What TR isn't

Here is my pet peeve.

I’ve heard people outside of the profession say that Therapeutic Recreation (TR) is “simply the delivery of recreation services to persons who are disabled.” This is not true.

I cringe when I hear that.

Providing recreation activities and services for people with disabilities is just that, opportunities for recreation. I feel that adding the word therapeutic or therapy to recreation in these instances is giving a stigma that people with disabilities or illnesses will always need “therapy” or “therapeutic” services, which is not true.

A person with a disability could be independently functioning at her (or his) highest functional level in recreation activities and in life.

Here are two of my favorite examples:

Bethany Hamilton has suffered a shark attack and lost her left arm. She has overcome her disability. Today Bethany still independently surfing. This isn’t therapeutic recreation. It is just Bethany surfing.

Jon Comer (born 1976) lost a leg as a young boy. He has a prosthetic leg. Today, he is a professional skateboarder who is featured in the hit documentary, “Never Been Done Before.” Jon wins competitions skating against people without disabilities. Jon is not participating in “Therapeutic Recreation.” Jon is just participating in recreation at his highest ability. Jon is simply skateboarding.

I admire both Bethany and Jon. I am very inspired by both of them.

A person could provide recreation services for Bethany or Jon. These services would only be "recreation" services. They would not be therapeutic recreation (TR) (a.k.a.) recreational therapy (RT) services.


Here are some online sources for Bethany Hamilton:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bethany_Hamilton

http://www.heartofasoulsurfer.com/

Here is an online sources for Jon Comer:

http://www.agentogden.com/comer/home.html