Mike Reynolds

Session Description: Mike found that through his personal recovery and rehabilitation from his injuries while deployed, he was closed off and very reluctant to open himself up. Throughout sessions with his Recreation Therapist at the SHARE Military initiative, he was able to start talking with goals to participate in the annual 9/11 stair climb. In his own words, Mike tells his story of how his Recreation Therapist was able to help him unlock what he'd been unable to about his experiences. His Recreation Therapy sessions and his therapist became his locksmith, and he therefore learned how to be a locksmith for others.

Objectives:

1. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to have an understanding of trauma and how Recreation Therapy can be an outlet.

2. At the completion of this session, Recreation Therapy participants will be able to have a grasp on adapting a program individually for veterans.

3. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to understand Recreation Therapy tools gained by the speaker that he implements for others.

Jacob Carenbauer, CTRS & Jessie Simms, CTRS, ATRIC

Session Description: Returning to the community following an Acquired Brain or Spinal Cord injury is difficult. What if your main mode of transportation was public transportation? In this session, we will be discussing how to educate clients to reintegrate into the community while using public transportation options. We will discuss Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements, resources available to the public, things to consider prior to getting started with public transportation, and private transportation options available to the public. We will provide examples using Georgia’s MARTA public transportation.

Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify 3 requirements set by the ADA pertaining to public transportation accommodations for accessibility.

2. Participants will be able to identify 3 community resources available for individuals with disabilities and public transportation.

3. Participants will be able to identify 3 things to consider prior to re-entering the community and utilizing public transportation.

Brianna Panosian, CTRS & Laura Kelly, MS, CTRS

Session Description: According to the Parkinson’s Disease (PD) Foundation, PD currently affects one million people in the U.S. and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease. This session uniquely teaches attendees how to apply recreational therapy facilitation techniques and interventions to an evidence-based PD fitness program. Expand your knowledge and skill sets to start a community-based PD group program or improve your individual sessions to empower those living with movement disorders. This session will include the APIED process in relationship to PD at various stages and conclude with an interactive class demonstration.

Objectives:

1. Attendees will be able to identify and understand stages and symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

2. Attendees will be able to identify appropriate outcome measures to use before and after implementation of exercise based recreational therapy programs for individuals with PD.

3. Attendees will be able to identify appropriate evidence-based interventions for individuals with PD based on their abilities and stage of disease

Brent Wolfe, PhD, LRT, CTRS, FDRT

Session Description: At the core of every recreational therapist's daily job is the idea of empowering others. But who is empowering recreational therapists? Who is looking out for recreational therapists the way recreational therapists look out for others? The answer to this question is the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA). This session will look at the idea of how ATRA lives its mission to empower recreational therapists. Additionally, we will discuss ideas on how engagement leads to empowerment.

Objectives:

1. State ATRA’s mission and vision.

2. List 3 ways ATRA helps to empower recreational therapists.

3. List 3 ways engagement leads to empowerment.

Eric Gray, MS, CTRS

Session Description: This session will provide an overview of adaptive cycling for persons with physical limitations. Information provided will include common diagnosis recommended for utilizing adaptive cycling as a treatment modality, risk/safety considerations and risk reduction methods, contraindications for participation, best practices, resources for adaptive cycling education and participation in the Southeast.

Objectives:

1. Identify common safety risks, contraindications, and/or best practices when considering utilizing adaptive cycling as a modality.

2. Identify equipment used most frequently for specific disability types.

3. Identify at least 3 therapeutic outcomes that can be met utilizing adaptive cycling as a modality.

Kasey Lawton, CTRS, CBIS & Brian Pritchard, CTRS

Session Descriptions: This session will provide valuable information on implementing recreational therapy programs that are appropriate based on the childhood developmental stage theories. Presenters will take you through a journey of learning about each age and stage to gather understanding of Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory as well as Erikson's Stages of Development Theory. After gaining an understanding of childhood development, ages 0-18, attendees will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful therapeutic activities in a group setting to dive deeper into each developmental stage. This session’s goal is to provide listeners with an understanding of childhood needs to consider when developing recreational therapy interventions.

Objectives:

1. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to verbalize their understanding of Jean Piaget’s Cognitive Development Theory and Erik Erikson’s Stages of Development.

2. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to identify 3 considerations when implementing age-appropriate recreational therapy programs.

3. At the completion of this session, participants will engage in therapeutic activity based on one developmental stage to gain better understanding of age-appropriate programming techniques.

Grace Parfitt, CTRS & Caitlin Piland, CTRS

Session Description: This session will introduce the implementation of Social Emotional Learning in youth/adolescents Recreation Therapy services. Through the use of classroom sessions and active games/activities we will discuss the seven different focuses including, but not limited to: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, compassion, relationship skills, responsible decision-making skills, and health and well-being. We will go over focuses along with lesson plans ideas for each including definitions, videos, worksheets, small group activities, and large group activities. We will end the session with a game and sample processing questions for each focus.

Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify three benefits of using Social Emotional focuses in implementation of RT services.

2. Participants will be able to use one or more Social Emotional focus to plan/debrief an RT group.

3. Participants will be able to sample processing questions for each Social Emotional Learning focus.

Megan Janke, PhD, LRT, CTRS & Amy Solana, MSRT Student

Session Description: This session will focus on the benefits of using dance interventions with the aging population. Research on how a variety of styles of dance have been shown to improve functional outcomes and the overall health of different populations of older adults will be reviewed. Participants will be introduced to some basic dance moves that can be taught to older adults during fitness and exercise classes and will have the opportunity to practice these dances during the session. The session will directly relate to the NCTRC job analysis content areas of planning and implementation of interventions and programs.

Objectives:

1. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to identify at least 3 ways that dance interventions can improve functional health and general health outcomes for older adults in recreational therapy practice.

2. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to describe different populations of older adults who might benefit from dance interventions in recreational therapy practice.

3. At the completion of this session, participants will be able to demonstrate at least one dance move they could incorporate into their recreational therapy exercise and fitness classes.

Laci Weiss, CTRS

Session Description: This session will introduce the use of expressive arts in recreational therapy interventions. Through the use of a presentation and an art activity, we will discuss how art can be accessible and useful with a wide variety of populations that require minimal materials. We will go over various lesson plans that target a wide variety of treatment goals for large group activities, small group activities, individual sessions and how these activities can be adapted for different populations. We will end the session with a group activity and sample processing questions.

Objectives:

1. Participants will be able to identify three benefits of using expressive art activities in implementation of RT services.

2. Participants will be able to use one or more expressive art interventions to plan/debrief an RT group.

3. Participants will be able to identify one or more adaptations to the presented interventions that can be implemented with their current population.