Assignments_02

Chapter 2 Questions
1. Briefly describe the events and factors that contributed to the emergence of the National Therapeutic Recreation Society in 1966.
• In the 1965 the National Recreation and Parks Association was organized to preside over the American Institute of Park Executives, the national Recreation Association, the National Conference on State parks, the American Association of zoological parks and aquariums, and the American Recreation society. In October 1966, the hospital recreation section of the American recreation society merged to become the National Therapeutic recreation society.
2. Identify five qualities of a profession and discuss the current status of therapeutic recreation in relation to each.
1. Provide a needed service: society’s attitude toward people with disabilities have changed. They are integrated into our society and work among us as our peers. The service is still not seen as necessarily needed in society by all people, but recreation has become a big part of people’s everyday lives.
2. Subgroups/ professional organizations: ATRA and NTRS are working to address health concerns in the present. These organizations promote inclusion to all people
3. Standards of Practice/ code of ethics: two levels of practice have been established (professional and assistant) Recreational therapists now must be certified by the CTRS and in 4 states they require licensure for practice.
4. Body of knowledge: ATRA along with universities are conducting studies on the effects of therapeutic recreation. Research has been published in professional journals
5. Education and training: ATRA established a core that universities will teach, but there has been a decline in students in these undergraduate programs.
3. Identify the philosophical perspective that have developed throughout the history of the profession. What were the historical factors that led to the emergence of each perspective?
• In the first and second centuries people saw recreation as a therapeutic look. They saw that things such as music and art could heal someone. During the middle ages, people with disabilities were shut out of society and seen as a problem. That lasted for a while, but as the Renaissance came, the church provided means to help people with disabilities. They began to see it as a way to serve other people. During the industrial revolution, people were seen as a menace to society if they couldn’t help, but and they saw recreation as serving those that weren’t within the normal range of people. I think the events of the time have shaped the way people feel about this. In societies that are competitive and require a lot of time, recreation has been seen as something for the less fortunate. Today many people participate in recreation, but it is still seen as more of a distraction than a profession.
4. Given your understanding of the history of therapeutic recreation, what factors will influence the evolution of these philosophical perspectives in the future?
• I think the attitude of society will help. I noticed that when the church was strong, people had more Christian belief systems and they were more willing to do anything to help those with disability. I think as our society moves more and more competitive people have less time to serve others and they have less time for recreation. Recreation seems to be put on the back burner of people’s lives. I know recreation has been therapeutic for me growing up, I wouldn’t have the family relationship I have without it. I think as medicine gets more advanced it can affect that. They will either be able to just fix everyone’s problem without having rehab, but I can also see that people will be so focused on the bandage and surgeries they will forget about how the person is feeling and that they don’t just need to live, they need  a reason to live.
5. What events led to the creation of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association in 1984?
• There had been disagreements in the NTRS about practices in the health care field. People in health care wanted more so they could compete with physical and occupational therapists. ATRA was established to get those things they wanted to help more in the healthcare department rather than just the parks and recreation area.
6. What have been the similarities between ATRA and NTRS? What has each organization contributed to the advancement of the profession and what might each contribute to a new organization?
• ATRA and NTRS have the same goals that they want people to experience recreation in a way that will be therapeutic, but they go about that in different ways. ATRA wants more of a medical approach. They feel there need to be more than just the recreation whereas the NTRS believes that the recreation itself is what is therapeutic.
• Many people have different beliefs about recreation and the use of it. I feel like different people can connect with the different organizations based on their belief and apply that in the workplace. It can also be helpful because each patient is different. One patient may benefit from the approach ATRA gives in that they need more than just the recreation whereas another may feel that the recreation itself was therapeutic.
7. What is the role and purpose of the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification? What is its history and significance in the therapeutic recreation profession?
• This organization establishes the standards for a therapeutic recreational specialist. They established what it takes to be certified in the field and grant recognition to those who are certified.
• Because of their contribution, recreational therapists are more recognized as professionals because they have a standard to meet before they can become such.