Today everyone presented their projects on different adapted activities. My group presented on adapted hunting and fishing. It wasn't the most exciting topic, but I think we put together an alright presentation. The first group presented their project on kayaking. They seemed truly interested in their topic and got the class to do an activity similar to what we do in class for other activities. The second group told us all about adapted cycling. This was a cool presentation because they brought in two hand cycles and we all got to try them out. This may have been the highlight of my day. That is definitely an experience I would not have gotten anywhere else. Group three did their entire presentation on goalball. I expected them to do a little more, but we did get the chance to play that too which made the presentation more interesting. Group four had extreme sports. Sadly we didn't get to participate in any sports for this one, but they told us about a lot of sports I didn't know much about. I think my favorite one was Hardcore Sitting. It involves using a wheelchair in many of the same tricks that people do on skateboards. Here's an example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zWfw_uUrWC8. The last group to present before us taught everyone about chair yoga. It was a pretty simple concept to me because it is something I have learned about before. We also got to try that out.
As I said, my group presented on hunting and fishing. I don't think our topic lived up to the exciting standard that had been set for us by other groups, but I think we shared a lot of good information with the class. In working on the project I learned a lot about different types of equipment used for adaptations. I also learned about organizations that had adapted fishing programs. I was excited to learn that there are several in Wisconsin. I don't know that I have a lot of interest in doing adapted hunting or fishing in my future, but one day I might use what I learned to help someone who is interested in it.
Today I learned about a lot of inspiring activities. Hopefully in my future as a TRS I will get to try many of these out. Next week we are going to learn about Hula-Hooping; I'm excited to see where this goes!
Friday, March 30, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
3/22/2012 Day of Silence and Darkness
This week's class was spent concentrating on not just people with visual impairments or people with hearing impairments, but instead we learned about people who deal with both at the same time. We watched several videos at the beginning of class about leading people with visual impairments and a video about deaf-blind theater. Our first activity was to lead a blindfolded partner around campus. Personally I found that it was easier to be led than to be the leader. Being blindfolded made me more aware of the unevenness of the sidewalks. The next two activities involved one group being blindfolded and the other group leading them without being able to vocally communicate. We did tape art and a project with modeling clay. I found leading my participant in tape art to be particularly challenging partly because I didn't know exactly what I was doing myself. The modeling clay activity was confusing both participating and leading. We were trying to make specific shapes, and it was hard to communicate that without words.
I didn't have any goals at the start of class but was simply ready to learn. During class my goal became just to understand everything that was going on around me. I learned that patience is more important than I first gave it credit for. I expected it to be challenging to lead a participant without talking, but it was hard not to force the participant to do something and still stay on task. It was tricky to know when I needed to provide more assistance and when I should just let the person use their own creativity. I'm glad I got to have a little first hand experience working with a participant without being able to verbally or visually communicate. I would like to have more training in this area because I feel there is a lot more I could learn about communication. I'm glad that I do know a little sign language, but here that didn't even matter. As instructors we were all on the same playing field. Working with people with hearing impairments is something I had considered as a possible career field, but I had never thought further to people with a hearing impairment and another disability. I'm not sure that I would want to work with that population, but if I did I would certainly look to get as much training as possible.
Here's an example of one of the videos we watched. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgcm83tyv3Y
I didn't have any goals at the start of class but was simply ready to learn. During class my goal became just to understand everything that was going on around me. I learned that patience is more important than I first gave it credit for. I expected it to be challenging to lead a participant without talking, but it was hard not to force the participant to do something and still stay on task. It was tricky to know when I needed to provide more assistance and when I should just let the person use their own creativity. I'm glad I got to have a little first hand experience working with a participant without being able to verbally or visually communicate. I would like to have more training in this area because I feel there is a lot more I could learn about communication. I'm glad that I do know a little sign language, but here that didn't even matter. As instructors we were all on the same playing field. Working with people with hearing impairments is something I had considered as a possible career field, but I had never thought further to people with a hearing impairment and another disability. I'm not sure that I would want to work with that population, but if I did I would certainly look to get as much training as possible.
Here's an example of one of the videos we watched. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgcm83tyv3Y
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Article Review: innovation in leadership
The article I read was called "Innovation Leadership: how to use innovation to lead effectively, work collaboratively and drive results". It was from the Center for Creative Leadership. The authors are David Horth and Dan Buchner. I located this article before spring break by doing a search about leadership and innovation using Google.
This article was written for business professionals who are looking to improve their workplace. The article focused on not doing the same things simply because they have always been done, but rather trying new ideas and not being afraid of failure. Economic instability meant that you don't know what the future holds so you can do what you did in the past and expect it to produce positive results. Doing the same things will only give you the same results; if you want improved results, you need to be open to new options.
Leaders need to be open to listening to ideas of their employees and customers. Employees also need to keep their minds open and be willing to adapt their ideas to improve them. This is their two tiered approach: innovative leadership and leadership for innovation. There were six innovative thinking skills to help business people. These included: paying attention, notice what is going unnoticed; personalizing, using your own and customers personal experiences; imaging, using pictures and metaphors; serious play, exploration and prototyping; collaborative inquiry, pulling together multiple viewpoints; and crafting, not using either/or thinking, but using several ideas.
I will apply this to my professional development because every client I work with will have different needs and abilities. I can't use the same approach for everyone. What works for one client may work for another, but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't try something new that could be better. I also need to be open to combining my ideas with the ideas of others and to adapt and change as the situation changes.
I would recommend this article to anyone who will need to work with a team and in a changing and growing field. It is a good article for TR students to show them that innovation is necessary in many professions, especially TR.
Here is a copy of the article I read: http://www.ccl.org/leadership/pdf/research/InnovationLeadership.pdf
This article was written for business professionals who are looking to improve their workplace. The article focused on not doing the same things simply because they have always been done, but rather trying new ideas and not being afraid of failure. Economic instability meant that you don't know what the future holds so you can do what you did in the past and expect it to produce positive results. Doing the same things will only give you the same results; if you want improved results, you need to be open to new options.
Leaders need to be open to listening to ideas of their employees and customers. Employees also need to keep their minds open and be willing to adapt their ideas to improve them. This is their two tiered approach: innovative leadership and leadership for innovation. There were six innovative thinking skills to help business people. These included: paying attention, notice what is going unnoticed; personalizing, using your own and customers personal experiences; imaging, using pictures and metaphors; serious play, exploration and prototyping; collaborative inquiry, pulling together multiple viewpoints; and crafting, not using either/or thinking, but using several ideas.
I will apply this to my professional development because every client I work with will have different needs and abilities. I can't use the same approach for everyone. What works for one client may work for another, but that doesn't mean that I shouldn't try something new that could be better. I also need to be open to combining my ideas with the ideas of others and to adapt and change as the situation changes.
I would recommend this article to anyone who will need to work with a team and in a changing and growing field. It is a good article for TR students to show them that innovation is necessary in many professions, especially TR.
Here is a copy of the article I read: http://www.ccl.org/leadership/pdf/research/InnovationLeadership.pdf
Friday, March 9, 2012
3/8/2012 Being Innovative
This week's class was all about using our creativity to actually make adaptations that we could use in real life. We had done research on adaptive art equipment and were given a bunch of random supplies and told to go for it. We adapted pencils, pens, stamps, markers, and scissors. In my opinion, the scissors were the most challenging and the thing I spent the most time on. We wanted scissors that easily sprung back open. The most effective way my group came up with was putting a sponge between the handles. I also tried to model a pair after real adaptive scissors by using a soda cup lid. This ended up making them a little harder to use, but I think with different materials it could have worked. With the pens, pencils, and paint brushes we added things like parts of egg cartons or bubble wrap to make the handles bigger. We also made stampers out of sponges.
From trying to make different adaptations I learned that you don't need fancy supplies and equipment to make something usable. All you nee is a little effort and a few basic things. You can find anything that you need to make a simple adaptation lying around your house. This week I also learned that while I can start an idea, I might need someone else's help to make it work. This was true of my second pair of scissors. I tried taping part of a cup lid on, but it wasn't working like I wanted it to. Aden, one of my group members, took a look at the scissors and decided that he could help. I was skeptical because I thought the scissors were a lost cause without better materials. He kept working on them though and even though in the end they weren't perfect, it was still worth a try to have someone else work on what I started. Someone else may have knowledge or experience that I don't know about so letting that person share his/her opinion on a project can benefit a whole team. This week I strove for excellence by working on my scissors. Even though I couldn't figure out what I needed to do, I still worked on them to try to make them better.
Here's an idea of the scissors that I was trying to recreate. These scissors are much easier to use than regular scissors, and if you haven't tried them, I recommend that you do. I can see how they would greatly help a person with arthritis or anyone who has trouble cutting.
From trying to make different adaptations I learned that you don't need fancy supplies and equipment to make something usable. All you nee is a little effort and a few basic things. You can find anything that you need to make a simple adaptation lying around your house. This week I also learned that while I can start an idea, I might need someone else's help to make it work. This was true of my second pair of scissors. I tried taping part of a cup lid on, but it wasn't working like I wanted it to. Aden, one of my group members, took a look at the scissors and decided that he could help. I was skeptical because I thought the scissors were a lost cause without better materials. He kept working on them though and even though in the end they weren't perfect, it was still worth a try to have someone else work on what I started. Someone else may have knowledge or experience that I don't know about so letting that person share his/her opinion on a project can benefit a whole team. This week I strove for excellence by working on my scissors. Even though I couldn't figure out what I needed to do, I still worked on them to try to make them better.
Here's an idea of the scissors that I was trying to recreate. These scissors are much easier to use than regular scissors, and if you haven't tried them, I recommend that you do. I can see how they would greatly help a person with arthritis or anyone who has trouble cutting.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Article Review:adaptive devices/equipment that may be used in TR activities
The title of the article was "A review of innovative apps for students with communication needs" from the American Journal of Recreation Therapy. It was written by Lauren A. Menard, EdD. I found this article by looking up journals about therapeutic recreation. I was able to read the American Journal of Recreation Therapy for free through the Murphy library. I paged through a few issues and found an article that sounded intriguing. There were many other interesting articles in the issue as well.
In this article I learned about a few different kinds of assistive technology (AT). AT is commonly used by people with communication disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. I learned that this can be called augmentative and alternative communication or AAC and can replace verbal communication for people with cognitive and developmental delays, brain injury, speech and language disorders, and behavioral disturbances. In the past AAC was in the form of books or cards with pictures on them used by a person to communicate called Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). These cards were laminated and kept in a binder that must be brought everywhere by the person using them. As an individual's vocabulary expanded, the binder grew with more cards. This can become cumbersome and makes an individual stand out as being "different".
We now live in an age of technology where iPhones, iPods, and iPads are becoming common sights. With this technology is the ability to expand communication. Several applications or "apps" have been developed specifically for people with communication disorders. The article I read discussed the benefits of these apps which are assistive technology vs. the standard Picture Exchange Communication System. Cost, accessibility, and "cool factor" were all considered. It was found that PECS is around $150 for a starter kit. This does not include adding cards as vocabulary expands. It was decided that PECS can become large and cumbersome especially during travel. Because of its largeness it came in with a very low cool factor. It made people stand out as having a disability. One iPad app that was discussed cost about $190 not including the initial cost of the iPad or similar device. These devices are small enough to fit in a pocket and less conspicuous to carry around. Because they are everyday devices users don't stand out as abnormal. They also come it with a high cool factor. Overall, an app was found to be the better option of AAC.
I will use what I learned in this article in my future if I work with individuals with autism or other communication disorders. PECS are the common use for communication right now, but in the future many things will be moving in a technological direction. As a professional in the field of therapeutic recreation I will need to be aware of any technological advances that my clients will know about and potentially be using. The article mentioned that people who use this technology, such as special education teachers, are often under trained. In order to be more effective at my job, I may need to get special training and make sure I am up to date on new technological advances.
I would recommend this article to other TR students because I did not know much about augmentative and alternative communication before reading this article, but now that I have, I am interested in doing more research on the subject. Other TR students should also now the most up to date information on AAC and laws about assistive technology.
In this article I learned about a few different kinds of assistive technology (AT). AT is commonly used by people with communication disorders, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders. I learned that this can be called augmentative and alternative communication or AAC and can replace verbal communication for people with cognitive and developmental delays, brain injury, speech and language disorders, and behavioral disturbances. In the past AAC was in the form of books or cards with pictures on them used by a person to communicate called Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS). These cards were laminated and kept in a binder that must be brought everywhere by the person using them. As an individual's vocabulary expanded, the binder grew with more cards. This can become cumbersome and makes an individual stand out as being "different".
We now live in an age of technology where iPhones, iPods, and iPads are becoming common sights. With this technology is the ability to expand communication. Several applications or "apps" have been developed specifically for people with communication disorders. The article I read discussed the benefits of these apps which are assistive technology vs. the standard Picture Exchange Communication System. Cost, accessibility, and "cool factor" were all considered. It was found that PECS is around $150 for a starter kit. This does not include adding cards as vocabulary expands. It was decided that PECS can become large and cumbersome especially during travel. Because of its largeness it came in with a very low cool factor. It made people stand out as having a disability. One iPad app that was discussed cost about $190 not including the initial cost of the iPad or similar device. These devices are small enough to fit in a pocket and less conspicuous to carry around. Because they are everyday devices users don't stand out as abnormal. They also come it with a high cool factor. Overall, an app was found to be the better option of AAC.
I will use what I learned in this article in my future if I work with individuals with autism or other communication disorders. PECS are the common use for communication right now, but in the future many things will be moving in a technological direction. As a professional in the field of therapeutic recreation I will need to be aware of any technological advances that my clients will know about and potentially be using. The article mentioned that people who use this technology, such as special education teachers, are often under trained. In order to be more effective at my job, I may need to get special training and make sure I am up to date on new technological advances.
I would recommend this article to other TR students because I did not know much about augmentative and alternative communication before reading this article, but now that I have, I am interested in doing more research on the subject. Other TR students should also now the most up to date information on AAC and laws about assistive technology.
Monday, March 5, 2012
Innovative Activity #5: Adapted Ropes Course
The ropes and challenge course at the Adaptive Sports Center in Crested Butte, Colorado is a ropes course that is made to be accessible to clients of any physical ability or skill level. The course is built for clients with and without disabilities. It appears to be accessible to virtually anyone. They are also experienced at working with clients with behavioral and social issues as well as physical disabilities. Participants will go through the course in teams. This activity may not be appropriate for people who have a fear of heights, but I think that the staff would try to accommodate that as well. Elderly participants may not find this enjoyable, but that would be their personal choice because the course should be accessible to them as well. Ropes courses can be used for teamwork, trust, and as a team builder. A ropes course gives a person who uses a wheelchair a sense of freedom. For a participant with behavioral issues it can help them work on self-control and awareness.
The ropes and challenge course consists of low and high elements and is made of ropes, cables, trees, and wood. Some elements included are the Leap of Faith, a Zip-line, a High Bridge, the Big Swing, and High Vines. Participants wear harnesses and helmets for all high ropes elements. Participants will be in groups being led by a staff member who instructs participants how to safely maneuver each element. Participants may do some elements on their own and some may be done as a team. Resources needed are all safety equipment including helmets and harnesses as well as a course to use. If someone is looking to participate in a ropes and challenge course they must go to a specially made course with trained staff. The ASC provided any specialty equipment needed as should most courses. Participants will need appropriate clothing that is comfortable to move in and tennis shoes. This activity is often done as a part of a summer camp, but it can be done on its own. Ropes and challenge courses can be expensive so participants need to be financially prepared. Because of the potentially hazardous nature of this activity if not correctly prepared for, a trained staff member(s) need to be present.
The first picture is an example of the type of harness that might be used by a person who uses a wheelchair. The second picture shows a participant riding a zip-line.
I learned about this activity by doing an internet search about ropes courses and found my information at http://www.adaptivesports.org/page.cfm?pageid=5134. Other people can research other ropes courses around the country. There may not be many ropes courses that are specified as adaptive, but other courses might offer some adaptive activities if clients requested them.
The ropes and challenge course consists of low and high elements and is made of ropes, cables, trees, and wood. Some elements included are the Leap of Faith, a Zip-line, a High Bridge, the Big Swing, and High Vines. Participants wear harnesses and helmets for all high ropes elements. Participants will be in groups being led by a staff member who instructs participants how to safely maneuver each element. Participants may do some elements on their own and some may be done as a team. Resources needed are all safety equipment including helmets and harnesses as well as a course to use. If someone is looking to participate in a ropes and challenge course they must go to a specially made course with trained staff. The ASC provided any specialty equipment needed as should most courses. Participants will need appropriate clothing that is comfortable to move in and tennis shoes. This activity is often done as a part of a summer camp, but it can be done on its own. Ropes and challenge courses can be expensive so participants need to be financially prepared. Because of the potentially hazardous nature of this activity if not correctly prepared for, a trained staff member(s) need to be present.
The first picture is an example of the type of harness that might be used by a person who uses a wheelchair. The second picture shows a participant riding a zip-line.
I learned about this activity by doing an internet search about ropes courses and found my information at http://www.adaptivesports.org/page.cfm?pageid=5134. Other people can research other ropes courses around the country. There may not be many ropes courses that are specified as adaptive, but other courses might offer some adaptive activities if clients requested them.
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Innovative Activity #4: Chair Yoga
Chair yoga is an adaptation to yoga that is designed for elderly participants and participants with arthritis. It is also beneficial for participants who use wheelchairs, are overweight, or simply inflexible. Chair yoga offers a means of exercise for a wide range of people who may find it difficult to find ways to exercise. Yoga strengthens both the body and the mind. Yoga is also known for its calming qualities which help relieve stress. Motions are slow and gentle so they don't strain joints, but holding poses strengthens muscles and joints, specifically arthritic joints. Chair yoga may not be appropriate for people who have conditions that make them overly active such as ADHD and turrets syndrome.
Chair yoga is based on traditional yoga but with modifications for flexibility. Yoga practitioners move through a series of poses to work on flexibility, balance, and strength. An important aspect to any style of yoga is breathing. Deep breathing techniques are used to supply the body with optimal oxygen. There are four style of chair yoga. Single chair yoga focuses on correct posture in everyday situations. Double chair yoga uses a second chair with arms for extra support during poses. This helps participants achieve deeper stretches in many poses. Partner yoga allows for social support while doing yoga. Weighted chair yoga uses one or two pound weights in each hand and provides for additional strengthening possibilities alongside the balance assistance of the chair.
Here is a video of a chair yoga session. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEgtWLrOkK8&feature=related
There are some classes offered for chair yoga, but these are not available in every area. It is most likely offered at senior centers and assisted living facilities. Many DVDs are made so people can practice in the comfort of their own homes. All that is needed to participate is a chair. This can be an office chair while a participant is at work, a folding chair, or a dining room chair. An instructor is beneficial for beginners, but it is possible to participate in yoga on your own or with a video.
I learned about chair yoga on http://getfitwhereyousit.com/. There are many websites that offer more information about chair yoga and its benefits.
Chair yoga is based on traditional yoga but with modifications for flexibility. Yoga practitioners move through a series of poses to work on flexibility, balance, and strength. An important aspect to any style of yoga is breathing. Deep breathing techniques are used to supply the body with optimal oxygen. There are four style of chair yoga. Single chair yoga focuses on correct posture in everyday situations. Double chair yoga uses a second chair with arms for extra support during poses. This helps participants achieve deeper stretches in many poses. Partner yoga allows for social support while doing yoga. Weighted chair yoga uses one or two pound weights in each hand and provides for additional strengthening possibilities alongside the balance assistance of the chair.
Here is a video of a chair yoga session. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEgtWLrOkK8&feature=related
There are some classes offered for chair yoga, but these are not available in every area. It is most likely offered at senior centers and assisted living facilities. Many DVDs are made so people can practice in the comfort of their own homes. All that is needed to participate is a chair. This can be an office chair while a participant is at work, a folding chair, or a dining room chair. An instructor is beneficial for beginners, but it is possible to participate in yoga on your own or with a video.
I learned about chair yoga on http://getfitwhereyousit.com/. There are many websites that offer more information about chair yoga and its benefits.
3/1/2012 Getting Artsy
This Thursday's class revolved around art projects. I had heard about tape art before, but this week I learned about tape sculptures. This takes tape art to a new level. We talked about the difference between arts and crafts and the therapeutic benefits of doing art. It wasn't something I had thought about much before, but crafts have a set plan and way to make them and art is more free. In art you can make whatever you want, and it can change into something else along the way. Each group got to pick some supplies from the table and start creating our own art project. After a few minutes we switched and got to try someone else's art project. We continued to do six projects total, and at the end we got to see what everyone else had done to our project. It was funny to see how a monkey in our original painting turned into a mermaid by the end.
In all I participated in dot art, pipe cleaner creations, packing tape sculptures, duct tape weaving, mural drawing, and drawing a picture to add to a story. I learned to just "go with it" when making art because it probably won't turn out how you originally wanted it to look anyway. If my future clients become discouraged that they aren't artistic, I will now be able to explain that art can change and develop and still be beautiful. I didn't do any big thing to strive for excellence this week except to keep my mind open and participate in everything that came my way.
Here's an idea of what I mean by packing tape sculptures. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdZHbAU9UiQ&feature=related
In all I participated in dot art, pipe cleaner creations, packing tape sculptures, duct tape weaving, mural drawing, and drawing a picture to add to a story. I learned to just "go with it" when making art because it probably won't turn out how you originally wanted it to look anyway. If my future clients become discouraged that they aren't artistic, I will now be able to explain that art can change and develop and still be beautiful. I didn't do any big thing to strive for excellence this week except to keep my mind open and participate in everything that came my way.
Here's an idea of what I mean by packing tape sculptures. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdZHbAU9UiQ&feature=related
Friday, March 2, 2012
Innovative Activity #3: Team River Runner
Team River Runner is an organization for wounded veterans that allows them to use paddling sports as a form of therapy. Participants usually either kayak or are on teams for white water rafting. Team River Runner is specifically for wounded service members and veterans, but kayaking and rafting can be adapted to several populations including people with visual impairments and people with most types of spinal cord injuries. Team River Runner's goal is to provide both a physical activity and a place to socialize with other wounded vets. It can be either a team sport or an individual sport. For some veterans, paddling may be like an activity that they did before they were injured, but for many participants this is a new activity. This gives them a sense of challenge, but they also have teammates nearby to support and inspire them. With adaptive equipment kayaking can be done by people with spinal cord injuries as well as people with amputations of their arms. For people with visual impairments, a partner could be in the kayak for assistance with turning. Kayaking and river rafting may not be an appropriate for people with slow reaction times or people uncomfortable with water.
Participants learn to kayak or raft in a pool to learn basic techniques and become comfortable with all of the equipment. After that they start practicing in lakes, rivers, or oceans. Team River Runner has chapters across the US so different chapters will go to different open water areas for practice. When participants have mastered the basics chapters will take trips to start to challenge them. Some trips are specifically for participants with visual impairments and some are for families. Occasionally there are competitions held to compete against other chapters. The following is a video to show more of what they do. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SDGrxo88CCk
Resources needed are kayaks, rafts, or other similar boats as well as paddles, life jackets, and helmets. Team River Runner chapters provide any equipment. Some participants may need special adaptations, some of which are specially made while others are homemade.
This is a home made device to assist participants who have had finger amputations. It is made from a bike tube and a zip tie.
Other resources include an area to learn in such as a pool as well as larger areas to practice. Transportation to lakes and rivers for outings is also necessary.
When first learning about paddling sports it is important to have an instructor who is familiar with the sport. Once participants are comfortable with kayaking or rafting they may be able to do this on their own or with a group on a trip. On a trip it is advisable to have a trip leader who makes the detailed plans. On a rafting team, a captain would be beneficial to take control in difficult situations where the team needs to be led through a tough part of the river.
I learned about Team River Runner in my RTH 491 class from a former service member who participated in a TRR club. http://www.teamriverrunner.org/ was my main resource. For more information readers can check out the TRR recommended links page http://www.teamriverrunner.org/?q=recommended_links. This includes information on canoeing, surfing, and the paralympics, as well as other great resources for wounded veterans.
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