Hula Hooping Our Way to the End

                It is finally time for my last blog, and I was given quite the fun class period to blog about. We had a senior Therapeutic Recreation student come talk to us about her love for hooping and how she hopes to use it therapeutically in the future. Hooping is the art of hula hooping being put to use for either a fun form of recreation, or a spiritual, therapeutic escape. She told us her story and how she got into Therapeutic Recreation and then how she got interested in hula hooping.  After giving us some background about herself and the hobby, she showed us a few videos about the hula hooping life. These videos and her stories showed how the hobby can be beneficial and used for much more than just a simple talent. For some people, they even consider it a way of life, like the people in the “Hula Hoping Life” video.

                We then were taught how to make our own hula hoops with tubing, attachment pieces, and duck tape.  We measured the tubing to how big we wanted our hoop to be, then cut it and put the two ends on either side of the attachment piece. We then blow dried them for 2-3 minutes, loosening up the rubber tubing and allowing us to shape them and push them into the attachment pieces more easily. After that, it was time to decorate! We could pick any color duck tape or design and decorate them however we pleased.  Once we were done, we got to put our hula hooping skills to the test and all went outside to hula hoop! It was easier than I thought it would be, yet challenging enough and surprisingly a good work out!

                Hula hooping seems like a simple toy and activity. After this final class however, we learned the secret benefits behind the hobby and how it could be used in Therapeutic Recreation. Hooping has many great aspects to it, including the use of coordination and skill, a good, yet not too strenuous work out, a connection of the mind and body, and of course, a fun time! Someone hooping could express themselves with making and decorating their hoop, relieve stress by letting their mind drift as they hoop, and even have a spiritual experience if they wish! This is definitely an innovative activity that isn’t seen very often, but never the less, a great intervention that a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist can keep in mind! 

Water skiing for the Disabled!

With summer on my mind, for my final extra blog activity, I decided to center on a summer activity and research waterskiing for the disabled. I found a few helpful websites and they explained that there are several different types of waterskiing for both able bodied people and those with a disability. For both able bodied participants and those with a disability, the equipment is similar. You need either water-skis or a wake board, rope to hold on to that attaches to a boat, and some sort of motor boat or device. A rope is attached to the back of the boat and the skier hold the handle on the other end. As the boat starts up and takes off, the skier waits until it pulls them and holds on, trailing behind the boat on their skies. There are many adaptations for people with disabilities to still be able to water ski. There are boards that allow people to sit ski who may be paralyzed from the waist down or have other physical disabilities that prevent them from standing. These have a metal-framed cage for the person to sit in with a canvas sling to help with balance and mobility. There are prosthetics called “ski legs” for people with single leg amputations and the person can either use two skis or put both legs on one, wider ski. There is also something called a Delgar sling for people who may not be able to use one of their arms. It is a sling that wraps around their good shoulder, passes behind the back, and attaches to the handle of the rope. If the skier was to fall, the end of the handle pops off so the boat does not drag the fallen skier.

                Supervision should be present when people are water skiing and some precautions should be made before someone goes out on the water and starts skiing. Participants first of all should know how to swim and be aware of water safety. Participants should also wear a lifejacket at all times in case of a fall and for when they start and stop in the water. People must also pass a water safety test in order to ski and should have their strength and abilities assessed in order to be matched to proper equipment and meet their individual goals. Participants should also have the strength to be able to turn themselves over from a face down position in the water to their back side in case they were to tip or fall.

Water skiing is an active sport that may require some practice, but after awhile, I think it would be very beneficial for people with disabilities. It gives them a challenge and something to work on and excel in, challenging them both physically and mentally. People sometimes have the idea that people with disabilities cannot participate in active sports anymore and become much less active. This activity can break that stereotype and give people a fun, thrilling form of recreation that can clear their minds and give them a challenge. It can be great for people with physical disabilities such as those who may be paralyzed or have an amputation. It can also be participated in by people with visual or hearing impairments and helps people become empowered with their ability to succeed, despite their disability. Recreation is beneficial for everybody and getting people out on the water on a nice day can boost somebody’s spirits and self esteem. If participants are knowledgeable in the water and have proper equipment and supervision, they are all set to participate in a fun, rewarding activity such as waterskiing!

http://www.dsusa.org/challmagarchive/summer06/challmag-sum06-WWDSPadaptiveSkiing.html

http://waterski.about.com/library/weekly/aa011098.htm

Grow Me Some Therapy

               With spring settling upon us, the snow is disappearing and the grass, trees and bushes are slowly coming back to life. As we prepare to see the blooms and get our gardens ready for the season once again, I started thinking about all the benefits of gardens and flowers. Everyone enjoys seeing flowers and gardens, but it truly is therapeutic and can help one’s physical and mental state. Horticulture Therapy is a successful therapeutic intervention to help people with both physical, cognitive, and emotional disabilities. It has been proven successful and has a wide range of benefits that are practiced all over the world!

                To facilitate horticulture therapy, a TRS could start a community garden with several different plots for people to use or purchase. They then would plant in their lot, water and care for it, and then enjoy its products, whether they are flowers, vegetables or fruit! Each person could chose how they want to use and care for their garden, either planting seeds or buying flowers to transfer into their garden. Adaptive equipment may be used such as adapted gardening tools with longer or shorter handles than normal for easier use, or adapted handles that can strap on for people with weak hands who maybe cannot grasp the handle. There are also small benches that can be placed in the garden for people to sit on and work from if they cannot bend over for long periods of time. There are kneelers that can be placed on the ground and used for a similar purpose. Raised garden beds or containers can be used for people in wheel chairs to access as well. Some materials you would need to facilitate and therapeutic community garden would be hoses for watering, seeds, flowers/bushes/plants, tools such as spades, shovels, and hoes, watering cans and gardening gloves.

                Some precautions should be taken while facilitating this activity. Since it is an outside activity, some people may get too much sun exposer if outside for a long time or if they are sensitive to the sun. Sunscreen could be provided, along with water for water breaks, umbrellas for some shade, or suggesting they bring their own hats or sunglasses for additional protection. There should also be supervision out in the gardens in case anyone falls or gets hurt using any of the tools. Also, people should be available if people need any assistance with the tools or activities such as lifting dirt or watering cans.

                Horticulture Therapy and a therapeutic community garden could be useful for many populations. The American Horticulture Therapy Association website states that horticulture therapy is very successful with hospitalized war veterans and has many mental benefits. It can be also very successful with elderly, the cognitively disabled, and even physically disabled by practicing motor skills with the tools and movements. Sensory stimulation can occur with flowers with different textures, smells and colors. The act of gardening can be peaceful, relaxing, and cause one to practice movements and body positions such as bending or standing that they need to practice. The benefits from gardening and horticulture therapy are endless and people of all abilities can enjoy this activity!                                        http://www.ahta.org/content.cfm?id=history

Finale of the Final Projects

      This week, we continued the final group projects and began with a group that presented on team building. They did activities such as having everyone hold hands and try to get a hula hoop around the circle by stepping through it and putting it over their head, a game called tooth pick basketball where members of a team needed to drop a tooth pick into a bottle, and a blind folded obstacle course with a partner guiding you. These were good activities because they involved you working together with either your team or a partner and encouraging and relying on each other to succeed. Activities like these could be very useful in Therapeutic Recreation, especially with populations like youth at risk or maybe even alcohol or drug rehab. They encourage team work and trust and encourage people to get over obstacles together. Adapted versions could also be made for people with physical disabilities to work to get past their physical disability and find their abilities.

       The second group presented on drama and began with an activity where we split into our groups and chose an object in the front of the room. My group chose a video game controller and we needed to pretend we found this object while excavating and are trying to figure out what the people of it’s time used it for. Then, we needed to create a commercial for it. My group said the controller was a weapon used at some point in time. After that, they provided us with wheel chairs and we were to create a wheel chair dance number in groups. Half would be in wheel chairs and half would not. We then put on a performance for the rest of the class. The group had one more activity but because of shortage of time, they will facilitate it next week. Their activities were very creative and can be very beneficial for people as a way to express themselves and get away from the real world for awhile. People can be whoever they want in drama and can use several different means to tell a story or get a point across. It could be used as an education tool for children, youth or adults or could be used as recreation and people of different populations could take part in it and present. People who have built up emotions such as those in drug rehabilitation, girls with eating disorders, or people in prisons can participate to express themselves and their emotions. I think watching and participating in drama can really teach you a lot and is a great form of recreation!

       The third and final group presented on relaxation and began with a craft to create stress balls. This was great because it was both a hands on craft activity and a beneficial object to have for relieving stress. Many different populations could participate and benefit from this. Next, they showed us a relaxation video, followed by a guided meditation video. These go through different steps with you to help you relax your mind and body. Absolutely everyone can benefit from stress relieving activity at some point or another. It can be especially beneficial for people who have pain and discomfort. It can help them release tension and temporarily help relieve pain. The stress balls can also be great for people with physical disabilities because they can exercise their hand in a subtle way by just squeezing or stretching, slowly practicing and progressing the movement and control in their hands.

     All together, I think all the groups did a great job and showed how different activities and programs can be beneficial for several populations. They also offered many good ideas and techniques that we can use in our profession as therapeutic recreation specialists!

OA Project

           About a year ago, I heard about an organization called the OA Project that interested and inspired me. OA stands for opportunitas aequa, a Latin phrase meaning equal opportunity. The OA Project works with children in war affected areas and uses soccer to help build a stronger community for them and increase their opportunities by learning about and taking part in community building activities. This organization was created by a group of Canadian students who wanted to use soccer to help children in other countries who did not have much of a childhood due to war and poverty. By playing soccer, they hoped that children would get a break from the pain and horror of war and learn valuable lessons such as team work and self esteem along with feelings of accomplishment.

         OA Project searches for and helps support other local groups and peace building projects that are working to help rebuild the community. They do this in hopes of continuing the help, even when they are not in the community and working with the children. Their mission is, “To be the low-cost, high-impact grassroots organization using soccer to empower youth in communities affected by war.” They have done three projects so far in Uganda, Ecuador and Rwanda and have helped 7,000 children and youth in over 25 communities. They are still continuing their work and continue to connect youth with local leaders. By learning and playing soccer, they discuss important issues such as post-conflict healing and gender violence.

       You can help make a difference in several ways through this great organization. There is a project called Play Soccer so They Can where communities can host a soccer event and raise funds for the OA Project. You can also donate on their website or buy a shirt from their 1 for 1 shop and all proceeds go towards the organization!   This is a great organization and even though they are not specifically therapeutic recreation, their goals and work is similar to that of therapeutic recreation specialists. They aim to use sports and recreation to make a difference in youth’s lives and help ease the stress that war causes in a community by teaching valuable lessons and creating an escape from the sadness and pain. I believe this is a great organization for a TRS to participate in to help make a difference. 

OA Project in Ecuador 

  http://oaprojects.org/  check out their website to learn more or donate!

And the Final Group Presentations Begin...

              This week, we began the first three large group presentations. For our blogs, we are supposed to ask the question, “So what?” and ask ourselves how these projects and activities could be beneficial for different populations. By experiencing them first hand and participating, we got a better idea of the benefits and enjoyment of the activities and are better fit to answer this question.

                The first group had an art theme and did a book craft which included taking old books and turning them into your own new, creative book. We could paint in them, collage them with magazine pictures or tissue paper squares, do bubble painting in them, make widows, which are cut out sections in the pages, or black out words to make only certain words visible and stick out. This craft was very creative and innovative. It was also very relaxing, even for me, to just sit down, be creative, and get away from the stresses of homework and tests. I think this could be very beneficial to many different populations. Like just stated, it is relaxing and could be a form of relaxation or even meditation that anyone could benefit from. It could be good for youth at risk or young girls with eating disorders because it gives them a way to express themselves and write down any thoughts or emotions in the pages if they wish. I also believe elderly could benefit from the craft, but may need assistance with small details or may need to use gloves for sensitive skin or other adaptations if needed.  

            The next group was my own group and we had challenged based activities. We chose to do three different activities, a rope shape challenge, picture telephone, and a marble race challenge. These activities all had the participants working as a team and trying to work past different kinds of challenges. In the rope challenge, the participants were all blind folded except for three players who were to vocally direct and help the other players form the given shape with their rope. This required using both abilities and disabilities from each player and coming up with strategies and techniques to work past their obstacles. The second activity was less physical but included mental challenges such as interpreting and creating. Participants would write a sentence, pass it to the player next to them, and that player would have to draw what the sentence said. They then passed it to the next player who had to interpret the drawing and write another sentence that they think explains the picture. This activity showed how different people can come up with different interpretations and showed the importance of communication and explanation when working with a team facing a real challenge. This activity also gave the players a chance to get creative and enjoy some laughs. The final activity was our marble race, which required each player to have a small segment of toilet paper tube. The goal is to keep rotating once the marble has gone through your tube and continuously role the marble down the course and into the cup at the end. This was a very challenging activity that required team work and strategy. All these activities would be beneficial for people who want to work on social skills. Youth at risk would be a great population for these activities because it helps the participants create a bond through working together and allows people to work on team building skills. Certain ones such as the rope shape game can be used for people with visual impairments and help them use their senses and rely on other people’s vocal cues as well.

                The final group’s theme was music and they had us do several clapping, tapping and snapping activities to create patterns and beats. We then were broken into groups and created our own musical instruments out of things such as bells and string, balloons and beans, and paper plates and beans. We all came together as a group then and did beats and patterns with all our different instruments. The facilitators also did some body awareness techniques with the instruments which required us to shake our instruments over several different areas of our body, making us aware of our motor movements and their position on our body. This body awareness technique is good for populations such as those who may have had a stroke, be bed ridden from sickness or cancer, and those who may have paralysis in certain areas of their body. It makes them become one with the activity and aware of their own movements. Musical therapy can be beneficial to basically anyone, allowing people to be creative, express themselves, and just have fun. Children, elderly, and those with cognitive disabilities could all take part in musical therapy.

         So in the end, the question “So what?” can be answered in many different ways because these activities can be beneficial in several ways. Many populations could benefit from them and get something useful out of participating. Between expressing yourself with art, challenging yourself and learning to work together and rely on a team in challenge based activities, or becoming more aware of yourself and you movements with music therapy, all these activities and interventions could help make a difference in someone’s life!

Anyone Can Find That Special Someone

                I came across a website by accident while searching activities for the disabled, and I found it interesting and decided to blog about it. It was titled Disabled Dating and it was found on a helpful website called Disabled World. It talks about several different dating sites created specifically for people who have a disability.  Some are for people with a wide range of disabilities, while others are for certain disabilities. For example, there are sites for people with visual disabilities to meet other single people who have a visual disability.

                Although I am sometimes skeptical about dating sites, I think it is a good idea for there to be dating sites for everybody, including for populations such as this. I have seen and heard from several different sources that people who have disabilities can often become discouraged with dating. I watched a video about a man who was in a car accident and injured his spine, causing his to be in a wheel chair the rest of his life. He had a girlfriend before the accident but after the accident they broke up. He did not believe he would ever date again or meet someone and he became depressed. Other people with disabilities may be self conscious of their disability and never even try to meet someone. Dating sites for the disabled help with these fears and insecurities and help someone meet other people with disabilities that match their likes and interests. These sites have compatibility match-making, profiles, instant messaging, chat rooms, and other features to help you meet the right person.

                There are of course safety precautions one should take while using a dating websites like this just as there are for any other dating websites. Do not put too much personal information out on the website such as an address, credit card number, or even phone number. Once you have gotten to know someone, you can decide whether or not you want to disclose more personal information. There are sadly dating website scammers who look for information and can either steal from or abuse website users. Some people especially target people with disabilities in hopes of taking advantage of them and their disability. Only use reputable sites and look for warning signs of scammers. Also, if someone were to decide to meet a match in person, meet in a public area and remain cautions of your surroundings. It does not hurt to meet with a group of people as well. In the end, if you remain cautions and use dating websites such as Dating for the Disabled correctly, they can be rewarding and help someone who was feeling discouraged with dating find the right person for them!

I came across a website by accident while searching activities for the disabled, and I found it interesting and decided to blog about it. It was titled Disabled Dating and it was found on a helpful website called Disabled World. It talks about several different dating sites created specifically for people who have a disability.  Some are for people with a wide range of disabilities, while others are for certain disabilities. For example, there are sites for people with visual disabilities to meet other single people who have a visual disability.

                Although I am sometimes skeptical about dating sites, I think it is a good idea for there to be dating sites for everybody, including for populations such as this. I have seen and heard from several different sources that people who have disabilities can often become discouraged with dating. I watched a video about a man who was in a car accident and injured his spine, causing his to be in a wheel chair the rest of his life. He had a girlfriend before the accident but after the accident they broke up. He did not believe he would ever date again or meet someone and he became depressed. Other people with disabilities may be self conscious of their disability and never even try to meet someone. Dating sites for the disabled help with these fears and insecurities and help someone meet other people with disabilities that match their likes and interests. These sites have compatibility match-making, profiles, instant messaging, chat rooms, and other features to help you meet the right person.

                There are of course safety precautions one should take while using a dating websites like this just as there are for any other dating websites. Do not put too much personal information out on the website such as an address, credit card number, or even phone number. Once you have gotten to know someone, you can decide whether or not you want to disclose more personal information. There are sadly dating website scammers who look for information and can either steal from or abuse website users. Some people especially target people with disabilities in hopes of taking advantage of them and their disability. Only use reputable sites and look for warning signs of scammers. Also, if someone were to decide to meet a match in person, meet in a public area and remain cautions of your surroundings. It does not hurt to meet with a group of people as well. In the end, if you remain cautions and use dating websites such as Dating for the Disabled correctly, they can be rewarding and help someone who was feeling discouraged with dating find the right person for them!

I came across a website by accident while searching activities for the disabled, and I found it interesting and decided to blog about it. It was titled Disabled Dating and it was found on a helpful website called Disabled World. It talks about several different dating sites created specifically for people who have a disability.  Some are for people with a wide range of disabilities, while others are for certain disabilities. For example, there are sites for people with visual disabilities to meet other single people who have a visual disability.

                Although I am sometimes skeptical about dating sites, I think it is a good idea for there to be dating sites for everybody, including for populations such as this. I have seen and heard from several different sources that people who have disabilities can often become discouraged with dating. I watched a video about a man who was in a car accident and injured his spine, causing his to be in a wheel chair the rest of his life. He had a girlfriend before the accident but after the accident they broke up. He did not believe he would ever date again or meet someone and he became depressed. Other people with disabilities may be self conscious of their disability and never even try to meet someone. Dating sites for the disabled help with these fears and insecurities and help someone meet other people with disabilities that match their likes and interests. These sites have compatibility match-making, profiles, instant messaging, chat rooms, and other features to help you meet the right person.

                There are of course safety precautions one should take while using a dating websites like this just as there are for any other dating websites. Do not put too much personal information out on the website such as an address, credit card number, or even phone number. Once you have gotten to know someone, you can decide whether or not you want to disclose more personal information. There are sadly dating website scammers who look for information and can either steal from or abuse website users. Some people especially target people with disabilities in hopes of taking advantage of them and their disability. Only use reputable sites and look for warning signs of scammers. Also, if someone were to decide to meet a match in person, meet in a public area and remain cautions of your surroundings. It does not hurt to meet with a group of people as well. In the end, if you remain cautions and use dating websites such as Dating for the Disabled correctly, they can be rewarding and help someone who was feeling discouraged with dating find the right person for them!

                  

http://www.disabled-world.com/communication/disabled-dating/ 

Live, Laugh, Deep Breathe

               This week, we took a break from our busy, stressful schedules and learned about relaxation therapy. We talked about a few different kinds, including laughter therapy, meditation with deep breathing, concentration, or using words and phrases, and guided imagery. We tried a few of these methods such as laughter therapy or laughter yoga, where we breathed in as we reached up in the air with both hands. Then, as we exhaled, we laughed out loud and dropped our arms to our sides. We also did an example of guided imagery by watching a youtube video that had images of nature in the woods. A voice told us to concentrate on different things such as the flowers covering the ground or the water flowing in the stream.

      Relaxation therapy has many benefits and 

can benefit everybody, no matter the population. It can help relieve tension and stress, stimulate your senses, and give you instant results to relax your body. It also creates body awareness and can help connect your mind, body and spirit. There are several different techniques, so you can try different ones and find the most beneficial technique for you and your lifestyle. Whether it is used to help someone cope with struggles in their life or provide temporary relief from a stressful day, relaxation therapy is a successful and simple intervention that a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist could try with anybody!

Perks and Products of Virtual Schools

This week, we had a speaker come in and talk to us about Wisconsin Virtual Schools. He talked about all the benefits of on-line schooling and how it can be especially beneficial for children who may have a disability. He gave us examples such as a child who may have autism and have a hard time concentrating in the classroom or may be effected by distractions such as the florescent lights, buzzing of an air conditioner or noises of other students around them. Virtual schools allow a child to work in their own home setting and at whatever time of the day is most beneficial for them. Virtual schools also target your individual needs and let you work at a more personalized pace.

After his presentation, each group was given a child’s IEP to read and review. Once we learned about the child and their needs and interests, we then developed our own plan for five different therapeutic interventions we may use to help them. My group’s student was a fourth grade boy and working with his interests and needs, we said a few strategies we may use are to get him involved in boy scouts for an opportunity to relax and enjoy the outdoors, build a model car and set deadlines and goals for himself to work on time management, and try cooking and following recipes to work on math skills in measuring and sensory stimulation with different textures of ingredients. By the end of class, we tied together how virtual schools can be beneficial and a good option for students, especially those who may have a disability, and how IEPs help target specific needs and goals for each student. A therapeutic recreation specialist could learn from these methods and also use IEPs for more personalized intervention strategies to help create a positive outcome for the student.

Bungee Jumping for the Disabled

                 An activity that is thrilling and stimulating is bungee jumping. Today, this scary thrill can be available for people with or without a disability. People have many ideas that come to mind when they think about this activity, but some people don’t know the true possibilities with this activity such as the options to go solo, tandem, jump from a harness attached to your chest and waist, or jump from the traditional harness on your ankles and waist. People in wheelchairs and with a disability can also jump and enjoy the sport and contrary to belief, it is actually quite soft on your body!

                For people in a wheel chair or who have had back or spine injury, jumping with a harness attached to your chest or ankles may not be the best. There is, however, a contraption for what they call reverse bungee jumping. It is a large metal ball like structure with seats in the middle that fastens the passengers in with ankle and waist belts and a padded shoulder clamp. There are then two towers with bungees attached to the contraption which slings the ball up into the air and back down several times until gravity slows it down.

                Bungee jumping is still a higher risk activity and definitely requires proper safety equipment and supervision. The website said people who have paraplegia or quadriplegia may want even extra support such as extra belts or Velcro for their neck, legs or torso. Although this activity is on the higher risk end of things, especially for people with physical disabilities, it is still amazing and encouraging that people with disabilities are still given the opportunity to do this high action activity!

http://www.streetsie.com/bungy-jump/

Puppetry Practice!

                This Tuesday in class, we had Dr. Navar come in and talk to us about The Kids Next Door puppets and performances. She brought a few of the puppets and showed us a video that is for people to watch and learn from when training to be a puppeteer for the company. We all passed the puppets around and took turns trying the different techniques such as lip synch when they talk, gestures and posture.

                After the video and presentation, we discussed the act of puppetry and its possible advantages and disadvantages in Therapeutic Recreation. We talked about how some people find puppets just creepy and would not want to work with them! Also, they are not appropriate for all age groups because some may find them dumb and childish and not gain anything from their use. They can be appropriate for certain audiences such as younger children in elementary or early middle school. They are old enough so they don’t get distracted and lose interest quick, yet young enough to enjoy and engage in the imaginative play.  Puppets can be used both to help children express themselves and their emotions if they are the controller, and also help them open up if they are talking to the puppet. Sometimes it’s easier to and engage with the puppet because they feel it is a younger friend who will listen and understand as opposed to an adult worker who may be intimidating.

                We also discussed different types of puppets and how they can be used for different purposes. Sock puppets, finger puppets, and the puppets used in The Kids Next Door are good for children. They can be used for showing awareness about certain subjects, imaginative play, or allowing a child to open up and share their thoughts or feelings. Shadow puppet performances or creating your own symbolic puppet can be used for older children, such as adolescents, because it allows them to express themselves while creating the puppet and portray or explain an identity they may be feeling or dealing with.

In conclusion, puppetry can be an effective tool in Therapeutic Recreation, but also may have limits. Certain age groups and activities may work more effectively with puppetry and other may not. Using puppets can, however, be a beneficial activity to encourage the imagination and inspire others to engage in activities and open up!

Decorating your Disability!!

                When I was in high school, my best friend tore her ACL and had to wear a knee brace before, and for quite a while after, her surgery. She put up with that brace pretty well and managed to find ways to embrace it, despite its burden at times and the negative attention it drew to her leg. My friend was quite a fashionista, however, and found a way to spice up her leg brace. She decided to get several different kinds of fake gems at Wal-Mart and put Velcro on the back of them. She would them stick them to the material part of the cast and also put areas of Velcro on parts of the metal so they could stick around the outsides of the brace. Everyone thought this was so cool and, “so her.” Soon enough, people would ask to decorate her cast and each day someone different would make a different pattern or color scheme to stick to her cast to make it look unique. My friend’s innovative decorating of her brace years ago inspired me when I was thinking of ideas for my blog. What if people decorated any kind of cast, brace, prosthetic limb or wheel chair?

                I think that equipment decorating would be a fun and creative thing to do to spice up any adaptive equipment people may need to use in their everyday life! Like my friend’s leg brace, people could make and put jewels, material or other craft supplies on practically anything. I have seen before people creating designs up crutches using colored duck tape or people pinning pins on neck braces. Therefore, an event or competition could be created to allow people to come and spice up their equipment and a fashion show could be held at the end for everyone to model their creations. There could also be prizes given away such as most creative, best theme, or most colorful.

                Several different materials could be used at an event like this, ranging from craft supplies such as material scraps, jewels or beads, or even everyday objects such as tin foil, duck tape or toilet paper rolls. Different age groups could participate or you could have different events for different age groups, but children and adolescents would probably enjoy crafts and a simple activity such as this the most, maybe even geriatrics. Anyone could come or participate, however, and supervision of some sort would probably be needed to make sure everything runs smoothly and there is assistance available for anything if needed. Safety precautions should be considered when dealing with any craft materials such as scissors or toxic substances such as some glues and spray paints. Children or people with severe disabilities may want assistance if needed when participating. In the end, a get together like this would be fun and creative and give people with adaptive equipment for their disabilit a chance to show it off and be proud of what they wear each day!  

Wheel Chair Dance Companies

             In my last extra blog activity, I talked about putting on a dance for people with disabilities. Now, I have found a dance company that was created for both people in wheel chairs and people who are able bodied to dance together! I had heard about wheel chair dance companies before and when I googled it, I found an organization called American Dance Wheels. The website says they have Ballroom and Latin dance lessons and social dance, but also put on performances and get involved in competitions at times! They have dance numbers that are just people in wheel chairs and some that involve both dancers in chairs and on foot. They also still use the “American Style” at times when the male leads, whether he is in a chair or not. I also found another website on a company called Dancing Wheels which was the first modern dance company to integrate professional sit-down and stand-up dancers. I think this kind of dancing and dance company is very unique and an awesome corporation because it shows people who are able bodied and people who are in wheel chairs united together and working to create beautiful and graceful dances! It also has the ability to help the participant’s mental, emotional and physical health!

                Dance companies like this are appropriate and focus mainly on people with physical disabilities that cause them to use a wheel chair. There could be other companies started, however, for people with different disabilities such as people using prosthetics or people who have cognitive disabilities. Anyone who has an idea or dream could get a group together and choreograph or create a dance. Not only do activities like this help the participants see past their disability and use recreation in a therapeutic way, but they can also reach out and inspire the audience and show them all the possibilities that people with disabilities still have!

   

Dance for the Disabled

          

                When I was in high school, I was a member of the National Honor Society and one year we decided to put on a dance for people who were cognitively disabled. The honor society had done this in the past, but hadn’t done one in the recent years and we wanted to try to start it up again. We would pick a theme, decorate, make and cater food, get a D.J, and then advertise and send invites to local areas. It was such a fun night because we would mingle and dance with all the guests and they just had fun dancing and socializing with each other. I think this is a great activity that can be put on anywhere and although dances aren’t exactly innovative, the idea that we had one specifically for people with cognitive disabilities to come together, have fun and socialize was unique. It also gave us a chance to integrate with them and have fun.

                Putting on a disabled dance could be easy and very worthwhile. I believe it could also teach people valuable skills such as social skills. Giving people who have cognitive disabilities a chance to get together, socialize and have fun is good for them and can help them become more social and work on appropriate behavior. People with cognitive disabilities can sometimes be more touchy and personable which can make people in the public feel a bit uncomfortable. At an outing made just for them, however, it allows them to be themselves around each other and not worry about being judged by outsiders who may not understand them.  Also, by integrating people who don’t mind socializing and working with them, they don’t feel segregated because of their disabilities.

                Dances for the disabled could be put on for any kind of disability pretty much! You could put one on for all disabilities or stick to certain ones such as a dance for people with spinal cord injury, youth at risk, or geriatrics. Sometimes having a dance for specific populations is good because it is focused for them and they can all feel on the same page and just have fun. Sometimes it is also nice to have them for all disabilities to bring everyone together and make them feel united. There are some precautions that may need to be taken such as chaperones to make sure everyone acts appropriately and nothing gets out of control. Also, proper decorations and equipment must be used so there are no injuries or accidents. Music and any games should also be kept appropriate for either the ages or abilities of the guests. When all safety and precautions are consider and proper planning has been made, you can relax, have fun, and enjoy the dance with your guests!

Spring Fever, Group Presentations, and a Video or Two

         In our last Innovative Activities class before spring break, we finished up the group presentations. The first group talked about adaptive rock climbing and had several youtube videos and examples of techniques to show us. I had never heard of adaptive rock climbing and the equipment was pretty amazing. There was something called magic wheels that allowed a person in a wheel chair to levitate up by pulling on handlebars that were attached to a pulley system. The second group talked about adaptive hunting and fishing. They shared with us different kinds of fishing poles for different disabilities such as people who don’t have much movement or control in their arms for holding the pole. There were also adaptive guns and bows for hunting. Some had a piece that helped hold the gun up and others were controlled by blowing in a mouthpiece.

       After the two presentations, we watched two movies about people with disabilities and how they remain active and engaged in outdoor activities. There was a young woman who surfed with a leg that wasn’t developed pasted her knee, a man who was paralyzed and went hang gliding, another man who scuba dived and was paralyzed, and a group of three men, one paralyzed from the waist down, a man with prosthetic legs, and a man who lost his vision who all went rock climbing together. The three men’s story was especially inspiring because they worked together to help each other out and used their abilities to make a difference instead of letting their disabilities get in the way. The man who was blind carried the man with paraplegia and while on his back, he would explain the trail to the man with vision impairment so he could maneuver his way up the mountain. The man who had prosthetic legs also explain the trail to the man who was blind and helped set up the ropes that would be used to help the man who was paralyzed get up the steep parts of the mountain using a pulley system.

                A CTRS could learn a lot from these stories and learn about different types of adaptations for all kinds of disabilities and activities. It also can give CTRS ideas about activities to facilitate with people. This is helpful because often times people with disabilities do not try new things because they do not know of the options they have and the adaptive equipment that is out there. By watching these films and seeing the people’s stories, a CTRS can be inspired to go out and share these ideas to people, offering to help those who may have a disability reach out and try to take part in whatever their interests are. 

The First of the Group Presentations

This week in class, we had the first four presentations for our group projects about a certain activity and adaptations of that activity. The first group did kayaking and boating and told us about certain adapted kayaks for people with disabilities and adaptations that can be made for a sail boat to make it safe and enjoyable for all kinds of populations. One thing I found interesting and learned from their presentation was that there are kayaks where the person can control the boat by blowing in a mouth piece. Certain amounts of air can make it go forward or turn. I never knew there were devices like that, much less a device that could control a kayak!

The second group presented on adaptive horseback riding and talked about all the different populations that can go horseback riding and all the benefits it has. Near the end, they talked about horse whispering which I have heard of, but never really knew the true meaning of I guess. Horse whispering is pretty much communicating with the horse and building a relationship between the horse and the rider. They talked about places to stroke and rub the horse to make it calm or happy and how to signal the horse to do certain commands. I had never heard about those techniques and got to learn what real horse whispering is! Following their presentation, my group presented and we talked about adaptive painting and sculpturing. We gave several adaptive equipment  ideas and showed techniques for different populations to use. From my own research, I learned about a college student who is blind and paints using a paint substance to draw his image. It leaves a raised outline of what he drew and he then paints in the spaces by feeling the difference in the textures between the different colors. I thought this was amazing and very impressive.

The final group presented on adaptive high ropes courses. They talked about how many different people can use high ropes courses to boost self confidence and self esteem, learn teamwork, and strengthen social skills. They showed a clip of a person in a wheel chair going across a high bridge which I thought was crazy! It just goes to show that anyone really can participate in recreation activities. So far we have learned about a few different activities that can be adapted for different populations and next week we will find out more!

Animal Assisted Therapy

         Being a Therapeutic Recreation major and a fan of animals, I have looked into several different ways to combine those two interests. I came across a website called PALS, which stands for People and Animal Learning Services Inc. This organization has therapeutic horseback riding for several different populations such as people with autism, amputations, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cognitive disabilities, speech impairments, learning impairments and youth at risk.

        Therapeutic horseback riding can provide many benefits for several different people. For those with physical disabilities, the movement and warmth of the horse during the ride can stimulate joint and muscle function, relax spastic muscles, and increase strength. It also has many psychological benefits and can increase a person’s self esteem and confidence. It also helps with communication skills and building positive relationships since the rider and the horse create a special bond between them. Saddles and riding can also be adapted for people who have physical disabilities and need more support and assistance when riding.

         This activity could be facilitated by providing supervised horseback riding for participants or you can do variations using other animals for therapy such as having people work with dogs, cats, or other tame animals. Participants can do things as simple as sit with the animal or they could play with them and take them for walks. Also, people with disabilities could get a chance to train animals if possible such as going through simple dog training with a therapy dog. By teaching and helping an animal learn a skill, they could enhance their own confidence and feel an even stronger bond with their therapy animal. Another variation would be having animal shows such as a dog, cat or horse show. The participant could walk around with their animal, dress it up, and show it off to a crowd of people. This is a fun way for participants to gain confidence and work on social skills. Again, this activity could be facilitated with several different populations. There are many considerations such as if the participant is allergic to certain animals or has any medical or social reasons that would have them not want to work with animals. Safety should also always be considered and supervision should take place during all animal assisted therapy. Animals should also be trained extensively to make sure they have a very mild temper and will obey and act accordingly. During therapeutic horseback riding, helmets should be used in case of accidents so the rider remains protected. 

         Working together with an animal can be very therapeutic and beneficial. The animal does not judge or criticize the individual and working together creates a bond that is both meaningful and inspiring. It can help the individual gain better social skills, confidence, and patience. Between the physiological and psychological benefits, Equine Assisted Activities (EAA) and other types of animal therapy create an overall well being for the participant.

                  

http://palstherapy.org/about/index.php

Fashion Runway and Innovative Activities?

          Another Innovative activities class has passed and this week, my group presented our quick activity to the class since one of our team mates was sick last week. Our quick activity involved three people on a team and each person was assigned a role. There would be one model, one person who is the clay, and another who is the artist. The artist must be blind folded while the model chooses a position to make such as one leg out, an arm in the air and the other on their hip. The artist must then feel the model, figure out all the details of the model’s position, then move onto the clay and try to mold them into the exact same position. The first team to do this and do it the most accurately is the winner. This activity was aimed towards only certain populations, not all. The main population we aimed it towards was children and youth at risk. It is a good activity to break the ice and allows people to step outside their comfort zones, work together with people, and have some fun. It teaches social skills and the message than despite any disability or obstacles one may face, they can still work through them to create something, have fun, and be an artist. It can also be modified and used with some physical disabilities such as moving and shaping arms or legs. It could be done slowly and be a good way to stretch for the participants and get some movement and flexibility. Some things to keep in mind were that it requires supervision, both so that the person blind folded does not run into anything or fall down, and so that guidance and supervision is present so people play the game appropriately.

                After we facilitated our activity, we talked about activities that are inclusive so that everyone is involved and are not super competitive so that there are no true losers in the game. We used the example of red light green light where a leader yells either red light or green light. If he yells green light, the participants run forward. When he says red light, they stop in place. The goal is to be the first one to reach the leader, but no one loses or gets kicked out of the game. We also did an example where people make two “trains” and either move forward, backwards, switch the front and back participants, or close their eyes and go slow as they pass through the “tunnel.” Our teams brainstormed other games or activities that are inclusive, fun and no one feels left our or discouraged. My team thought of a game called fish and whales where people are divided into two teams. On one team the people are the fish, on the other side are the whales. There is one fisherman in the middle who calls out either fish or whales. If they call fish, all the fish have to run across to the other side of the room without getting tagged by the fisherman. If they are tagged, they become another fisherman in the middle and help the original fisherman tag people. The last person left becomes the new fisherman in the middle for the next game.

                Next, we watched a clip from fashion run way where the contestants had to create an article of clothing out of supplies from Home Depot. We also talked about a popular activity at wedding showers which is to have a wedding dress making contest where you need to make a wedding dress on a model using only toilet paper. Our teacher then challenged us to discuss and come up with ideas of our own based on this idea from fashion run way. We were to first create some article of clothing using everyday material aimed towards our given population. My group’s population was geriatrics and we decided to have our population create hats out of saran wrap, aluminum foil, tissue paper and tape. We were inspired by the red hat ladies and the owners of our hat would also be part of a society where they create and wear their hats together at their outings. Next, we had to create variations of this main project and we chose to have our people make decorative pillows or quilts out of the same material. They would each create their own individual pattern or design out of the material and then they would all put them together to create a quilt of all their work. Finally, we did another variation that would be completely different from clothing or accessories and we chose to have them make flower arrangements and flower boxes.

                This week’s class had us discuss and think about activities where people all felt a part of the activity and included. These activities were stimulating, yet not competitive enough where people “lose” or get kicked out of the game for not doing it correctly or in a fast enough matter. These activities create inclusion and get people working together. We also touched on being innovative and facilitating activities or crafts with people using something that isn’t seen every day. By working together and thinking outside the box, people can come together and enjoy recreation while learning valuable social and experimental skills.

A wedding shower I recently attended where we created a wedding dress out of toilet paper. How innovative! 

Short Activity Presentations!

          It has been another week in Innovative Activities and this week, each group presented their small activity to the class. My group, group 2, could not present this week because one of our members was sick. We are allowed to present ours instead at the beginning of class next week. Each group’s small activity was creative and different in some way. They all did a good job of considering the populations they could present these activities to and any precautions or safety measures that might need to be taken.

          The first group did an activity involving paint and other objects, besides paint brushes, to apply the paint with. The idea was to get people thinking creatively and use other everyday objects that you wouldn’t think to use for painting. They had sponges, feathers, small wooden balls, artificial leaves, and soft fluffy art balls. Some people used the objects to create pictures such as scenery with trees or clouds, while others used them to create more abstract paintings. They talked about how the project could be used with many different populations such as youth at risk, people with cognitive disabilities, or even geriatrics. People may need assistance with getting paint or knowing what and where they can paint, however, so supervision is needed.

          Another group also brought several everyday objects but had us use them as musical instruments to create a song. There were books, rubber bands, pots and pans, bottles and many other things. The idea of this was to use creativity to come up with a unique musical ensemble that can either express one’s thoughts and feelings or just be a fun activity to use everyday objects in a new way. This activity could also be used for many different populations. The third group used a combination of music and art. They had six different songs and gave everyone a piece of paper and a colored marker. We were to all close our eyes and the lights were turned off as they played the first song. We were then supposed to draw whatever we liked based on the emotions and feelings we were getting from the song that was playing. Once the song ended, we passed our paper to the person next to us and the next song started, again drawing whatever we choose inspired by our thoughts and emotions from the song. By the end of the six songs, you should have six different pictures drawn on a piece of paper. Each picture is in a different color, since it was drawn by different people, and represents different thoughts and emotions. Happier, upbeat songs had pictures of people, rainbows and fireworks. Slower songs had pictures of “zzz”s representing sleep or pictures of sad or soothing objects. This project was supposed to get people’s thoughts down on paper and inspires people to show their emotions in different ways. This is another activity for people of different populations but can be modified for each. If it were used for people with autism, the group talked about maybe shortening the length of the songs so the participants don’t get bored or become uninterested.

           Another group had us all sit in a chair and did chair yoga with us. We did several different stretches and movements, all while sitting in and using our chairs. Their activity also used a simple, everyday object and turned it into something new and innovative. Anyone can do chair yoga to some degree, whether they be in a wheel chair, elderly, cognitively disabled, or just someone at work or school who needs to relieve some stress. The final group did an activity that involved us creating something to protect an egg from breaking when being dropped from the second floor. We were given straws, tape, and newspaper and could use them in any way we wanted. My group first wrapped and taped straws around the egg for support, then wrapped it in news paper a few times. We then placed the wrapped egg on a protective platform created by straws. When our egg was put to the tested and dropped from the second floor, it still managed to break. Three group’s eggs did not break however, proving that their protective barriers were constructed well. People were very creative in their building ideas and showed why this could be a good group activity for people. It requires team work and brain storming to come up with a creative and durable object to protect an egg.

            In the end, all the groups did a good job coming up with short activities that they could facilitate for people of different populations. They combined different things such as creativity, recreation, relaxation and team work to come up with something that someone would both enjoy and benefit from. All the activities also had some precautions that need to be taken and the teams did a good job of presenting and evaluating those as well.

Goalball!

While searching the internet for an extra innovative activity, I found a website about the sport Goalball. Goalball was invented as a rehabilitation activity for blind veterans following World War II. It was then further introduced to people when it was in the Paralympics in 1978. To play Goalball, you have three players per team and two teams. Each team is on either end of the court and their goal is to protect their goal line while trying to get the ball into the other team’s goal. One player plays in the center and the other two are the wings and play on either side of the center. The game was invented for people with visual impairments, but as part of the rules of the game, each team member is blind folded and needs to rely on their sensory and audio skills. This makes everyone have the same level of visual impairment, despite whatever level of visual impairment they may have as a disability. The game is played with a rubber ball with bells inside for the players to hear. The goal of the game is to pass and roll the ball and eventually put it into the opposing team’s goal. Team members can use their bodies to block passes and feel for the ball. Penalties can be called due to throwing the ball before the official has said start, throwing the ball out of bounds, a team taking more than ten seconds to throw the ball, a team member crossing onto the other team’s side, touching or moving their blindfolds, or unsportsmanship conduct. An official regulatory court is 18m long and 9m wide, but can be adjusted for different age groups or physical abilities. The goal boundary lines are made with either floor tape or string for the players and feel and know the boundaries, but they are not raised so much that they could cause someone to trip or cause an injury. There are two seven minute periods to the game and it is fourteen minutes overall.  Whichever team has the most points by the end of the game wins!

There are some safety measures and precautions to take when playing Goalball. Players have the option to wear knee pads, elbow pads, hip pads, and face masks. If I were to facilitate this activity with a group of people, I think I would make the protection mandatory. Also, since it is a visual impairment game, communication is key to avoid collisions and injury. As the players continue to play the game, they will adjust and develop better skills to listen for the ball, communicate with their team members, and learn where and how to place the ball for their advantage.

                I think this is a very good innovative and adaptive activity because it puts every player on the same page, despite their visual disability. People both with and without visual impairments can play together and share the same skill without segregation. This game also could be adapted for people with other disabilities such as physical or cognitive disabilities. If people were in a wheel chair, they could have wheel chairs that are closer to the ground so they can pick the ball up if needed. They could also have bumpers or padding on their wheel chairs to prevent injury and make it similar to bumper cars. People with cognitive disabilities can also play and work on developing social skills and team work. The balls could even be made bigger to allow easier catching and throwing if necessary.

Here is the website I used to find information on Goalball!http://www.usaba.org/Pages/sportsinformation/adaptations/goalballadapt.html 

Online Search Tutorial

        This week in Innovative Activities, we all met in one of the computer labs for a tutorial on how to do a search in our library’s online data base. One of the librarians came to talk to us and gave us helpful tips to find the best results. She went over the different areas on the website such as her personal contact page, the search page, and an option that allows you to send yourself the links to pages you found in an email. She also showed us how to enter information into the search engine so we can find more, specific options of what we are looking for. Putting quotations around items that are two words such as “therapeutic recreation” keeps the two words together in the search. She also said we can put synonyms for the words we are looking for to widen the search such as kids OR children OR youth. Another tip she gave use to expand our search was putting an asterisk after certain words such as teen*. That then finds all forms of the words such as teenagers or teens.

        After her helpful tutorial, we all began our own searches to find resources for our four page paper on an activity for a specific population in therapeutic recreation.  Her tutorial was very helpful when it came to doing our own search for our paper. I could get the results I was looking for in a quicker amount of time. In the past, searching for sources can be frustrating and get me nowhere. Now I can use what I have learned to hopefully make my searching process easier.

The Art of Tape Art

     During our last class period in Innovative Activites, we discussed innovative and collaborative art in therapeutic recreation. We learned specifically about a technique called tape art and the process of how to create our own. Tape art is an art form that includes wrapping an object such as a doll, statue, or even body parts, in a combination of saran wrap and clear masking tape. Once the object is covered, you carefully cut a series of slits through the tape/saran wrap so that you can slip the tape cast off the object. Finally, you carefully tape the cut seams together to create a whole, 3D image.

       Foy my group’s tape sculpture, we decided to create a statue inspired by the film Up. We wanted to make a hot air balloon with a person inside, looking out and waving. We wrapped the bottom legs of a chair to create the basket, then wrapped several balloons to make the air balloon portion of the sculpture. We also wrapped a balloon to make the head of our person instead of wrapping an actual team members head to avoid any possible problems. We finally wrapped a team member’s forearm and hand and taped all the separate pieces together, completing the final project. We thought about how going on a hot air balloon isn’t quite as common as other activities, yet is a fun and exciting activity that can be used by practically any population. There are few limitations as long as safety is considered and precautions are taken.

       Our group also discussed how tape art is a great innovative activity to do with people in the Therapeutic Recreation profession. It can be done with several different populations, although it may need to be modified slightly for each. For our specific population, people with cognitive disabilities, the process is fairly simple and involves creativity and teamwork. The patient can choose to wrap whatever they choose and can expand their imagination to create whatever kind of sculpture they want. Safety needs to be kept in mind, so it would be a good idea for the person to work with someone who can help them with the cutting if needed. It is also a good idea to make sure if they are wrapping someone that they don’t wrap too tightly. This combination of creativity, art and teamwork is a great experience for the cognitively disabled and allows them to enjoy recreation and individuality. Overall, the concept of tape art is both innovative and intriguing. It is a simple and fairly cheap activity that takes everyday objects and creates a unique piece of art that you definitely don’t see everyday.                                                                                                                                                                               

                      incredibleart.org

     Although this is not my group's sculpture created in class, this is a good example of a tape art piece. The artists may have wrapped either a person or manequin to create this full body dancer.

A Little Introduction

  My name is Caitlin Sevener and I am a sophomore here at UWL. I am a Therapeutic Recreation Major with a Communications minor. I haven't completely decided what population I want to work with in TR, but so far I am leaning towards working with either people with physical disabilities or working with vetrans in a vetrans hospital. I am keeping my options open, however, and hope to figure it out with time.

                                                      That would be me on the right. ^