Therapeutic recreation important as social justice field

Spending an afternoon on the golf course, swimming laps in the pool or taking a walk on a nature trail are activities that many of us enjoy. They are also activities that many of us take for granted. Therapeutic recreation – also referred to as recreation therapy – helps to assure that people with disabilities, illnesses or other conditions are also able to engage in leisure activities that enhance their well-being.

“Therapeutic recreation is an important social justice field,” said Sandra Klitzing, an associate professor and therapeutic recreation sequence coordinator in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation.  “It’s based on the concept of inclusion. People have the right to be included in recreation activities and have access to recreation facilities. Therapeutic recreation is about making accommodations, helping people to increase and maintain functional skills and enhancing their leisure opportunities and their overall quality of life.”  

As allied health professionals, certified therapeutic recreation specialists are employed in a wide range of settings including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, recreation facilities, schools and senior centers. The demand for professionals in this field is also increasing. In fact, the job of recreation therapist was recently highlighted in a CNN.com article titled Best Jobs for Saving the World. That growing demand is good news for faculty and students in the therapeutic recreation program.

The therapeutic recreation sequence in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation has grown in recent years as more students have discovered this challenging and rewarding field. There are currently more than 80 students ranging from freshmen to seniors in the sequence, making it the largest academic program of its kind in Illinois. Each year begins a new cohort within the program, with cohort members progressing through the sequence together. “The cohort system helps to build a bond between students in the program,” said Klitzing. “The classes in the sequence are very demanding and the cohort system is a great support network and helps with student retention. The cohorts end up becoming pretty tight groups.”

Klitzing and Melissa Zahl, an assistant professor in the School of Kinesiology and Recreation, are the full-time faculty members in the therapeutic recreation sequence. Their courses cover the concepts and techniques of recreation activities for people with disabilities and other conditions. Students get a comprehensive overview of the interconnected physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of recreation therapy. 

“A person in a substance abuse program may exercise for fitness and to help with the social aspects of his recovery,” Klitzing said. “A person with a spinal cord injury faces questions such as 'what’s life going to be like outside?' and 'how will my disability impact how I interact with others?’ A big issue now is integrating wounded warriors back into their home communities. Aside from physical injuries, many veterans struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder.”

A senior internship is a capstone experience for all students in the sequence and gives them a chance to apply the knowledge and skills they have learned. After graduation, most students in the program choose to sit for the national exam to become certified therapeutic recreation specialists. The national certification is even recognized by other nations such as Canada and Australia, thus further expanding job opportunities.

Throughout their undergraduate years, students in the therapeutic recreation sequence gain a tremendous amount of practical experience working in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers and other settings. Students are required to have 400 hours of service working with people with disabilities prior to beginning their senior internships. “We want our students to have a lot of direct interaction with people with disabilities,” said Klitzing. “With that experience, they are much better prepared for their internships and much better prepared for a career in the field.” 

Klitzing has also introduced a new mentoring program that connects current students with alumni who are working as recreation therapists in hospitals, senior centers and recreation organizations across Illinois and the nation. Mentors serve as professional role models for current students and provide encouragement, support and career advice.   

Mel Weimer, a senior from Mahomet, discovered her interest in the therapeutic recreation sequence after taking one of Klitzing’s courses. She is now completing her undergraduate degree with a double emphasis in recreation management and therapeutic recreation. “The class with Dr. Klitzing also led me to a volunteer job in a nursing home, which I really enjoy,” Weimer said. “I help with recreation activities and spend a lot of time visiting with the residents. I’d like to work as an activity director in a nursing home or a similar setting.” 

Weimer readily admitted that the classes in the therapeutic recreation sequence are very demanding and detail-oriented. She credits Klitzing, Zahl and other faculty members for their unwavering support of students. “The teachers push us in the subject, but they’re really great and they’re very willing to work with us so that we succeed,” she said. 

Weimer also acknowledged that the challenging nature of the sequence makes the outcome even more satisfying. “Recreation is important for mental and physical health and everyone should be able to take part,” she said. “Therapeutic recreation really is about improving people’s quality of life.”

Adding to that, Klitzing pointed out that therapeutic recreation takes a holistic approach to enhancing lives. “Although other therapies help improve functional abilities and skills, therapeutic recreation gives people a reason to use those skills. It is one thing to increase endurance propelling your wheelchair in the hospital; it is another to be able to propel your wheelchair through the mall to shop for family gifts.”