AGENDA #4g

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

FROM:            Kathryn Spatz, Parks and Recreation Director

 

SUBJECT:       Vision of the Therapeutic Recreation Program

 

DATE:             April 2, 2003

 

 

This is in response to a Council member’s question concerning our vision for serving individuals in our community who have disabilities.

 

The Parks and Recreation Department strives to provide a comprehensive community-based Therapeutic Recreation Program for individuals with disabilities. It is our goal to offer Therapeutic Recreation services year-round for all citizens with physical and developmental special needs. Ultimately, we hope that the Therapeutic Recreation program will offer a full spectrum of opportunities, from pure inclusion to specialized programming, of year-round recreation classes and cultural activities for all ages.

 

Due to our limited staff, we believe that a key component to meet this overall vision is to offer a comprehensive internship program for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in an accredited Therapeutic Recreation program, which would meet the internship criteria for the National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification. We have been working with the University of North Carolina Recreation Administration Department to develop such an internship program. The inclusion of the requirement for Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS) will also enable the Parks and Recreation Department to qualify for several federal grant programs that have the potential to increase funding for our local programs. 

 

Our Therapeutic Recreation program is based upon the foundations and philosophies of therapeutic recreation, normalization, and community integration.  It is our belief that individuals with disabilities significantly benefit from participation in the experiences and enjoyment of community-based recreation programs.  Our programs emphasize learning and developing recreation skills, fine and gross motor development, and increasing self-awareness, communication and socialization skills.  Activities are geared toward providing a challenge to the participants while allowing them to test their own abilities and increase their self-confidence.

 

The primary goals of the Therapeutic Recreation Program are:

 

  1. To facilitate the acquisition and dissemination of information regarding opportunities for leisure participation in the community.

 

  1. To provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to acquire new interests in leisure skills in age appropriate activities.

 

  1. To provide opportunities for individuals with disabilities to participate in leisure pursuits to maintain and expand leisure skills and interests.

 

  1. To provide leisure education services to individuals with disabilities focusing on building an independent leisure lifestyle.

 

  1. To provide knowledge and experience to enable the utilization of available community recreation resources.

 

  1. To encourage and facilitate the inclusion of individuals with disabilities into general recreation programs.

 

  1. To provide therapeutic recreation programs that include the extent of program area (re: music, dance, arts, special events, sports and games, fitness, outdoor education, mental and linguistics, social activities).

 

  1. To develop a network with direct care, in-patient, community rehabilitation., vocational and private agencies, serving individuals with disabilities for transitional programming and re-inclusive purposes.

 

We look forward to the addition of the planned warm water,teaching pool with zero-depth entry planned at the Homestead Park Aquatics Center. This will enable us to  develop a comprehensive aquatic program. The existing Community Center pool is not conducive to therapeutic use due to its temperature and depth, not to mention already heavy use by other aquatic user groups.

 

Our 5 year goals for the Therapeutic Recreation program include:

 

 

It is our hope and desire to offer recreational opportunities and services to all individuals with disabilities in our community.  We will continue to pursue new and innovative ways to secure outside funding sources to maintain our existing programs and strive to develop new ones.