Community Based Aquatic Therapy

GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation
and Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century

AQUATICS:
"Community Based Aquatic Therapy; Networking from Trauma to Independence"

by Mrs. Grace Demery Reynolds, President
Disability International Foundation
and
Dr. Julian U. Stein, Board Member,
Disability International Foundation

I. HISTORY

Since the 1970s, the World Health Organization (WHO) has been using a Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) plan in third world countries to bring together local rehabilitation resources.

Since 1973 the YMCA of the USA has used a similar community planning design emphasizing aquatics from national to local levels nationally through its U. S. Bureau of Education for the Handicapped Projects:

Project Aquatics,
Project Aquatics Mainstreaming (Project PAM), and
Mainstreaming Activities for Youth (Project MAY),

Key national agencies which collaborated during the years since 1982 in aquatic activities include:

American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD);
American Red Cross (ARC);
Council for National Cooperation in Aquatics (CNCA);
National Parks and Recreation Association (NRPA);
National Organization on Disability;
President's Council on Fitness and Sport;
People-to-People Committee on Disability;
Physical Fitness and Sports (PCPFS);
President's Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities;
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago;
Special Olympics International (SOI);
Special Recreation for disABLED International;
U. S. Government/United Nations and International Year for Disabled Persons; and,
U.S. Olympic Committee's, Members of the Committee on Sports for the Disabled.

II. THE IMPORTANCE OF NETWORKING

Here are points to consider in networking:

__Water activity provides an ideal vehicle for network collaboration in providing such services.

__Many agencies already collaborate.

__It is a cost-effective procedure as services are integrated in the client plan of care toward independence.

__"Facing Disability through the Aquatics Industry" (FDAI) is an example of effective networking of aquatic activity. (See the DIF WEBSITE for information on FDAI, http://www.teleport.com/~dif/)

III. A. BENEFITS

Alison Osinski, Ph.D. (Aquatic Consulting Services) stated, "Aquatic activity is the ideal medium for exercise for those who have injuries." Here are points to check:

__Water is injury-free when performed by those properly trained and, supervised.

__Aquatic facilities and pools are safe places to exercise.

__Aquatic professionals need to work with doctors, therapists and persons with disabilities in planning water activity, exercise, and learning.

__Water exercise is probably the safest activity for older populations.

__Representative benefits of aquatic activity in an integrated rehabilitation and leisure program include:

__Improves balance in upright positions (i.e., standing, sitting, and while moving).

__Allows greater variety of movements than on land. Enhances independent, self-motivated movements impossible on land. Increases strength faster by decreasing effects of gravity.

__Increases range of motion and flexibility.

__Prevents or slows atrophy of weak muscles due to increased circulation and movement.

__Allows ambulation earlier than on land.

__Promotes social acceptance for participant as well as in the community.

__Speeds recovery by relieving the use of braces and physical aids adapted from Project FIT (Fitness Involving Teens and Youth with Disabilities) Instructor's Manual.

III. B. THE MODEL

I. Aquatics

From Rehabilitation to Independent Community Function - is an integrated continuum for individuals with disabilities.

II. Aquatic Activities for Rehabilitation

The client in a hospital, clinic, or rehabilitation center is provided aquatic activity through traditional therapies (i.e., physical therapy, occupational therapy, therapeutic recreation) as therapeutic aquatics integral parts of formal rehabilitation services.

The client also participates informally in typical aquatic activities to enhance physiological, psychological, and emotional aspects of the rehabilitation process. Leisure education and leisure counseling are important parts of these processes.

III. Aquatic Activities for Recreation

The clients in a hospital, clinic or rehabilitation center (at these sites) increases participation in typical aquatic activities for all the same reasons as others participate in such activities (i.e. fun, fitness, social contact, skill development, appropriate leisure pursuits, exploration, building positive self concept).

Leisure education and leisure counseling continue to be important as both rehabilitation and aquatic staffs are involved at this stage of the continuum.

IV. Aquatic Activities for Recreation

While goals, objectives, and activities are little, if any, different from the previous stage, site for participation changes to community programs and facilities (i.e. YMCA/YWCAs, recreation departments, parks boards, voluntary agencies, sport clubs, colleges/universities).

Initially, staff personnel from the hospital, clinic, or rehabilitation center work together with the community agency aquatic staff which gradually increases its roles and responsibilities as roles and responsibilities of the clinical facility aquatic staff are gradually phased out.

Leisure education and leisure counseling are continued, especially as a means of expanding and extending program participant's knowledge of new, different, and available aquatic activities in the community.

Sites and staff as in the previous stage remain unchanged with total responsibility that of the community agency aquatics staff. Program emphasis is upon refining existing skills, developing new skills, having opportunities for additional instruction in a variety of aquatic activities, including at advanced levels. An important goal at this stage is increasing independent function and self- actualizing behaviors. Leisure education and leisure counseling continue throughout this stage of the continuum.

V. Independent Community Function in Aquatic Recreation

Active participation in aquatic activities is governed by personal interests and self-determination as individuals take part with friends, family, and peers in separate to integrated settings and at all ability levels (i.e., beginner to elite).

Program sponsors continue to be community agencies (i.e., adult education, YMCA/YWCAs, recreation departments, park boards, special interest groups, sport clubs, disabled sport organizations, swimming/aquatic national governing bodies, voluntary agencies, colleges/universities).

The development of cooperative networks and partnerships among all agencies is extremely important at this stage of the continuum. Leisure education and leisure counseling continue.

VI. Additional Applications

Although this description is presented in terms of the total continuum from rehabilitation to independent community function as related to active participation in aquatic activities, the concept underlying the model can be applied in many other ways. Here are some points to check on application:

__Between contiguous and within stages in the continuum;

__In the transition from school to community programs and activities;

__For uses in areas other than aquatic activities (i.e., physical, recreational and sport activities), and in pre-vocational and vocational activities.

VII. Keys to Additional Applications

__Here are additional applications to check:

__Understanding the concept of continuum;

__Making adaptations according to specifies of other situations and environments;

__Implementing appropriately;

__Working together;

__Keeping the participant, not the agency, as dominant (shout the cause; whisper the organization).

FIVE KEYS TO SUCCESS

Here are points to check in the pursuit of success:

__1. PERSON FIRST. Put the needs of the person with a disability FIRST. Develop goals and objectives, evaluate and update work plan often.

__2. TEACH BENEFITS. Teach benefits and enjoyment of water therapy, exercise and leisure.

__3. COMPLY WITH LAWS. Develop programs to show or train to comply with laws for accessibility such as in the USA, the Americans with Disabilities Act. Disseminate ways to effectively comply with national laws.

__4. INCLUDE CONSUMERS. Inclusion of consumers, volunteers and families from planning to implementation to evaluation. Cooperation and education of medical and community agencies toward the goal of independent living for each person with a disability.

__5. BUILD AWARENESS. Help our community become aware of the needs of those with disabilities by identifying and overcoming Barriers to Accessibility of Facilities, Programs, and Personnel
___

CONTACT:
Disability International Foundation
Mrs. Grace Demmery Reynolds, President
P.O. Box 1781
Longview, Washington 98632 USA
FAX--------- 360/636-1680
EMAIL------- dif@teleport.com
WEBSITE----- http://www.teleport.com/~dif/

GLOBAL VISION PROJECT: Global Vision of Rehabilitation and
Recreation for People with Disabilities in the 21st Century
A Joint Project by
Disability International Foundation AND
Special Recreation for disABLED International

GO HOME PAGE
GO INDEX