University Presentation Showcase: Graduate Division

Physical Activity Levels of People with Disabilities and Therapeutic Recreation Programming: Where Do We Stand Today?

Presenter Hometown

Bowling Green

Major

Recreation Therapy

Department

Recreation and Park Administration

Degree

Graduate

Mentor

Brian G. Clark, Ed. D.

Mentor Department

Recreation and Park Administration

Abstract

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “26% of adults in the United States have some type of disability” (2020). That is 61 million people (CDC, 2020)! People with disabilities may face physical, social, and/or cognitive barriers as a result of their disabilities. It is common knowledge that exercise and recreational activity can positively affect one’s physical, social, and cognitive health and well-being; however, all too often the barriers faced by people with disabilities hinder their ability to participate in exercise and recreational activity. This is where recreational therapy comes in to play. According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, “Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being” (n.d.). The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity levels of people with disabilities in the U.S. with the availability of therapeutic recreation programming.

Keywords: recreational therapy, physical activity levels, disabilities, therapeutic recreation programming

Presentation format

Poster

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Physical Activity Levels of People with Disabilities and Therapeutic Recreation Programming: Where Do We Stand Today?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “26% of adults in the United States have some type of disability” (2020). That is 61 million people (CDC, 2020)! People with disabilities may face physical, social, and/or cognitive barriers as a result of their disabilities. It is common knowledge that exercise and recreational activity can positively affect one’s physical, social, and cognitive health and well-being; however, all too often the barriers faced by people with disabilities hinder their ability to participate in exercise and recreational activity. This is where recreational therapy comes in to play. According to the American Therapeutic Recreation Association, “Recreational therapy, also known as therapeutic recreation, is a systematic process that utilizes recreation and other activity-based interventions to address the assessed needs of individuals with illnesses and/or disabling conditions, as a means to psychological and physical health, recovery and well-being” (n.d.). The purpose of this study was to compare the physical activity levels of people with disabilities in the U.S. with the availability of therapeutic recreation programming.

Keywords: recreational therapy, physical activity levels, disabilities, therapeutic recreation programming