session will review the ADA requirements, how to self-assess your agencies Inclusion policies/processes, examples of how agencies budget for inclusion services, utilization of the APIED process in Inclusion services, suggested staff training and case management strategies to support small and large organizations, strategies to support positive behavior, and a look to the future as to the current and upcoming trends and issues relating to Inclusion over the next 5 years. It sounds like a lot, because it is! Join us for an enriching day of sharing, learning, and improving each of our agencies Inclusion services.

Introduction to 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 Certification Exam. As a recreational therapist interested in aquatic therapy, this workshop is designed to provide you with the information you need to get started in this growing intervention strategy. The workshop will include an introduction to why water is a good therapeutic environment, popular treatment techniques of practice, assessment, appropriate efficacy based outcomes from aquatic therapy, and the process of aquatic justification. The lab segment will involve an introduction to 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 count for 8 hours of your hours towards exam qualification. The 7 remaining hours will be covered by attending ATRA conference sessions. Be sure to review the guidelines http://www.atri.org/ATRICertification.htm. Contact Mary Jane Vicari (mjvicari@atri.org) to register and receive the discount. Let her know you are taking Intro to AT 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. http://www.atri.org/stflyer.htm.
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 and go through the self-tests before deciding if you need additional resource books. However, these books will be excellent resources for AT. For additional information go to http://www.atri.org/ATRICertification.htm
   • Essential Principles of Aquatic Therapy and Rehabilitation – Study Guide (Sova)
   • Aquatic Fitness Professional Manual (AEA)
   • AQUATICS: The Complete Reference Guide for Aquatic Fitness Professionals (Sova)

Topics covered remain the same whatever the duration, however longer sessions will allow more in-depth discussions, demonstrations, and potential for audience interaction, to dive deeper into each topic. 

Providing background and research information about the effects of role-playing gaming upon participants. Covers all formats: electronic, hybrid, live-action, solo adventure books, and tabletop.

Addresses many inculcated concepts in popular culture regarding role-playing games and gamers, and presents the existing relevant research.

Covers the potential benefits and caveats, where to find further information, service providers, consulting, and professional training options for interested Therapeutic Recreation Specialists wishing to incorporate these modalities into their practice.

The session will initially provide examples of each game format in a typical recreation setting, then proceed with the existing research using RPG for various educational and therapeutic interventions from other disciplines (psychiatry, psychology, education, sociology, cognitive, behavioral, etc.), then illustrate how the application of TR methodologies are an excellent fit for these activities as an intervention modality for many populations in group and individual settings.

Includes information on:

• Professional standards
• Formal training options
• Accessibility & adaptive considerations
• Facilities considerations, including mobile options
• Additional resources

Brief overview of specific real-world applied TR programs using RPGs.

Example facility applications covered:

• Community centers
• Rehabilitation facilities
• Mental health
• Summer camps
• Clinical to community transitions

Specific population program plans:

• Anxiety & social phobias
• ASD/PDD toddlers, youth, & adults
• At-risk & troubled youth
• Brain injuries rehabilitation
• Muscular Dystrophy & relevant others
• Social skills development

This session is designed for participants interested in gaining hands-on experience with commercial virtual reality (VR) equipment and games/applications with relevance for use in recreational therapy (RT) practice. Following a general overview of VR equipment, games/applications, and current evidence supporting VR use in healthcare, participants will rotate through a series of experiential learning stations.  At these stations, participants will first practice setting up VR equipment and discussing possible adaptations for different service settings. Next, participants will role play a variety of RT treatment sessions using nine different VR games/applications with relevance for diverse populations and practice settings.  This intensive experiential learning considering issues for both therapists and clients will assist participants in developing professional confidence and competence in implementing VR interventions. It will also foster understanding of how VR could be implemented in their own RT practice. The session will conclude with a group discussion about clinical implications in diverse settings in order to obtain a broader understanding of possible uses for VR in the RT profession.  Space is limited to 16 participants to maximize experiential learning opportunities.

This session is geared towards current ATRA Section Leaders and those interested in taking on a leadership role in an ATRA Section. Section Leaders empower and strengthen ATRA members using evidence-based practice, public policy, and competency development within their speciality settings. This session will facilitate group discussion regarding strategies and methods for communication, recruitment, and development of resources to support ATRA members. Participants will have the opportunity to devise new setting-specific initiatives/marketing tools to promote the profession to specific industry settings and to gain an understanding of the interpersonal linkages within the organization. This session will also evaluate Section leader performance capabilities, challenges, and core drivers to assist in the enhancement of one's capacity to support the future growth of ATRA's vision and direction.  Note: If you are not a current ATRA Section Leader attending this session, please plan on bringing lunch to this session.

Are current students, interns and graduates adequately prepared to enter the workforce? Does their education include the development of professional behaviors that are expected? The primary outcomes of this session will be to understand the discrepancies between education and practice.

This interactive session will explore these questions from the perspective of the educator, clinicians and current research. Participants will learn strategies through which educators and practitioners  can facilitate students’ transition from academics to the workforce.  

This session will focus on evidence-based practices, competencies, and public policy related to ATRA's Child & Adolescent Section. An update regarding Child & Adolescent section involvement with Evidence-Based Practice committee will be provided by our liaison. Participants will be asked to identify & rank potential treatment modalities for future EBP practice guidelines. An update from our public policy liaison will be discussed as it relates to this practice area. Session will conclude with break out discussions in small groups focused on advocacy, marketing, benefits of section involvement and creating a plan for action.

This session will focus on RT management practices specific to the use of evidence-based practices and strategies, competencies, and public policy issues. Participants will be introduced to the purpose of ATRA Sections and updated on the status of the Management Section.  Section leaders will facilitate discussion on current trends and issues found in recreational therapy management positions. This session will engage in small and large group discussions to identify the resources and tools needed to be an effective advocate and director of RT programs and staff.  Participants will examine current trends and issues found in recreational therapy management positions. This session will conclude with the identification of individual/organizational goals for improving management practices in Recreational Therapy.

This session will focus on past and current section work plan results, specifically networking efforts through the website and social media.  This session will also feature current trends for schools based recreational therapists regarding treatment modalities, assessment tools, etc.  We will also discuss results from the Delphi Study.

This educational session of the Veterans & Military Treatment Section will focus on current evidence-based practice for the veteran and service member population in recreational therapy. We will also discuss theories that inform recreational therapy practice with veteran and military service members. Cultural competency resources for the practice of recreational therapy with veterans and service members will be discussed. Treatment network coordinators will facilitate discussion on current practices and future plans for the treatment section.

This session will offer an update to the BH section members on the last ATRA information, relevant issues to practice and trends that impact delivery of care.  

Stay hip to the groove on what has been happening this past year in the Community. This session will detail the updates to the website, evidence based practice, mentoring opportunities, and competencies for a RT practicing in the Community. Section leaders will facilitate discussion on current practices, as well as future plans for the section.

This session will focus on evidence-based practices, standardized assessments, competencies, and public policy initiatives related to the Older Adult Section. Current evidence related to the RT practice will be presented with a focused discussion on older adults with depression, stroke, and dementia related behaviors. This session will empower practitioners to gather data in their practice by presenting several case studies with associated valid and reliable assessment tool instruction and training for related diagnoses in RT practice. In addition, RT Geriatric Competencies will be discussed as well as how practitioners can utilize this self-assessment tool to identify areas of competencies requiring further professional development. Furthermore, current public policy issues will be presented to provide resources and tools for practitioners to become advocates for the older adult population who benefit from our services.

This session will focus on assessments, evidence-based practices, communication and collaboration strategies, and public policy related to the Physical Rehabilitation and Medical Section. Current evidence for recreational therapy practice within the Physical Rehabilitation and Medical Section will be discussed with a focus on assessments and evidence-based practices to better serve a variety of diagnoses and populations. An update on the communication and collaboration strategies for the Physical Rehabilitation and Medical Section will be discussed as it pertains to increased networking, research for evidence based practice, relevant public policy topics, webinar highlights, and more. Furthermore, relevant public policy issues will be discussed that relate to the Physical Rehabilitation and Medical Section will be discussed within a small group setting.  

As more and more individuals with disabilities seek to participate in inclusive recreation, the needs of the clients are changing, introducing new challenges for the professional. Inclusion can be a great experience for all involved, but not without challenges. This session will discuss trends, common challenges and how to use best practices when faced with a challenging situation, along with other tips and guidelines for providing a least restrictive environment for clients with a variety of disabilities.

It is important to look at the lifestyle of the TR professional and encourage personal health and wellbeing.  Often times, TR professionals face burnout and working days that affect their own leisure and recreation in a negative way.  Balancing life with a TR job is important and Imagine Therapies, LLC in San Antonio, TX is creating an opportunity for the TR professional to live their best life by working as a contractor.  In this breakout session, TR professionals will examine their own lives with regard to work and free time as well as learn ways to balance and find new alternatives to allow for a balanced lifestyle and have an overall improved quality of life.

Community-based Recreational Therapy often relies on partnerships with organizations in the community to help provide successful programming. One partnership that can be especially valuable is with the Veterans Affairs (VA) heath care system. Grant funding that is available for recreation programming for veterans can help provide the funding and resources that community RT providers need to start up programs that are beneficial for local veterans. This session will review the benefits of veteran recreation programs, how to research and identify veteran grant funding opportunities, steps that will typically take place when partnerships are created between community RT providers and their local VA health care system, and examples of various past and present community RT veteran program options that have been successful. 

In October 2019,  Centers for Medicaire and Medcaid Services will make significant changes to the Prospective Payment System (PPS) payment system using the Patient Driven Payment Model for determining the per diem charges for Medicare Part A stays in LTC. Along with these changes, the Minimum Data Set (MDS 3.0) will also undergo significant revisions. This session will cover these significant changes and the implications for CTRS who are practicing in LTC. 

Evidence- and theory-based practice continue to become increasingly important to the sustainability, justification, and improvement of recreational therapy services. ATRA’s Research Institute wants to ensure that recreational therapy practitioners, students, and academicians have an opportunity to share their research, while also learning from colleagues’ work, to further advance our profession and the quality of services provided to clients. The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of how recreational therapy professionals and students can contribute to the Research Institute by submitting their work for presentation at conference, or by serving as a reviewer.

Children who have a sibling with a disability face unique challenges not encountered by children who have siblings who are typically developing.  This session will give an overview of the needs of children who have siblings with disabilities, supports that are/are not out there, barriers siblings encounter, the benefits of providing recreational therapy services to siblings, RT interventions and outcomes that can be used, and much more.

RT interventions and supports are vital to supporting mental health efforts in the public-school setting. Recreational therapists can promote healthy academic and non-academic development in all children as a valued member of the school’s integrative strategies to support students with mental health and learning disorders. This session will increase participant understanding on recreational therapy’s niché on the multi-disciplinary team along with other related services such as counseling, psychology, and social work. Participants will learn how RT services are delivered for students with mental health diagnoses including the referral process, use of standardized assessments, development of goals and objectives, interventions and supports used, and the evaluation processes. An interactive discussion will explore the trends and issues of mental health services and RT in the school system to improve mental health and educational attainment for students.

This session will describe the impact trauma has on an individual's physiology, leisure coping behaviors, and participation in healthcare treatment including Recreational Therapy. Best practices in TIC will be outlined including specific strategies for incorporating Trauma Informed Care will be outlined for clinical settings, community settings, and administration. Participants will have the opportunity to develop and get feedback on individual strategies to implement TIC in their personal setting/practice.

Beginning in October 2019, the IRF PPS has made significant changes to the assessment instrument (IRF PAI) for inpatient rehabilitation. This revision removes the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) from the IRF PAI.  This session will present an overview of the new approach to patient assessment in the IRF setting as well as implications for recreational therapy services.  

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. 

Sensory art program was used to determine the sensory preferences and promote self-determination and self-esteem of children with medically complex care needs and limited communication capabilities. Through a strengths based approach, preferred sensory stimulation, choice making, and independent movement were explored and discovered over several weeks with the results used together into a final piece of artwork by each child. Final pieces of artwork were then displayed at an art show with pictures and colorful descriptions where family, friends, and care staff could see and learn something new about each child, seeing them in a different light. Future development of program include a sensory art assessment and incorporation of detailed and specific sensory preferences into each child’s individualized interdisciplinary care plan.

Does your boss keep asking you to come up with a quality or performance improvement indicator and you are not sure what to do? Have you heard of CQI but not real sure about what that means in RT? Do you find implementing QI to be daunting and a time-drain? Do your current QI efforts seem like busy work and irrelevant to practice? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, this is the session for you. In this session you will learn how to plan and implement an evidence-based QI process that is time-efficient, implemented without interruption to your services, intended for small-scale process improvement, and will actually result in improving the quality of service delivery. The Plan-Do-Study-Act model is known for generating innovative evidence-based solutions for companies such as Toyota and has been adapted by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement for use in public health and healthcare settings. The goal of this session is for participants to leave with an identified QI indicator, a way to measure it, and a plan for implementation specific to his/her practice. In order for participants to get the most from the session, they will need to complete a short worksheet/survey prior to the session. 

The internship experience is an integral part of preparing the future professional for practice as a successful Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist. The internship supervisor is the link between education and practice for the new professional. In order to best prepare the student, it is necessary that all individuals involved in the internship experience be aware of the current standards for the internship experience. This session provides an in depth coverage of the NCTRC Internship Standards. The information is geared to internship supervisors and will discuss how to successfully develop an internship experience. It will include the requirements necessary to complete an internship experience and requirements to maintain certification.

Survivors of Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and their caregivers often feel alone and unsure of what the future holds. Literature indicates that peer interaction is a critical support for persons experiencing a catastrophic event such as ABI. This dynamic case based workshop will address needed solutions for creating peer connection during in-patient rehabilitation for ABI survivors and their caregivers. Attendees will also develop a roadmap for creating and implementing their own interprofessional peer support program. Survivor stories and outcomes will be shared throughout.

This session will identify deliquent youth and risk factors leading to delinquency. Lecture will introduce current house arrest system and how recreational therapy is currently used as a rehabilitative method to limit recidivism. Session will follow the APIED process of recreational therapy services within this community system while describing benefits and barriers to each step. Lastly, session will provide successful behavior management techniques used within this setting to redirect and manage aggressive behavior. 

As we age we all deserve the opportunity to be our best selves and to engage meaningfully in our environment. Recreational therapists have the opportunity to adapt the environments of their clients with dementia in such a way that meaningful engagement is possible. One approach to accomplishing this is through integrating aromatherapy into their practice. In this session, participants will begin by learning how aromatherapy works. Next, research linking aromatherapy to benefits for clients with dementia will be presented. Finally, specific aromatherapy implementation techniques to facilitate with older adults with dementia will be explained.

This session will teach the fundamentals of creating a rhetorical argument to persuade special educators or administrators to fund RT as a related service in their school or district.

The Department of Veteran's affairs has adopted a cultural transformation, dubbed Whole Health, that is aiming to totally redesign the how our nation's veterans recieve their care. Putting the veteran at the center of this model, Recreation Therapists in and out of the VA system will find similarities and room for partnership and expansion within the Whole Health Model. Join us for a discussion on current theories and pathways of care that Recreation Therapists should know about. 

Join us for a fast-paced and fun way to meet RT professionals.  It is like speed dating for your professional development!  This event is set up where there will be at least two professionals and three to four students at each table. After a set period of time the group of students will move to the next table and so on. Students and professionals will have the chance network, ask any burning questions and discuss working in the field of recreation therapy in a welcoming and non-intimidating environment. Walk away with a network of connections so don’t forget your business cards!

This is a two (2) part session that will bring educators, students, and practitioners together to examine how graduated field experiences can maximize effective outcomes. Multiple level field experiences will be explored as well as field supervisor training, professional skills criteria, the role of non-certified field supervisors and the role of academic supervisors. Participants will be given opportunities to work in groups and are asked to bring examples of their fieldwork materials to the session.

The evolving healthcare landscape is creating opportunities for Recreational Therapy to secure reimbursement and increase opportunities for clients in need of our services to gain access to our services. Critical to success, is the way we message outcomes and the RT process, and position this message within the context of current pressures driving health care changes at the local and national levels. We will discuss how recreational therapy supports population health models of care, aligns with interests of key payers and providers, and can fit within alternative payment systems.  We will provide attendees with examples of messaging and information to pursue reimbursement from several national sources.

This session provides an in depth coverage of recertification standards. Continuing education, professional experience, and re-examination will be described in detail. Utilization of the 2014 NCTRC National Job Analysis Study in relation to recertification requirements will be discussed.

Learn about "Patient and Family Centered Care" and how critical Recreational Therapy is in this patient and familiy centered approach. Also, how Patient and Family Centered Care could change the future of Recreational Therapy in the continued fight for the advancement of our wonderful profession.

What happens when your client has a pivotal, catalytic, or even life-changing experience? Learn to improve affective states and behavioral outcomes using evidence-based metatherapeutic processing techniques from Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy. Participants will learn to recognize state transformations, practice verbal and non-verbal practices in dyads, and discuss applications for practice.

This presentation will provide the audience with an understanding of positive psychological approaches to care for people with dementia and how to use these interventions to increase engagement. An overview of the science and cornerstones of positive psychology in developing meaningful interventions for people with dementia will be discussed. We will review  how to use these interventions to meet the new F-tags in long-term care. Come join us for this meaningful, stimulating, and interactive educational session. 

The clinical supervision process plays a vital role in the professional development of recreational therapists, and in protecting clients receiving recreational therapy services. Supervisees have been found to model supervisee-supervisor interactions while interacting with clients, underscoring the importance of utilizing a clinical supervision model and approach that mirrors practice principles. The historical focus on strengths makes the field of RT well positioned to adopt a strengths-based clinical supervision model that parallels the principles of strengths-based RT practice. The purpose of this session is to provide an overview of the Strengths-Based Supervision model and describe strategies for implementing the Strengths-Based Supervision model in RT clinical supervision. This session will also include an interactive component encouraging participants to brainstorm and identify ways in which the Strengths-Based Supervision model can be implemented with supervisees in their own facilities and areas of practice.

As the paradigm shifts to more of a way to treat illness and conditions holistically in healthcare, recreation therapist can play a vital role in delivery holistic modalities. This double session will give an overview of evidence-based holisitc modalites that RT can use in a variety of settings. Techniques such as conscious breathing, guided imagery, seated yoga, atuogenics, and progressive muscle relaxation will be demonstrated. Implications for RT will be discussed and RT protocol will be discussed.

This session will provide an overview of the CARF International standards of practice and the role recreation therapy plays to assure attainment of these standards.  A hands-on exploration of the 2019 standards in behavioral health, medical rehabilitation, aging services, and child and youth services will be provided.  Strategies to advocate for recreation therapy with administration and CARF surveyors will also be highlighted.   

Magic, conducted as a therapeutic intervention, is an innovative and engaging approach to improving client outcomes. The uniqueness of concept of magic motivates clients to practice relevant skills. This session is designed to instruct conference participants on the rationale, techniques, and implementation of 4-6 magic tricks using everyday items (e. g., rubber bands, money, etc.). These "tricks" address therapeutic goals such as fine/gross motor skills, cognitive/administrative skills, memory skills, social interaction skills, and self-esteem. Participants will learn the theories that underlie the relevance of this intervention. In addition, evidence-based case studies of magic as an intervention will be presented. Each trick presented will include step by step instructions for teaching tricks to clients (with task analysis), skills required for client to perform it, facilitation considerations, specific outcomes addressed, and possible adaptations/modifications. Supplies and a resource handout will be provided.

Recreational therapists are in the unique position to initiate and lead interprofessional education experiences in a variety of practice and learning environments. The session will review strategies to bring learners from different disciplines together to build team performance and transform service delivery approaches and outcomes. Session attendees will learn to use the assets of recreational therapy to develop an interprofessional education activity that is suitable to their practice setting or educational institution.

In a broad look at therapeutic programing provided  across the US our tendency is to seperate individuals based on ages and stages. Kids go to school- learning and spending time with those their own age, elders attend day programs, attend Community Enrichment, or live in settings with other elders, but what type of magic could come from meaningful and intentional intergenerational programming. All generations have something to give and all generations are continually learning and growning.  In this session you will learn about why Intergenerational programming is a necessity and the ins and outs of  how to make it happen, successfully! weather you are working with youth or older adults this session will help you develop a tool box to move forward develop your own intergenerational programming. 

For decades bibliotherapy has been used successfully to treat addiction, PTSD, childhood and adult trauma, and mental illness. This session will discuss the history of bibliotherapy, evidence based practice in the field of RT, and how to use graphic medicine, a newer form of bibliotherapy as an intervention for family caregivers of patients with Alzheimer's Disease. Participants will leave this session with a detailed intervention program that incorporates graphic medicine in a caregiver support group setting.

Living in a rural area can pose a major barrier for health seeking behaviors among individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. This session will focus on discussing the treatment barriers specific to rural settings for individuals with Parkinson's disease and the importance of developing quality treatment programs in these areas. This session will also inform attendees of potential evidence-based therapeutic modalities that recreational therapists can use in a practical setting. Additionally, presenters will provide information about the rural multidisciplinary community program they have recently developed and provide information on the impact it has had on balance, speech, and quality of life among individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Attendees will also have the opportunity to engage in a mock dual-task fall prevention intervention.

Funding: The multidisciplinary program referenced throughout this presentation was sponsored by the Parkinson's Foundation Community Grant. 

The Committee on Accreditation of Recreational Therapy Education (CARTE) provides academic program accreditation in recreational therapy (RT) as part of the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Programs (CAAHEP).  As such, conversations surrounding CARTE often focus on issues related to higher education programs and systems, RT educators, and RT students.  However, RT program accreditation is also aligned with the healthcare environment and workforce, and can have a significant impact on professional practice.  Therefore, it is important for RT practitioners to also be aware of and understand CARTE accreditation. This session will provide an overview of CARTE accreditation and highlight implications for the RT profession overall, and the RT practitioner specifically.

Hospitals are seeing an increase in length of stay for complex patients.  At Sacred Heart we started a program to focus on barriers to discharge they include: homelessness, progressing dementia, need for guardianship, history of TBI, Psych issues, Addiction, Adult Protective services involvement, and needing to apply for Medicaid. This program goal is to get these people a permanent placement in the community.This program includes Social Work, Behavior Therapy, Recreation Therapy, Nursing and Nursing Assistants.  We started this program in Jan 2017 and it continues today.  Working as a team we were able to address the complex issues with these patients, identify goals, set daily schedules, develop social skills and practice social living.   I will identify the challenges we faces and how we have been able to successfully place over 80 patients that had lengths of stay from 90 to 380 days saving the hospital over $5 million dollars.  

This session will introduce commonly faced challenges to professional engagement, assess the most likely barriers to success and identify common factors for successful engagement strategy. This session is for those who want to become invovled and those interested in increasing and engaging members and/or stakeholders in change efforts within your local chapter. 

This session will focus on practice issues related to recreational therapy in the physical rehabilitation and medicine (PRM) practice setting. Current evidence for recreational therapy practice in the PRM section will be covered. Results of the Delphi study will be described and deliberated. A focused discussion will be held to collaborate on creating ideas to amend relevant practice issues to better serve clients within the rehabilitation setting. In addition, information will be given on how ATRA can support practitioners with regards to practice issues experienced within any PRM recreational therapy setting.

Recovery is possible but individuals will need a plan!  This session will enable CTRS to facilitation Recovery Planning sessions for patients who are working towards recovery from a mental health diagnosis or an addiction.  We will discuss the role of self-esteem, self-efficacy, resilience, and a healthy leisure lifestyle in self-management and recovery.  In addition, we will discuss RT interventions that empower individuals to develop the tools to implement a plan for recovery.   

Identity is strongly linked to health and wellness outcomes. Oftentimes, the connections between identity theory/terminology and recreational therapy practice are understated or misunderstood. However, the concept of identity provides a foundation for our client’s attitudes, motivations, and behavior. A greater understanding of the implications surrounding stages and styles of identity formation provides us with greater ability to be effective facilitators as we work with our clients to integrate their valued health behaviors into daily life.

This session will highlight the existing identity-based approaches inherent in recreational therapy. It will also explain the areas of opportunity to dive deeper into identity-based practices (e.g., exploring, forming, and re-storying) within recreational therapy in order to maximize positive health and wellness outcomes. Identity theory grounded in research will be presented and coupled with programmatic implications and facilitation techniques that can be implemented with individuals and groups across diagnosis and life stages. Interactive elements will be utilized.

Group drumming has historical roots in many cultures as a form of recreation, creative expression, and community building.  It is also frequently used for therapeutic purposes in a variety of healthcare service settings.  Group drumming is a natural fit in recreational therapy practice since recreational music making is accessible to individuals of diverse ages and abilities. Several evidence-based programs and protocols exist to guide practitioners in structuring therapeutic interventions. This session provides a general overview of group drumming with an emphasis on its relevance for recreational therapy practice.  The history of group drumming, necessary equipment, possible benefits/outcomes, and current evidence supporting its use will be reviewed. Multiple programs will be spotlighted as examples, and participants will be introduced to specific activity ideas and facilitation techniques through experiential learning. Available resources and additional opportunities for recreational therapy professionals to incorporate group drumming into their professional practice will also be discussed.

“The Best Collaborations create something bigger than the sum of what each person can create on their own.” Collaborating creates value for yourself, your agency, your clients, your partner and your community. Finding the right partner allows you to grow and stretch beyond your boundaries, extend beyond your comfort zones while adding diversity and synergy to the collaborate adventure. A successful collaboration fosters original thinking, creativity and innovation.

This workshop introduces participants to the basics of trauma, and explores the components of adolescent development and trauma symptomology. As trauma becomes more prevalent in our daily lives and practices, it is important for professionals to have a clear foundation of trauma. Furthermore, as facilities move towards offering trauma centered programs, it is crucial to understand how the Recreational Therapy profession fits into that framework in order to adequately treat trauma. This session will explore the behavioral impacts of trauma on the brain, as well as identify practical knowledge for Recreational Therapists to use to intervene and address the effects of trauma.

This session will provide an overview of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) proposed by the World Health Organization. An understanding of the ICF and its application in recreational therapy services will be addressed.  An update on the Procedural Manual and Guide for a Standardized Application of the ICF will be discussed.

This session will provide general understanding of mindfulness and  will discuss the vital roles TR/RT’s play in the implementation of mindfulness in mental health for Adolescents.  This session will introduce the “B.R.E.A.T.H.E.” technique designed for adolescents specifically to assist teens ability to “ Settle into present moment awareness by slowing down and practicing a new skill set for paying attention.” We will also be identifying interventions that are applicable to Adolescents in  Acute and Residential mental health settings .

Social skills training is often under the purview of recreational therapists.  The use of techniques such as modeling, training and role-playing help individuals with disabilities learn to navigate the verbal and non-verbal social skills needed to interact in an increasingly social world.  The goal of a social skills intervention is to “…increase interactional and communication skills, promote positive peer experiences and enhance self-esteem” (Osonoff and Miller, 1995). Yet is social skill training enough? Does it truly prepare individuals for experiences with peers, supervisors, and co-workers?   Social affiliation, social empowerment (and other related concepts regarding social roles, relationships, and support) are also key concepts in preparing individuals to interact within their communities on a more meaningful level. This session will seek to define these social variables, introduce assessments that can measure them, and potential interventions a recreational therapist may consider when trying to meet varied social goals. 

As recreational therapists, we daily witness the impacts of our services, telling countless powerful narratives that denote the effect of recreation and leisure on the aging population. While powerful, these anecdotes often lack evidentiary support or never make it to the shelf, thus becoming fleeting representations of lasting outcomes. Comprehensive assessment allows us to tell the full story. Grounded in NCTRC’s 2014 Job Task Analysis, this session will provide in-depth application of each Assessment Job Task tailored to all older adult settings. Come observe live demonstrations and acquire skills to confidently administer informal and prominent standardized assessments, including, but not limited to, Geriatric Depression Scale, Timed “Up and Go” Test, Functional Independence Measure, St. Louis University Mental Status, Senior Fitness Test, and Tinetti Balance Scale. Gathering data in all functional domains distinguishes Recreational Therapists from other healthcare providers, highlighting the limitless impacts of a holistic approach. Measuring these outcomes is not only imperative to tracking client progress, but also encompasses an important opportunity to validate our services. Gain administrative support through providing evidence of RT’s impact on pertinent issues such as falls, dementia-related behaviors, social isolation, and pain. This session goes beyond collecting facts and figures to tell a unique story of each individual we treat.

In 2016, The American Therapeutic Recreation Association’s (ATRA) Board of Directors approved the development of a Task Force within the ATRA Higher Education Committee charged with systematically examining education requirements for entry-level practice and making recommendations to the ATRA Board of Directors. This session will summarize the Task Force’s study, the data-driven findings and results, and the recommendations presented to the ATRA Board of Directors. Strategic initiatives to move the recommendations forward will be presented.  

Whether you are currently job hunting or considering looking for a new position, there are steps you can take to make yourself more attractive to potential employers. This interactive round-robin session will provide participants with the opportunity to develop their marketability and prepare for jobs within targeted settings of interest.  ATRA Section Leaders will share career enhancing steps and job-specific skills currently in demand and those likely to be valuable in the future. Participants will gain helpful insight into applying and interviewing so they can be in a strong position to compete for jobs. Take away resources will be shared to assist participants in becoming more marketable for a job in a targeted setting(s).  

Prevention is increasingly becoming a focus in healthcare. Yet most healthcare services and practitioners, including recreational therapists, focus almost exclusively on treating existing medical conditions and disabilities. This session will provide information about the focus of prevention sciences and discuss how recreational therapists are well positioned to focus on prevention in healthcare services for individuals of all ages. Research has long suggested that engagement in leisure has the potential to promote physical, emotional, cognitive, and social health and wellbeing. In this session, we will discuss how recreational therapists may extend their role in healthcare by expanding our focus on prevention in both community and clinical settings.

How competent are you as a recreational therapist? How competent are we as a profession? Come to this session to learn about the results and implications of the ATRA Delphi and Competencies Study. You may have been a participant in the study! This study was a comprehensive, two-part, multi-year study and the first to explore current RT practice at a micro-competency level. This session will present findings related to specific diagnostic populations served; interventions/modalities, techniques, standardized assessment tools, and theories utilized; education, training, and counseling topics in treatment; and on-the-horizon treatment and issues.  You will discover areas of practice that RT has high competence, moderate competence, and low competence. The session will discuss how the profession can harness our practice strengths and bolster areas that need improvement. 

This session will guide participants in the use and application of a self-assessment marketing tool designed to identify marketing needs and subsequently design feasible strategies to improve occupational prestige of RT in the workplace. Often, RT has struggled to be perceived as a goal-directed and evidence-based therapy among administrators, physicians, and sister therapies. This is due in part to a lack of a marketing strategy for the discipline of RT - a critical element in the advancement of the profession. In a national study, CTRSs reported only moderate skills and identified myriad marketing needs. This session will train participants to use a self-assessment tool designed to evaluate their current marketing efforts. Session participants will identify their marketing strengths and areas needing attention. Participants will then be guided in the development of an individualized Action Plan to address their identified marketing needs in their own programs.

In this session, we will provide an engaging and didactic session based on our numerous yoga research studies with adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). During our studies, we have developed a variety of tips and tricks to enhancing the yoga intervention through an autonomy supported intervention and teaching style, to structuring the environment for greatest benefit, and for teaching physical activity to individuals with IDD. 

During this session you will become a skillful detective, enabling you to manage dementia related behaviors. You will learn how to notice a difficult, unusual, or unexpected behavior, and begin to stop, look, and listen for clues. In addition, you will acquire an understanding of why the behavior is happening, what the trigger is, and what the person is trying to tell you, what might have caused them to be upset, angry, sad, or frustrated. Lastly, you will obtain an understanding of how these skills relate to meeting the new F-tags.

With all the fitness fads and conflicting health advice flooding our news feeds, it can be challenging to talk with clients about physical activity recommendations. This session will help make those conversations easier, highlighting the new national guidelines through the physical activity campaign, Move your Way.  Come learn about practical resources including fact sheets, posters, videos, and interactive tools to use in RT practice and incorporate into client treatment plans in a plurality of settings.

The presenters will provide foundational knowledge regarding best practices when working with LGBTQ people. Special consideration will be given to the use of affirming terminology and demonstrating an evidence-based response during the assessment, planning, implementation, and documentation processes of therapeutic recreation. Cultural competence resources to enhance the quality of therapeutic recreation services and improve client outcomes will be provided. 

The presenters will provide evidence-based information regarding best practices when working with LGBTQ people in therapeutic recreation settings. Particular attention will be given to agency and state policies that impact service quality and health-related client outcomes. Specific strategies for enhancing cultural competency at the program and agency level will be provided in order to improve the quality of services for LGBTQ people. The presenters will also address potential challenges and opportunities regarding therapeutic recreation programming. Resources to enhance collaboration, provide support, and improve client outcomes will also be provided.

Internships provide students opportunities to practice their skills, hone their abilities, and prepare for their future career. To support future generations, many recreational therapists have taken great personal responsibility in supervising student interns. While many have reported positive experience and benefits from their mentoring experiences, mentors and protégés can experience difficulties in their relationship, especially when mentor-mentee share different cultural or social backgrounds. In this session, we will review literature concerning the benefits associated with mentoring and factors that affect the mentoring relationships. We will then discuss how to support international interns and encourage attendees to share their mentoring experiences. Recommendations for mentoring interns with demographic dissimilarity will be discussed.   

Higher education institutions are being called upon to engage students in research early and often. Clinical programs, including recreational therapy, are challenged to meet clinical competencies while also promoting research. This session will present information about trends in higher education research, accreditation requirements, and strategies for motivating students to engage in research. Discussion/information sharing will be encouraged.

Are you new to ATRA or someone who isn’t familiar with what ATRA is about and what we are doing for recreational therapists?  Join us for a time with the incoming President and President-Elect to learn what ATRA is doing on your behalf, and be challenged on what you can do to make a difference.

Guided by the literature on the psychophysiological health and wellbeing benefits of nature engagement, this experiential session will make an evidence-based case for intentional nature engagement programming in recreation therapy practice across all treatment settings and populations. Participants will learn how to articulate the evidence-based benefits of nature-based interventions and how to connect them to assessment and treatment planning. Considerations for special populations will be shared, and participants will be invited to practice example interventions.

Are college students different today than in years prior? What makes them tick, and for that matter, what makes some succeed and others struggle? Are there differences in how they value or move through life compared with past generations? Issues that related to stress,  happiness, life satisfaction, and academic success are identified and reviewed. Perceptions of college students engaged in a qualitative research  study will be analyzed. Prelminiary and/or final results of this study will be illustrated with time for inquiry and discussion.

The speakers will discuss the development of a community recreational therapy program that collaborates with various agencies to assist individuals with the transition and/or reintegration into municipal parks and recreation programs.  The speakers will focus on developing recreational therapy programs that work in collaboration with local schools and treatment facilities to provide uninterrupted support of individual therapeutic recreation treatment plans and education goals post transition.

*This session is a follow-up session to Recreational Therapy in the Schools: Moving Toward Transition to the Community. However, it can stand alone.

A surefire way to energize and innovate your practice is to infuse it with evidence! Evidence-based practice, critical to the success of our field, can seem like a daunting and unrealistic task. The ATRA Evidence-based practice committee is charged with assisting recreational therapists in overcoming the barriers preventing practitioners from applying evidence to their practice. In this session, members of the committee will begin by sharing information on evidence-based practice in general. They will then guide participants in the application of information from population-specific research articles to a sample treatment plan. Finally, strategies on disseminating information about EBP will be discussed.

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth but as for LGBTQ youth, they are three times more likely to experience suicidal ideation than their heterosexual peers. The LGBTQ population also face other serious health disparities including increased rates of alcohol and substance abuse, victimization and mental illness. This session will discuss theories of identity development and building resilience among the LGBTQ youth population and preventing risky health behaviors.  Specific TR communication strategies and programming ideas that support LGBTQ youth will be discussed as it relates to providing inclusive culturally competent TR services.       

Changes in Recreational therapy practice are happening fast and the impact on the role of Recreational Therapy, job titles, and practice settings are significant. This session will provide up to date information on current practice settings, changes in job titles, expectations of hiring officials and competencies needed to be successful. A broadened perspective on environments and models of care, as well as information on how Recreational Therapists can adapt and thrive professionally and personally, will be reviewed. Concepts of inter-professionalism, health promotion, and paradigm shifts will be discussed. Practical approaches to applying management and leadership techniques including the use of data-driven information, custom messaging and being a value-added change agent in this dynamic workforce environment will be discussed.

While it is imperative to have cultural competency as a skill set for all Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, there are vague and ambiguous guidelines in both higher education and practice. Both ATRA and NCTRC are faced with the challenge of “recognizing that diversity is vital to all elements of recreational therapy practices and education”.

This session presented by ATRA’s Diversity Chair will seek to look at the issues identified from ATRA’s 2018 Conference presentation, “Promoting Diversity and Cultural Competence: The Future of ATRA ("A Panel Discussion), by discussing feedback by conference participants, with the goal of addressing ways in which both diversity and cultural competency can be reflective of the TR/RT profession.

Participants will understand the role that the recreational therapy practitioner and instructor can play in promoting diversity in the RT/TR field, while offering best practices/recommendations to serve as a guide for implementation.

Adaptive cycling comes in all shapes and sizes.  Learn safety percautions, equipment modifications, and program structure to plan and implement an adaptive cycling program.  Gain hands on experience with equipment while developing an understanding of the current research supporting cycling and outdoor recreational programming.

Children's Healthcare of Atlanta coordinates 8 week-long, diagnosis-specific overnight summer camps for children and teens age 7-18.  Most people are familiar with summer camps and their benefits, but how are these campers served throughout the rest of the year?  This session will take a deeper look at the year-round programs offered by the Children's Healthcare of Atlanta Camp Program.  These include a program for teens and young adults with spina bifida where participants learn about independence and leadership, an in-hospital program where patients can participate in camp activities in treatment areas or at the bedside, weekend family camps where families of summer campers can experience the magic of camp, and teen retreats where campers with amputations and limb deficiencies learn primitive camping and leadership skills.  This session will include information and justification for each program, as well as hands on activities and discussions. 

This session highlights opportunities for adaptive technologies to facilitate participation, independence and achievement of leisure pursuits. Innovative tools eliminate barriers to involvement (physical, social, cognitive) and empower clients to engage in recreation through a range of low to high tech solutions. 

Online education has become a widespread but still growing phenomenon in colleges and universities across the United States, including recreational therapy. The purpose of this session is to share lessons learned and effective practices in online teaching and learning from veteran faculty and students in an online graduate therapeutic recreation program at SUNY Cortland, now in its fourth year. The session will include an overview of the benefits and challenges of online education, effective practices developed over the last several years, and perceptions of faculty and graduate students of their experiences in the online learning environment.

Evidence-based practice has become imperative to recreational therapy (RT), as it informs our APIED process, and assists us in validating RT when speaking to stakeholders. As the need for more RT-specific evidence grows, we should consider using qualitative interpretive meta-synthesis (QIMS) as a method for producing data that succinctly captures the lived experience of populations that we serve, and the therapeutic outcomes of RT services provided them. The purpose of this session is to introduce recreational therapists to QIMS, a methodology introduced in social work (Aguirre & Bolton, 2014), in which data from qualitative studies are mined, combined, and analyzed to create a new, in-depth understanding of a selected topic(s). Specific to RT, newly generated data could be used by practitioners to inform the development of standardized RT assessments and intervention protocols, or to generate a new concept or theoretical framework for application in practice.

Bring your pen!  This session will explore the many uses and benefits of writing and writing interventions in RT groups and individual sessions.  The methods are endless and effective, where the outcomes are proven and undeniable!  Strengthen your skills in an easily accessible addition to your programming, for virtually all populations and settings.  Also get some background and direction in credentialing, certifications and training if you’d like to take it one step further and add a few letters to your signature. 

There is a growing need to provide community based therapeutic day services for individuals with disabilities transitioning out of High School. For many graduates with disabilities the services they receive in High School abruptly end on their 22nd birthday.
This is an end to a familiar routine.
Living successfully in their home communities as independent as possible has long been considered critical to young adults with disabilities and their quality of life. The ability to engage in activities in the community can provide opportunities for young adults to meet people with like interests, develop new skills, and experience the satisfaction of shared accomplishments while making meaningful contributions to their community. This helps to create a positive balanced adult life. In this session participants will learn the core components of establishing a therapeutic adult day program model.

The session will provide participants with an overview and theoretical understanding of the Tension & Trauma Release exercises (TRE) as well as an understanding of how trauma impacts the neurological system.

Ever wonder what it's like to travel with a disability, equipment, or other special considerations? Want to expand your knowledge to be able to teach your clients how to regain independence with travelling? This presentation will cover potential barriers, medical concerns, and solutions to access the world of travel. We will discuss major forms of travel including: plane, train, car, and cruise, and what to expect to make travelling a more independent and positive experience. We will also discuss accessiblity features of travel attractions including: beach access, bus tours, car rentals, Uber/Lyft, camping, and hotels. Join us as we connect to the world of accessible travel!