Introduction to Adaptive Sports: An Intervention Protocol for Youth

Therapeutic Recreation Journal · 2024

• Political Science
• Applied psychology
• Psychology

Certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRS®s) within pediatric rehabilitation inpatient (PR-I) units use a variety of treatment modalities. One such modality is adaptive sports. Positive emotions that can be generated when participating in an adaptive sports activity include enjoyment and gratification. CTRSs are able to provide youth in the PR-I unit with a unique experience that teaches them about adaptive sports while introducing a potential new leisure pursuit. Thus, the Introduction to Adaptive Sports program was developed with the intent of documenting youths' knowledge related to adaptive sports following brief exposure, their enjoyment of activities associated with four different adaptive sports, and their interest in future participation. The youth involved in the piloting of this protocol were asked to complete a Knowledge and Future Participation Quiz as well as an Enjoyment Scale to measure their level of knowledge about each adaptive sport presented, how much they enjoyed participating in each session, and if they would be interested in future participation. The results showed that the youth demonstrated strong knowledge about each adaptive sport (average scores of 5.06 out of 6). The scores on the Enjoyment Scale indicated that youth on the PR-I unit enjoyed the adaptive sports sessions (average scores of 8.38 out of 10). Additionally, participant responses indicated 78.13% overall interest in future participation in the four presented adaptive sports. Though the preliminary results from the trial of this protocol are encouraging, recommendations for revision and future study by CTRS professionals on PR-I units are included.

How Recreational Therapists with a Disability Perceive Their Current Workplace: Perception of Climate of Inclusion, Self-Advocacy, and Occupational Self-Efficacy

Therapeutic Recreation Journal · 2024

• Political Science
• Psychology
• Clinical psychology

High perceived levels of climate of inclusion, occupational self-efficacy, and self-advocacy skills in employees are beneficial to employers. Yet, it is unclear how recreational therapists with disabilities perceive their workplace's climate of inclusion as well as their own self-advocacy skills and occupational self-efficacy. Therefore, the purpose of this study was two-fold: (a) to investigate the extent to which Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs) with a disabling condition perceive climate of inclusion, self-advocacy, and occupational self-advocacy in their current workplace; and (b) to explore if there are associations between climate of inclusion, self-advocacy, and occupational self-efficacy in the workplace. A convenience sample of 77 CTRSs who identified as having a disability participated in this study. Results indicated that participants were neutral regarding the climate of inclusion at their current workplaces, are confident with their self-advocacy skills at work, and perceive their occupational self-efficacy levels to be fairly high. There are also positive associations between the three concepts of climate of inclusion, self-advocacy, and occupational self-efficacy. Future research is needed to better understand the neutrality recreational therapists with disabilities perceive of their workplace as well as to conduct more robust studies.

Evolving beyond cultural competence and embracing cultural humility

American Journal of Recreation Therapy · 2023 · 1 citations

• Sociology
• Political Science
• Environmental ethics

Equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives are receiving heightened attention in the higher education and healthcare arenas. Such endeavors often emphasize the importance of using current best practices for developing individual and agency-wide EDI-promoting skills, attitudes, and beliefs. The Recreational Therapy (RT) profession has a history of supporting EDI initiatives, frequently focusing on ways students and therapists can develop cultural competence and become culturally competent practitioners. However, in reviewing current EDI literature, trends, and practices, we have concluded it is time for a paradigm shift in the profession. We call upon our RT colleagues to evolve beyond a focus on cultural competence and embrace EDI efforts that promote cultural humility.