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

PERSONNEL:
"Recreational Therapist Professional Specialization USA"

from "The Occupational Outlook Handbook," May 4, 2000
Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor
EMAIL: oohinfo@bls.gov
URL: http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos082.htm
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Recreation Therapist
Nature of the Work
Working Conditions
Employment
Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement
Job Outlook
Earnings
Related Occupations
Sources of Additional Information
Significant Points
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RECREATIONAL THERAPIST
Employment Increasing. Employment of recreational therapists is expected to increase, due to expansion in long-term care, physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and services for people with disabilities.

Degree. Opportunities should generally be best for persons with a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation or in recreation with a concentration in therapeutic recreation.

NATURE OF THE WORK
Recreational therapists, also referred to as therapeutic recreation specialists, provide treatment services and recreation activities to individuals with disabilities, illnesses, or other disabling conditions.

Techniques. These recreational therapists use a variety of techniques to treat or maintain the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of clients. Treatments may include the use of
__arts and crafts,
__animals [assisted therapy],
__dance and movement,
__drama,
__games,
__music,
__sports, and
__community outings.

Depression, Recovery, Independence, Independence. Recreational therapists help individuals:
__reduce depression, stress, and anxiety ...
__recover basic motor functioning and reasoning abilities,
__build confidence, and
__socialize effectively to enable greater independence, as well as to
__reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability ...
__help integrate people with disabilities into the community, by helping them use community resources and recreational activities.

Recreational therapists should NOT be confused with [community] "recreation workers," who organize recreational activities primarily for enjoyment. (See Recreation Workers in "Occupational Outlook Handbook")

Acute Health Care Settings: Hospitals and Rehabilitation Centers. In acute health care settings, such as hospitals and rehabilitation centers, recreational therapists treat and rehabilitate individuals with specific health conditions, usually in conjunction or collaboration with
__physicians,
__nurses,
__psychologists,
__social workers, and
__physical [therapists] and
__occupational therapists.

Long Term Care and Residential Facilities. In long-term care facilities and residential facilities, recreational therapists use recreation activities —- especially structured group programs -- to
__improve and maintain general health and well-being. They may also
__treat clients and provide interventions to prevent further medical problems and secondary complications related to illness and disabilities.

Assessment, Intervention, Documentation. Recreational therapists
__assess clients, based on information from standardized assessments, observations, medical records, medical staff, family, and clients themselves. They then
__develop and carry out therapeutic interventions consistent with client needs and interests.

For example, clients isolated from others, or with limited social skills, may be encouraged to play games with others, or right-handed persons with right-side paralysis may be instructed to adapt to using their non-affected left side to throw a ball or swing a racket.

Recreational therapists may instruct patients in:
__relaxation techniques to reduce stress and tension,
__stretching and limbering exercises,
__proper body mechanics for participation in recreation activities,
__pacing and energy conservation techniques, and
__individual as well as team activities.

Additionally, recreation therapists observe and document patients’
__participation,
__reactions, and
__progress.

Community-Based. Community based therapeutic recreation specialists may work in
__park and recreation departments,
__special education programs for school districts, or
__programs for older adults and people with disabilities.

Included in the [community-based programs for older adults and people with disabilities] groups are programs and facilities such as
__assisted living,
__adult day service centers and
__substance abuse rehabilitation centers.

In these [community-based older adult and people with disabilities]
programs, recreation therapists
__use interventions to develop specific skills while
__providing opportunities for exercise, mental stimulation, creativity, and fun.

Schools. Although most therapists are employed in other areas, those who work in schools help counselors, teachers, and parents
__address the special needs of students -- most importantly,
__easing the transition into adult life for disabled students.

WORKING CONDITIONS
Service, Office, Community. Recreational therapists provide services in special activity rooms but also plan activities and prepare documentation in offices. When working with clients during community integration programs, recreational therapists may travel locally to instruct clients on the accessibility of public transportation and other public areas, such as parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, restaurants, and theaters.

40-Hours. Recreational therapists often lift and carry equipment as well as lead recreational activities. Recreational therapists generally work a 40-hour week that may include some evenings, weekends, and holidays.

EMPLOYMENT, 39,000 JOBS
Recreational therapists held about 39,000 jobs in 1998. About:
38 percent of salaried jobs for therapists were in hospitals, and
26 percent were in nursing and personal care facilities
36 percent ... worked in
__residential facilities,
__community mental health centers,
__adult day care programs,
__correctional facilities,
__community programs for people with disabilities, and
__substance abuse centers.

About 1 out of 3 therapists was self-employed, generally contracting with long-term care facilities or community agencies to develop and oversee programs.

TRAINING, OTHER QUALIFICATIONS, AND ADVANCEMENT
Bachelor's Degree [four-year]. A bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation, or in recreation with a concentration in therapeutic recreation, is the usual requirement for entry-level positions.

Associate Degree [two-year]. Persons may qualify for paraprofessional positions with an associate degree in therapeutic recreation or a health care related field. An associate degree in recreational therapy; training in art, drama, or music therapy; or qualifying work experience may be sufficient for activity director positions in nursing homes.

Certification. Most employers prefer to hire candidates who are "Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRS). The National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) certifies therapeutic recreation specialists.

Degree, Examination, 360-600 Hour Internship. To become certified, specialists must
__have a bachelor’s degree,
__pass a written certification examination, and
__complete an internship of at least 360 hours, under the supervision of a certified therapeutic recreation specialist. A few colleges or agencies may require 600 hours of internship.

43 Accredited Degree Programs. There are approximately 150 programs that prepare recreational therapists. Most offer bachelors degrees, although some offer associate, master’s, or doctoral degrees. As of 1998, there were 43 recreation programs with options in therapeutic recreation accredited by the National Council on Accreditation.

EDITOR'S NOTE. The programs may be categorized as follows:
150---Offer Coursework in Recreational Therapy.
093---Are Accredited for Recreation Worker Curricula.
043---Are Accredited for Recreational Therapist Curricula. The preferred curricula are the 43 colleges and universities that are Accredited for Recreational Therapist/TRS Curricula.

Courses. Recreational therapy programs include courses:
__assessment, treatment and program planning,
__intervention design ...
__evaluation ...
__human anatomy,
__physiology,
__abnormal psychology,
__medical and psychiatric terminology,
__characteristics of illnesses and disabilities,
__professional ethics, and the
__use of assistive devices and technology.

Traits of RTs. Recreational therapists should ...
__[be] comfortable working with persons who are ill or have disabilities ... __[be] patient
__[be] tactful ...
__[be] persuasive working with people who have a variety of special needs ...
__[be] ingenious
__[have] a sense of humor ...
__[be imaginative] ...
__[be able to] adapt activities to individual needs ...
__[have] good physical coordination ... necessary to demonstrate or participate in recreational activities.

Advancement. Therapists may advance to
__supervisory or
__administrative positions. Some
__teach,
__conduct research, or
__perform contract consulting work.

JOB OUTLOOK
Employment of recreational therapists is expected to grow as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2008, because of anticipated expansion in
__long-term care,
__physical and psychiatric rehabilitation, and
__services for people with disabilities.

However, the total number of job openings will be relatively low, because the occupation is small. Opportunities should be best for persons with a bachelor’s degree in therapeutic recreation or in recreation with an option in therapeutic recreation.

Health care facilities will provide a growing number of jobs in:
__hospital-based adult day care and
__outpatient programs and in
__units offering short-term mental health and
__alcohol or drug abuse services.
__Rehabilitation,
__home-health care,
__transitional programs, and
__psychiatric facilities will provide additional jobs.

The rapidly growing number of older adults is expected to spur job growth for therapeutic recreation specialists and recreational therapy paraprofessionals in
__assisted living facilities,
__adult day care programs, and
__social service agencies. Continued growth is also expected in
__community residential facilities, as well as
__day care programs for individuals with disabilities.

EARNINGS
Median annual earnings of recreational therapists were $27,760 in 1998.
__The middle 50 percent earned between $21,580 and $35,000 a year.
__The lowest 10 percent earned less than $16,380 and
__the highest 10 percent earned more than $42,440 a year.
Median annual earnings for recreational therapists in 1997 were
__$29,700 in hospitals and
__$21,900 in nursing and personal care facilities.

RELATED OCCUPATIONS. Recreational therapists primarily design activities to help people with disabilities lead more fulfilling and independent lives. Other workers who have similar jobs are
__recreational therapy paraprofessionals,
__orientation therapists for persons who are blind or have visual impairments, __art therapists,
__drama therapists,
__dance therapists,
__music therapists,
__occupational therapists,
__physical therapists, and
__[vocational] rehabilitation counselors.

SOURCES OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For information or ordering materials describing careers, academic programs, and certification in Recreational Therapy, write to:

American Therapeutic Recreation Association, 1414 Prince Street, Suite 204 Alexandria, VA 22314. Internet: http://www.atra-tr.org

National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification, P.O. Box 479, Thiells, NY 10984-0479.
An industry employing recreational therapists that appears in the 2000-01 Career Guide to Industries: Health

National Therapeutic Recreation Society, 22377 Belmont Ridge Rd., Ashburn, VA 20148-4501. Internet: http://www.nrpa.org/branches/ntrs.htm
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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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