Woof Woof!

I have known about Animal Assisted Therapy for awhile, and have seen it in action while shadowing an Occupational Therapist at a hospital. Being an animal lover, I know how therapeutic animals and how helpful they can be in the healing process! 
         In addition to using animals for therapy in hospitals, they can also be utilized in homes with people with disabilities. I knew about assistance dogs for people who are blind, but I came across a  cool organization that raises and trains "Assistance Dogs"--called Paws With A Cause that had an webpage on the different types of service dogs they can train. I already knew about service dogs for people who have vision and hearing impairments, but I was very interested to learn that they can now train dogs to assist the client while they are having a seizure and to help children with Autism.


Here's the description of what exactly a "Seizure Response Dog" does from the "Paws With a Cause" website:


          "A dog can be trained to (among other things) push life-alert buttons, help and/or comfort a person during a seizure and get help or retrieve the phone for the client. Although we do not profess to train dogs to detect seizures, several of our Seizure Dogs have, after several years with a client, developed the ability to alert their owner of an oncoming seizure. Seizure Response Dog training takes approximately 6 - 9 months at the PAWS National Headquarters and Training Center. PAWS trains Seizure Response Dogs for individuals 14 years of age and older."


(^A dog that can learn to predict someone's seizure?! How crazy cool is that?!?! I think that is a pretty innovative tool that a CTRS can use to complement therapy/use during therapy sessions. Having a dog like this would offer the person with epilepsy increased comfort and independence to participate in different leisure activities that they may not have been able to before because of their fear of having a seizure when they are alone.)

Now, here is a little more information about how children with Autism would receive benefits by having an Assistance Dog in their home:

"In June of 2009, PAWS began a two-year pilot program for families living with Autism. The Service Dogs for Children with Autism program at PAWS places highly-skilled Service Dogs with children with Autism. The program's goals include having the dog help with social interactions and relationships; help with verbal and nonverbal communications; help increase a child's interest in activities or play; and help decrease overall stress within the family and home life.

To children with Autism, everyone, everywhere and everything is 'outside' of their world. Dogs can break into this world by always being there when they are needed by the child; dogs don't pass judgment on a child, like humans tend to do. By nature, the dog does not care that the child has Autism; they only care that they are a part of the child's life.

The Service Dog can facilitate hand/eye coordination. Socially interacting with their Service Dog allows for the children to have a friend - this often eludes children with Autism, as they typically lack the necessary social skills to participate in group activities or social outings.

The Service Dog can be vital in teaching the child life skills. The child learns to comb and brush the hair on the dog and they, in turn, learn to do it for themselves. The same things can be done with brushing their teeth, bathing and getting dressed.

Children who have been diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum disorder can qualify for the PAWS Service Dogs for Children with Autism program under the following criteria:

• 4 - 12 years of age (applications accepted for 4 - 10 year olds)
• in an ongoing education program
• in a physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy or recreational therapy program
• have excellent family support "

This is also extremely cool.... having an assistance dog can help a child with Autism learn hand/eye coordination and life skills?! They are such important skills to learn, and those are the skills that TR Specialists have as goals for children with Autism to work towards. If having a dog like one from "Paws With a Cause" can help with the learning of these skills, I think this would be a very useful and innovative tool to use as a CTRS for this population. As stated in the description, the organization started a pilot program in 2009 for children with Autism. It appears that the program has had a lot of success since it started, and I think that as it increases in popularity, these type of therapy dogs will be seen more in therapy settings such as in Recreational Therapy!

 I am excited to see the progress of these types of animal-assisted therapy and hope that they can help increase the results of a therapy plan implemented by CTRS's in the near future! :)

Video Time!

               Tonight in Innovative TR, we watched two videos on how recreation has helped many people cope with their disabilities. They were both super interesting videos that told individual's stories about how they acquired their disability and what roles recreation serves in their new lives. I really liked the videos because they showed how recreation empowers people with disabilities to live their lives as normally as possible despite many stereotypes in the community.

             I loved that none of the people shown in the video used their disability as a "crutch" or reason to not live life to the fullest. They are actually using their disability as a reason to be more adventurous ... more adventurous than I will ever be. I know I would never be caught dead climbing the treacherous cliffside that the group of three guys did, disability or not!!
                  I think these videos are extremely helpful for future CTRS's to watch so they can more fully understand how to help their clients. The videos emphasized that everyone has an ability, no matter how severe a disability, and its a CTRS's job to help that person find their ability and foster their passion for their abilities. The main thing that I got out of the videos is to not limit anyone in anything they do. The quote from the last video was something that I really liked: "only society limits us in what we can do." This is not only true for just people with disabilities, but for all people in general I think. But specifically for TR specialists, we have the power to help change the limits society places on people with disabilities, and once we understand those limits, can work to help remove them!

Kumbaya!

Wilderness Therapy!

I absolutely love nature and the outdoors. I worked at a nature center for 4 summers as a Senior Assistant Naturalist in charge of summer camps for kids ages 3-12. I have seen first hand how being out in nature has helped the kids learn more about themselves, increase their self esteem and confidence and learn practical life skills from camp. 

As almost anyone can tell you, spending time in nature is definitely therapeutic, but it takes a certain structure to have it considered to be therapy, in this case it's called Wilderness/Adventure Therapy!

            But what is it exactly?

The definition for Adventure Therapy according to the Wilderdom website states that:

"Adventure therapy uses challenging experiences & being in natural environments to improve psychological dysfunctions in emotion, behavior, & life effectiveness skills. Adventure therapy is commonly referred to as wilderness therapy and outdoor behavioral healthcare. Adventure therapy is closely related to fields such as nature therapy and therapeutic recreation."

Bascially, Wilderness Therapy is putting a person, (a child, adolescent, or adult) experiencing various types of disabilities/diagnosis ranging from Aspergers to Substance Abuse to Internet Addictions in a primitive setting separate from their distractions and normal environment so they can learn about themselves and become empowered to return to their normal lives and be a productive member of society!

I found this really cool Wilderness Therapy program called "Second Nature," which has 6-8 week programs for younger teens, adolescents, and adults. They have a clincal staff in addition to a leadership staff that are all highly trained in providing therapy for the many different types of issues each person may have. 

They have a really good website that explains more in-depth about their individual program and how they go about changing the negative behaviors and feelings the children/adults who attend the programs. 

SECOND NATURE WILDERNESS THERAPY FAQ'S!

The Wilderdom websites offers a comprehensive list of many different types of wilderness/teambuildling/group initiative activities that are utilized in a Wilderness Therapy type program that CTRS's can incorporate into their programs for different individual and group settings. Check them out HERE!

Exercise!

Everyone knows how beneficial exercise is for every person, no matter if you have a disability or not!  However, in general, people with disabilities are less likely to engage in exercise activities than people without disabilities. So...that means it's our job as future CTRS's to help get our clients motivated and excited about working out!!
        The Surgeon General posted the benefits of exercise for people with disabilities:
(Click HERE for the website)

BENEFITS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and of developing high blood pressure, colon cancer, and diabetes.
• Can help people with chronic, disabling conditions improve their stamina and muscle strength.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, improves mood, and promotes general feelings of well-being.
• Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis.
• Can help reduce blood pressure in some people with hypertension.

Besides doing yoga or tai chi, I discovered there are some other innovative ways to incorporate exercise into TR programs!

The Recreation Therapy website has a lot of cool activities to get people of all ages to become physically active without running for miles or lifting weights.

One of the activities I liked a lot was this one: (THINK SPRING!!! :) )

Spring Reflections

Submitted by Jessica Dillon of Center for the Disabled on May 07, 2004
Size: 1-8
Equipment: Scarves or ribbons on sticks, taped background music (such as classical music), and your creativity!
Objective: To increase overall body awareness, gross motor skills, and self expression.
Description: ***This is an activity that was used successfully with disabled adults.***

Begin this activity by having the group wave/move their scarves or ribbons all around their bodies, such as over head, behind or in front of the body, to the side, and (bending) to the floor, as a warm-up. (2 min.)

Ask the group to think about what happens during the spring time. Mention the weather (sunshine, rain, wind), and growth (plants/flowers). Suggest that you would like to try to express these changes through movement with your scarf or ribbon sticks. (2 min.)

Start with sunshine as you direct each person to wave their scarves in an arch overhead, side to side. Repeat.

Transition to wind, waving your scarf wildly in big, gusting movements all over and around your body. Repeat.

Add rain by starting up high and 'sprinkling' your way to the floor. Repeat. Try light and heavy rain.

Finish with plants 'sprouting' up out of the ground. Try little ones (short)like grass or clover, and then really tall ones, like sun flowers, that seem to 'jump' into the air as they grow.

For more fun, after going through these in practice, sequence the movements into one flowing movement (performing each only once and then moving directly to the next), or ask the group to lead you through the moves without speaking (promting).

At the end of the group, be sure to ask the group what other things they think about when remembering spring. Put those thoughts into motion and have the group mirror each individual's contribution.


This activity can work with many different age groups, (kids and adults!) and can be adapted for each season, holiday, etc. There are endless possibilities when it comes to materials used--for example--when working with the elderly population, more complex and vibrant colors/textures can be used. Although this version doesn't mention the use of music, I think it would be great to incorporate different styles of music into the program as well!


Another fun innovative exercise activity I came across was called "Popercise" 



Popercise
submitted by Trudy Hamilton on Friday, December 26, 2003 popercise
Size: unlimited
Equipment: bubble wrap of various sizes, music
Objective: this activity provides lots of fun at different levels of function.
Description: clear enough area of activity room to lay bubble wrap on the floor. have music on and let residents dance, walk, or jump on the bubble wrap to the beat of the music. you can use the smaller bubble wrap for residents that are unable to walk/stand and have them pop as many at one time. have them start to twist the bubble wrap at one end and the activity director twist at the other end. lots of fun!

^ This activity is so simple and yet would be so much fun and definitely provide exercise for a wide variety of populations. Who doesn't like to pop bubble wrap?!


Here's the LINK to more cool active activities to use in the TR setting!

Rum Pum Pum Pum Pum

I have always loved music of all kinds, but I secretly have always wanted to learn how to play the drums and haven't learned yet! I decided to look up how I could use drumming in my career as a TR Specialist. As we talked about in class, Music Therapy is a very specific degree and requires specialized training to be considered a Music Therapist. But, elements of music therapy can definitely be incorporated into a TR program! Here is an awesome website that explains more about how music in general can be used in TR.


Benefits of using music as therapy include:

• Reduces anxiety and stress/ Relaxation
• Concentration
• Communication
• Pain relief
• Auditory Stimulation
• Increase alertness
• Self expression

But back to the drumming.......

According to this website, 

"Drumming Therapy is a method of utilizing the natural power of rhythm and music and applying it to an individual or group for the purpose of healing. A truly holistic healing approach, group drumming breaks down social barriers, promotes freedom of expression, non-verbal communication, unity and cooperation. Drumming awakens dormant emotions and unexplainable feelings of excitement, peace, and ecstacy. It decreases depression, anxiety, and stress, boosts immune system functioning and benefits physical health."

What I find so innovative about therapeutic drumming is that it can be used with basically any population, from cancer patients to people with Alzheimer's and kids with Autism. Looking at the benefits, it is clear anyone's quality of life can be improved!

Therapeutic drumming can achieve:

• physical and mental relaxation
• relief from stress
• a feeling of well-being
• some relief from depression
• temporary alleviation of pain and muscular stiffness
• a greater clarity of thought
• even a spiritual experience
• improved social networking
• strengthened personal and professional relationships
• more efficient teamworking

Therapeutic Drumming seems like a great tool to use in my TR career. Drumming is easy and pretty much everyone can do it and experience the benefits! Here is a super cool video I found about the use of Therapeutic Drumming with kids and adolescents with Autism!

Vroooom Vrooom!

So Friday night I attended my first Monster Truck Rally ever. I never considered myself the type to go to such an event, but it was still fun.  It was super loud and interesting to say the least! It got me thinking about other "innovative" TR activities that I could use in the future. I came across a Lutheran organization called Bethesda Children's Home located in Pensylvania that has a lot of different education and therapeutic programs for children and adolescents. 
          I looked into their National Youth Project Using Motorbikes (NYPUM). Their mission statement sums up the reason for starting the program: 


"The NYPUM Program at Bethesda is a unique behavior modification tool designed to help change the destructive and inappropriate behaviors of the children and youth that we serve. Through the use of Honda Dirt Bikes and with the use of a "behavioral contract" Bethesda counselors help youth and their parents target specific behaviors, which are causing them problems."

The cool thing about the program is that the counselors create a unique and firm contract with each youth, which requires them to think about the consequences of their actions and abide by the rules. The goals for the program are stated on the program page:

"diverting youth from the juvenile justice system, developing safe riding skills, providing substance abuse education, encouraging school attendance, promoting environmental awareness, providing basic mechanical skills, developing responsible citizenship, fostering community collaboration, and providing health education."

I think it's great that they got Honda to sponsor the program and provide bikes for all of the kids. It seems like a great TR intervention strategy to use with at-risk youth to increase the self esteem for the kids and help them feel like they can be apart of something!

..........Definitely innovative! :)

Group Presentations!

So last night the first 4 groups did their presentations on the innovative activities we were assigned to do research on! The group topics were: High Ropes Courses, Recreational and Therapeutic Horseback Riding, Painting/Sculpting and Boating/Kayaking. Everyone did a fantastic job and I learned a lot more about how each of the activities can be used in therapeutic settings as a CTRS.
       The first group that presented was Boating/Kayaking. I have kayaked and canoed most of my life, and knew that the handholds for the paddles could be adapted for people with physical disabilities, but I did not know that for boating/sailing, the boats could be made virtually un-tipable--something that I thought would definitely be a major problem for people with disabilities. It was also cool that with all of the new technology today, there is an electronic compass that can help people who are blind to sail! As a CTRS, this will definitely be helpful to know that there are many options for taking clients with any type of disability out on water activities.
               The second group talked about Therapeutic/Recreational Horseback Riding. I heard about how therapeutic horseback riding was used for people, especially kids with disabilities, but I did not know how many different types of equipment were used. I thought the "breakaway stirrups" were especially cool because it eliminates a huge safety concern when working with kids with disabilities while riding horses. This will be important for me as a CTRS because I want to work mainly with the pediatric population, so I will definitely be incorporating therapeutic horseback riding into my treatment plans!

      The third group presented on Painting/Sculpting. Adaptive art was one of the areas that I thought was pretty self explanatory. I mean, just make the handles of the art materials bigger or change the height of an easel and voila, instantly adaptable! But, I learned that there is definitely a lot more to it! I did not know much about how blind people were able to paint with different colors by using the raised paint. It was so cool to see the guy on the youtube video that was blind but was able to determine the differences between the paint colors based on the texture of the paint itself! Way cool! After seeing all of the new ways to adapt art materials, I  know I will be creating my own art supplies for my clients as a future CTRS.
     Finally, my group presented on High Ropes Courses. The process of investigating ways to make ropes courses adaptable for people with disabilities wasn't too difficult as there is a lot of information out there on how to do so. High Ropes courses are becoming increasingly popular as part of the "extreme" adaptive sports along with water skiing, and outdoor rock climbing. I learned that while doing research, you should try to find as many sources of information as possible about your topic to get the best consensus possible. Also, I found it very helpful to look up different organizations/companies that provide the service you are looking for, because they may have more information that you didn't find on your regular internet search. It was interesting to read up on all of the new things different camps and organizations throughout the country are doing with the idea of a high ropes course for people with disabilities!

Here's a cool website from Camp Kostopulos in Salt Lake City, UT that explains more about their individual High Ropes Course!