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

DEVELOPMENT:
The Manila Plan: Seventeen (17) Steps in Developing Programs to Meet the Play and Recreation Needs of People with Disabilities in the 21st Century.

by Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Ed.D., CTRS, Pres./CEO
Special Recreation for disABLED International

INTERNATIONAL. The precedent setting "Manila: International Seminar on Special Recreation" was directed by Special Recreation for disABLED International in Manila, The Philippines, in 1981. (1)(2)(3) The Seminar was held under the auspices of:

International Council on Health, Physical Education, and Recreation;
Philippines Foundation for Rehabilitation of the Disabled; and,
Philippines Office of Vocational Rehabilitation, in Manila.
GOALS. The Goals of the "Manila International Seminar on Special Recreation" were:

1. Exchange Experience. Exchange of national experience within the Pan Pacific Region and globally on special play and recreation for people with disabilities.

2. Training on Programs. Provide in-service training on organizing play and recreation for people with disabilities programs and services in various settings and programs.

3. Training on Methods. Provide in-service training on methods of leading special play and recreation services: Leading (coaching, instructing), adapting activities and equipment, accessibility to play and recreation, attitude change through play and recreation, recreation advising/counseling, recreation education, etc.

4. Strategies for Development. Formulate strategies for the development of non-governmental and governmental special play and recreation for people with disabilities in relation to different jurisdictional levels, that is, community, county, district, province/state, nation, region of the world, and world jurisdictions, i.e., UN/UNSAs.

MEETING NEEDS. The "Manila International Seminar on Special Recreation" participants were aware of the importance of play and recreation in the lives of people with disabilities. They knew of the enormous need to use special play and recreation for rehabilitation, community settlement, and life enrichment.

The seminar members considered avenues to development of special play and recreation at various JURISDICTIONAL levels -- community, county, district, province/state, nation, region of the world, and world. The following 17 functions or operations are presented for consideration.

Adopt, Adapt. These 17 functions for development MAY APPLY at various levels and MAY APPLY in many communities. However, workers should "Adopt the Principle But Adapt to the Local and National Conditions." No program or service or idea can be directly transplanted. Adaptation is the key to success.
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The Manila Plan: Seventeen (17) Steps in Developing Programs to Meet the Play and Recreation Needs of People with Disabilities in the 21st Century.

1. START-UP COMMITTEE. Within the jurisdiction (community, county, district, prov./state, nation, region of the world, world) create a START-UP COMMITTEE. The COMMITTEE provides leadership in the jurisdiction to governmental and non-governmental organizations. The START UP COMMITTEE include representation of:

a. Parents, family, and friends of the users/potential users, CONSUMERS, of special play and recreation for people with disabilities.

b. Professionals representing the medical, educational, recreational, social and vocational aspects of rehabilitation of people with disabilities, institution-based (hospital, center, etc.) and community-based (community-based rehabilitation, community-based special play and recreation).

c. Consumers who represent a range of disabilities (developmental, emotional, hearing, neurological, physical, and visual disabilities); and, age levels, men and women, and relevant institutions.

Exclusion of organizations, groups, and individuals on the Start-Up Committee will ultimately decrease total delivery of service, decrease total participation, increase the costs of providing fewer services to fewer people, and ultimately diminish opportunity for people with disabilities. Cooperation and coordination may be time consuming but they will pay dividends.

2. SURVEY DISABILITY. Within the designated jurisdiction, the COMMITTEE compiles data and/or conducts SURVEY research to obtain data yielding the most reliable and valid data on the number of people with disabilities: disease and disability groups; levels of severity; age; sex; medical status; income status; education status; ; social functioning; employment; and, status of play and recreation opportunity, participation, benefits achieved, deterrents, etc.

3. SURVEY PROGRAMS. Within its jurisdiction the COMMITTEE compiles data and/or conducts surveys and research to collect data on:

a. The activities, programs, and services provided in institutions (hospitals, centers, residential institutions, etc.) and provided in the community (-based rehabilitation, community-based special play and recreation) to infants, children, youth, adults, and seniors with disabilities); and,

b. The actual numbers on those served, those under-served, and those un-served are determined.

4. PUBLISH DIRECTORY. The information compiled in "3.a." above is published in a "The ___(city/area)___ Directory of Special Play and Recreation Opportunities for People with Disabilities." This is the COMMITTEE's first program product and a valuable step forward the people to be served.

The Directory will serve consumers with disabilities, parents and family members, professionals, and patients and clients. It will be an important resource for medical, educational, recreational, social, and vocational services and workers who wish to enhance play and recreation in the lives of those they serve.

5. INFO-TECH CENTER. The COMMITTEE directs and coordinates the creation of an "___(city/county)___ Information and Technology Center on Special Play and Recreation." This INFO-TECH CENTER facilitates the acquisition and use of:

Information on: Activity/Play/Recreation Assistive-Devices, Books-Literature, Computer Hard-/Software, Equipment, Games, Supplies, Toys, Travel, etc. This information complements the Directory.

6. STATEMENT OF NEEDS. Using the data (see 2 and 3 above) the COMMITTEE determines the quality and quantity of special play and recreation service being delivered to people with disabilities, those BEING SERVED, those UNDER-SERVED, and those UN-SERVED. The COMMITTEE identifies primary, secondary, and tertiary program and activity needs of people with disabilities.

7. SETTING PRIORITIES. PRIORITIES are determined for development of Special Recreation based on needs for programs and services within institutional (hospital-based treatment and rehabilitation), community-based rehabilitation, and community-based recreation.

8. ORGANIZE. The COMMITTEE sets about forming a non-governmental "New Special Recreation Organization" for adapted/special/therapeutic play and recreation, that is, an Association, [permanent] Committee, Council, Foundation, or Society. The purpose is to lead development of play and recreation for special populations.

9. MISSION AND PLAN. Based on "needs" the New Special Recreation Organization determines the special play and recreation MISSION/GOALS, specific objectives and priorities for development, and creates a short-, intermediate-, and long-range plan for development. A time table for completion of tasks is prepared in relation to achievement of mission, goals, objectives, and plans.

10. RAISE FUNDS. Funds are raised from non-governmental and governmental sources. The New Special Recreation Organization follows standard local customs, legal and ethical principles, and standard practices in raising funds to operate. Fund raisers draw attention to the enormous need for play and recreation in the lives of people with disabilities. Infants, children, youth, adults, and seniors all need play and recreation in rehabilitation, for treatment, for function, for well being, and for live enrichment. The aim is to call on the Goodwill of Civil Society to provide adequate funding in response to need.

11. COOPERATION, CO0RDINATION. The New SR Organization fosters cooperation (voluntary) and coordination (agreements, contracts) among non-governmental and governmental agencies and associations with whom there are shared clients or patients, shared goals, and shared concerns. It is desirable that governmental units coordinate ("sign off") on one another's roles, functions, and projects that relate to special play and recreation for people with disabilities.

12. PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION. The New Organization provides in-service education for the staff of hospitals, institutions, health agencies, and park and recreation departmen5ts, youth services, etc. These formal seminars or workshops provide medical personnel, therapists, park and recreation personnel, youth service personnel, etc., with information they use in serving their patients, clients, or members.

13. PUBLIC EDUCATION. The New SR Organization conducts PUBLIC EDUCATION on the importance of play and recreation dimension of rehabilitation, access to play and recreation, attitudes and acceptance in education, employment, community life and play and recreation.

14. PHILOSOPHY, POLICIES. The New SR Organization formulates a philosophy and promotes policies for the provision of special play and recreation for the jurisdiction by:

a. Non-governmental Organizations (civic, community, health, rehabilitation and community-based rehabilitation, voluntary health organizations, youth services, etc.), serving people with disabilities and provision of special play and recreation within their programs; and,

b. Governmental Organizations (bureaus, divisions, units, etc.) providing for rehabilitation and community-based rehabilitation, community-based special recreation, and special/therapeutic arts, cultural programs, recreation, play, sports, tourism, and youth services.

15. LEGISLATION. The New SR Organization advocates legislation that provides for:

a. Government funded play and recreation for people with disabilities: technical assistance, services, programs, funds, inspection, etc.;

b. Elimination of barriers to people with disabilities: architectural barriers, transportation barriers, attitudinal barriers, program barriers, etc.; and,

c. Laws and regulations that prohibits discrimination in: i. employment, ii. services rendered by government at all levels, iii. places of accommodation; and,
iv. transportation and telecommunications.

16. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. The New SR Organization advocates for TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE for development of special play and recreation. Technical assistance may come from within community and nation or other nations, the region, or from world organizations.

TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CATEGORIES:

1. Administration and Organization. 2. Advisory and Planning.
3. Conferences and Meetings. 4. Education and Training.
5. Equipment, Facilities, and Supplies. 6. Fellowships.
7. Funding. 8. Technical Information.
9. Public Information. 10. Personnel.
11. Research and Studies 12. Standards and Agreements.

17. PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. The New SR Organization pursues the development of professional activity/recreation delivery, that is, the development of therapeutic model and professions.

a. Recreation Therapy. The New SR Organization pursues the development of Recreation Therapy/Therapeutic Recreation. The RT/TR system offers the "therapeutic recreation" prescriptive model service and the special/adapted recreation model, a series of special activities, for example, special arts, special music, special reading, and special social activities.

b. Expressive Therapies. The New SR Organization develops one or more of the creative therapies, Art Therapy, Dance Therapy, Drama Therapy, Music Therapy, or Writing Therapy (poetry, prose). These therapies focus on use of a particular modality (art, dance, etc.) with individuals and small groups and special/adapted activity.

c. Expressive/Recreation. The New SR Organization may choose both approaches, Recreation Therapy and, for example, Music Therapy. Many nations have developed professional specializations in recreation and the creative therapies. They share their experience with new movements.

APPLYING THE 17 FUNCTIONS

Indicate the levels at which you believe the 17 functions are pertinent.

COM = Community Level: rural area, town, city.
DIS = District Level: includes a number of communities.
P/S = Provincial or State Level.
NAT = National Level.
REG = Regional Level: includes a number of nations, such as the regions of Africa, Asia, Central America/Caribbean, Europe, Middle-East, North American, Oceania/Pan Pacific, and South American.
WOR = World Level: multi-national, international, such as United Nations.

INDICATE Y=YES OR N=NO
IF ACTION IS NEEDED IN/FROM YOUR---------COM DIS P/S NAT REG WOR

ACTION IS NEEDED IN/FROM COM DIS P/S NAT REG WOR
1. Startup Committee ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
2. Survey Disability ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
3. Survey Programs ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
4. Publish Directory ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
5. Info-Tech Center ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
6. Statement of Needs ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
7. Set Priorities ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
8. Organize ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
9. Mission and Plan ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
10. Raise Funds ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
11. Cooperation/Coordination ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
12. Professional Education ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
13. Public Education ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
14. Philosophy, Policies ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
15. Advocacy for Legislation ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
16. Technical Assistance ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______
17. Professional Development ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______

APPLIED AT YOUR LEVEL

Use this checklist to cite the 17 Functions that have application at your level, from community to world.

Check the Levels at which you serve:
__ COM = Community Level: rural area, town, city.
__ DIS = District Level: includes a number of communities.
__ P/S = Provincial or State Level.
__ NAT = National Level.
__ REG = Regional Level.
__ WOR = World Level.

At my Level/in my Work Situation, we need: Yes No Note:
1. Start-Up Committee: ____ ____ _____________________
2. Survey Disability: ____ ____ _____________________
3. Survey Programs: ____ ____ _____________________
4. Publish Directory: ____ ____ _____________________
5. Info-Tech Center: ____ ____ _____________________
6. Statement of Needs: ____ ____ _____________________
7. Set Priorities: ____ ____ _____________________
8. Organize: ____ ____ _____________________
9. Mission and Plan: ____ ____ _____________________
10. Raise Funds: ____ ____ _____________________
11. Cooperation/Coordination: ____ ____ _____________________
12. Professional Education: ____ ____ _____________________
13. Public Education: ____ ____ _____________________
14. Philosophy, Policies: ____ ____ _____________________
15. Advocacy for Legislation: ____ ____ _____________________
16. Technical Assistance: ____ ____ _____________________
17. Professional Development: ____ ____ _____________________

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Footnotes

(1) The Manila Seminar. This article is based on the "Manila International Seminar on Special Recreation" which was made possible by the following personnel and organizations:

SPONSOR: Dr. Carl A. Troester, Jr, Secretary General of ICHPER, the International Council of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation.
ORGANIZER/EDITOR: Prof. John A. Nesbitt, Special Recreation for disABLED International.
COORDINATOR: Mrs. Charlotte Floro, President, Philippines Foundation for Rehabilitation of the Disabled.
DELEGATES: Belgium, Hong Kong, Korea, and Philippines.
LIAISON: Mr. Victor Baltazar, former Head, Philippines Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; and, Mrs. Nellie Baltazar, former Head, Philippines National Vocational Rehabilitation Center.
RECORDER: Mrs. Corazon T. Santos, OTRP, Elks CP Center, Manila.

(2) Acknowledgements. From 1962 to 1998 your writer has worked on four international projects conducted in the Philippines for the Asian Region and Global Audiences. Key figures in these international activities have been Mr. Victor Baltazar, deceased, former Director of the Philippines Office of Vocational Rehabilitation; and, Mrs. Nellie Baltazar, former Superintendent of the National Vocational Rehabilitation Center. They were supported by a dedicated, skilled staff. Each staff member made significant contributions.

Both Nellie and Victor are Special Recreation Pioneers in the Philippines. They provided leadership for the initiation of a series of recreation activities and program and public demonstration of recreation performed by people with disabilities.

The wisdom, goodwill, and spirit of Mr. and Mrs. Baltazar, of their Filipino Compatriots, and the Filipino People are the spirit of this article on development.


(3) Filipino Connection. Prof. Nesbitt provided international consultation and international training in the Philippines four times:
1962, World Seminar on Vocational Rehabilitation, held under the auspices of Rehabilitation [of disabled] International;
1981, International Seminar on Special Recreation, held under the auspices of the International Council on Health, Physical Education, and Recreation;
1981, International Seminar on Special Recreation in Mental Illness, held under the auspices of the World Federation for Mental Health; and,
1998, Asian/Philippines Exchange/Survey on Access, Attitudes, Employment, and Recreation for People with Disabilities. This exchange/survey conducted as part of a two-year, 11 Asian Nation Exchange Program conducted under the auspices of Disability International Foundation and SRDI.
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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

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