Lesson 14: What I learned

 Introduction: Hi Folks! Since this week doesn't have any personal training, it will be a lot shorter. I am going to add resources from classmates from last week and my experience doing the volunteer Practicum. I am also going to add one last resource that I found enlightening. I am so happy that I was able to be a part of this class and make this Toolbox to help myself and others to make people life better. There are resources in my blog (not this post necessary) about learning about mental illnesses and how we can help, how we can include those with disability, the First person Language, the important of art and sports, etc. I hope you can used this for good and make a differences. I know for me I am going to be using this a lot as I work with others with mental illnesses and disabilities. With those tools, I will be able to inspire professors, mothers, fathers, and daughters who know someone who a mental illness or disability or who has one.

Classmate resources from Lesson 13: 

• Kelci Johnson post a website called National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification which is super helpful if you need to know to where to get your license.   https://nctrc.org/
• Emma  Tennyson's added a helpful website that help shared what type of jobs that are available. https://www.atra-online.com/
• The last one is by David Lybbert that is called, "Outdoors without Limits" He involved people with any type of disabilities.https://youtu.be/kcmjdF4LMMI

This week: 

• In this class in the beginning, we were suppose to write our Mission statement. The first Mission Statement I wrote was this, "My mission is to make people’s lives better, giving hope to those who think there is no hope. To make dark days seems full of light and hope for those with disabilities, mental illnesses, and poverty. To help others overcome obstacles, make dreams happens, and feel of Heavenly Father’s love and truth.” Much of this still hold true, but after learning what I have this semester, I will have to change some of this. My new one is this " My Mission is to make people’s live better by thinking outside the box of making activities and programs accessible. I will do my best to educated programs that already exist in small ways they could make their problem accessible. Every dream anyone have is possible to make come true, and I will do anything I can to help others overcome those obstacles so they can truly live."
•  We were supposed to write about our experience with our volunteer Practicum. Here is the link so you can view my experience. (It is not letting me post it at this time, but I will try later)

Resources I found:  

• The First Video is Called Overcoming cerebral palsy It is about a 5 year old doing Aquatic therapy.  https://youtu.be/qZq15PRItEk
• The Second video is more about Aquatic Therapy. https://youtu.be/YAqnQnZeGd0
• The last one is a talked called "That we may not Shirk by David Bednar. It is about    Elder Maxwell underwent 46 days and nights of debilitating chemotherapy for leukemia. https://www.lds.org/broadcasts/article/ces-devotionals/2013/01/that-we-might-not-shrink-d-c-19-18?lang=eng

Conclusion: This has been an rewarding Semester and I hope you have an Great Christmas! I hope what I been sharing can bless each one of you who read this or bless someone who you may share it to. 

Lesson 13: Therapeutic Recreation

 Introduction: 

Hi again Folks. This week you can learned a bit more about what Therapeutic Recreation is all about. Like normal we will have last week classmates resources (sports), things I found enlightening from this week lesson, resources I found, etc. Also for this week I may add a video that shares what is amazing about Therapeutic Recreation. It amazing, this week, and a half is the last of the semester. I hope what I been adding been insightful, and whose knows, I may add other things to this that I find insightful even after this class is over. It just won't be every week. I know this been rewarding for me and I hope the information I put in my blogs been rewarding for you. Enjoy!

Add all the tools and tricks you want to keep in your e-portfolio. 

Classmate Resources: 

• I added a website that Davin Lybbert had which is called "Equal Adventure" It is a community of providing adventures for those with disabilities. It gives each resources, training and other things so others programs can provide those opportunities within their community. http://www.equaladventure.org/?jubijuphcipi=c953a3a1

• Beth Horen added an powerful video about sports and disabilities that I HAD to add. It is called, "'All about ability'-How the Paralympic Movement is maintaining momentum" https://youtu.be/6RMOSDynkw8

Enlightening Things From this Week Lesson:

• You may wondered what the requirements in being a Recreation Therapeutic, well.. this is what this week was all about which is to follow. 

• Definition: American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA), “the provision of Treatment Services and the provision of Recreation Services to persons with illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes of Treatment Services, which are often referred to as Recreational Therapy, are to restore, remediate or rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects of illness or disability.  

• Purpose of Recreational Services: are to provide recreation resources and opportunities in order to improve health and well being. Therapeutic recreation is provided by professionals who are trained and certified, registered and/or licensed to provide therapeutic recreation (1987).” National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS), a branch of the National Recreation and Park Association, “Therapeutic recreation uses treatment, education and recreation services to help people with illnesses, disabilities and other conditions to develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence and quality of life."
   
•  Job Settings: Hospitals, Long term care facilities and nursing homes, Community recreation centers, Schools, Camps, Wilderness programs, Drug and alcohol rehabilitation, Mental health facilities, acute and residential, Correction centers, Group homes, Senior centers, Veterans administration hospitals, Retirement communities, and Home healthcare and outpatient services. 
• Career Path:    

          1. Recreation Degree Requirements

          2.  Electives: RM 370, RM 471, RM 472, and RM 473

          3. Cluster 1: Anatomy & Physiology: BIO 264 and 264 + 4 additional credits

          4. Cluster 2: Psychology: Psych 111, 201 and 342 + 3 additional credits

          5. Internship: 600 hours at under a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS)

          6. NCTRC Exam: National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification

•  Therapeutic Recreation Process:
   1. Assessment: Identify Clients needs; physical, social, emotional, mental, and spiritual
   2. Planning: Determine client’s goals and objectives; functional intervention, leisure education, recreation participation
   3. Intervention: Facilitate the group or the activity
  4. Evaluation: Determine progress of the client and benefit of the program.
   
• What are the outcomes of recreational therapy? Improvement in physical health status, psychosocial status, cognitive status, and life, recreation, and community activities.

• Where is recreational therapy headed in the future?According to the US Department of Labor, “The rapidly growing number of older adults is expected to spur job growth for recreational therapy professionals and paraprofessionals in assisted-living facilities, adult daycare programs, and other social assistance agencies. Continued growth also is expected in community residential care facilities, as was daycare programs for individuals with disabilities.”References: ATRA Website and NTRS Website

•  Examples of Work (Illustrative Only): 1. Plans and supervises therapeutic recreation activities at recreation centers, parks or various facilities in the community. 2.Registers participants in classes and programs using CLASS registration software, and maintains computer class registrations. 3. Plans, facilitates and evaluates therapeutic recreation programs and classes on a semester basis for a specific population area. 4. Supervises therapeutic recreation support staff, instructors and volunteers. 5. Works with individuals with disabilities in the program to provide support as needed. 6.Plans & Supervises daily operations of summer day camp for children with developmental disabilities 7. Supervises interns according to NCTRC guidelines (if a CTRS) 8. Procures and maintains for equipment, supplies, and materials. 9. Assists in the development, planning, and promotion of Therapeutic Recreation special events, programs and activities. 10. Prepares reports and statistics as needed. 11. Performs a variety of routine clerical tasks. 12.Drives a van to transport program participants and operates a wheelchair lift 
  Resources I found:   
   
•  I found this video about what Recreation Therapy is all about and why Major in it. It is called, "Why major in Therapeutic Recreation?" https://youtu.be/4dqR1GEwg78

Conclusion:  I hoped you enjoyed this as much as I do, and hope you would consider to have your major as Therapeutic Recreation. It is a growing Career and through the ways I have volunteer throughout this semester, what I do is rewarding and fun. It not all fun and games, but it so worth it and you can make an huge differences in others lives. Before I close off this blog, I wanted to add a video we were supposed to watch for this lesson that I thought you would enjoy as well. It is called, "A Description of Therapeutic Recreation" Here is the link! You will be glad you watch it. I promised you. It is about not giving up, giving your daughter, mother, niece, aunt, or grandma hope for better days. https://youtu.be/1XJD5XDihhY  . There one more I just had to add, and just will just be a linked. See what it is. https://youtu.be/nZ0ELRWkdPA  It is an beautiful video with people with disabilities and mental illness doing amazing things. How they are amazing, heroes, and not broken.

Lesson 12: Sports

Introduction: Hi Folks! I hoped you had an wonderful Thanksgiving's- I sure did. This week will go back to normal. Last lesson classmate resources, things I found enlighten from the lesson, and resources I found to be interesting and helpful. I might also had tricks I learned while working with special population in my past and this week volunteer practicum. We shall see. I do know Audio note  and quizlet is great resources for help with classes. Check them out and find out for yourselves. I will add the links later if you are interested or just looked it up. To Begin..... Lesson 11 classmates resources and perhaps others thoughts or videos that came to mind while looking or watching them.

Classmate Resources:

• I added two of  David Lybbert resources that I felt was inspiring. The first one is an website that talk about accessible art is great for all ages. It provide tools to allow options to any person with work with, mental illness, disability, and just about anyone. https://www.mainlineart.org/accessible-art/ The Second resource is a video that shares of different amazing artist who has disabilities and how important it is for programs to make art accessible for everyone. https://youtu.be/89SsP3M-ITc
• I added two resources from Rachel's Toolbox. One of them I may have already added last week, but it is helpful and I felt it will be a good thing to add.https://arttherapy.org Another one of them is a video of about Artistic Wheelchairs.  https://youtu.be/XC4fccd7DXs
• My other classmate Tiffany Packard added this video. It is about an artist who doesn't have limbs, and yet that doesn't stop her from creating art and helping others. It is called, Elsha Stockseth; Making the Impossible Possible. https://youtu.be/nnppqw0kNpg  https://youtu.be/OPWLSb3dsTQ
• The last resource I will add is from Jessica. This website shares how to make art accessible for all in your programs. http://artshoptherapy.com/blog/topics/teaching-art/
• There are so many more I would love to add, so many good resources, but if I add then all, this is going to be a really long blog. Next step, this I found enlightening from this week lesson. 

This Week Lesson Enlightenment:  

• For this week Application assignment, we were suppose to do a sport with a disability. This is a link to my document and the things I learned from it.  https://1drv.ms/w/s!Ano_1vcorOeMqlIzzW-a_u3pVP_E
•  A website that raise awareness to those with limb lost.https://www.extremitygames.com/index.php
• The link tells the history and other neat facts about Special Olympics SpecialOlympics.org Also with that, in our personal training, they said about the history about Special Olympics and how it came to be, and I thought that would be neat to add to this blog. (Next Bullet point)  

 It all began in the 1950s and early 1960s, when Eunice Kennedy Shrive saw how unjustly and unfairly people with intellectual disabilities were treated. She also saw that many children with intellectual disabilities didn’t even have a place to play. She decided to take action.Soon, her vision began to take shape, as she held a summer day camp for young people with intellectual disabilities in her own backyard. The goal was to learn what these children could do in sports and other activities, and not dwell on what they could not do.Throughout the 1960s, Eunice Kennedy Shriver continued her pioneering work; both as the driving force behind President John F. Kennedy’s White House panel on people with intellectual disabilities and as the director of the Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation. Her vision and drive for justice eventually grew into the Special Olympics movement. July 19-20 1968 the first International Special Olympics Summer Games were held at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois, USA. A thousand people with intellectual disabilities from 26 US states and Canada compete in track and field and swimming. 

• This website is a link to the history of the movement when the Paralympic Games begin. https://www.paralympic.org/the-ipc/history-of-the-movement. And this is the "Disability Category Definitions for Paralympic Games" (down below). 

  • Amputee: Athletes with a partial or total loss of at least one limb.

  • Cerebral Palsy: Athletes with non-progressive brain damage, for example cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, stroke or similar disabilities affecting muscle control, balance or coordination.

  • Intellectual Disability: Athletes with a significant impairment in intellectual functioning and associated limitations in adaptive behavior (currently suspended.)
  • Wheelchair: Athletes with spinal cord injuries and other disabilities which require them to compete in a wheelchair.
  • Visually Impaired: Athletes with vision impairment ranging from partial vision, sufficient to be judged legally blind, to total blindness.
  • Athletes with a physical disability that does not fall strictly under one of the other five categories, such as dwarfism, multiple sclerosis or congenital deformities of the limbs such as that caused by thalidomide.

• Ok, the last thing is an video that we were supposed to watch called, "Don't say that I can't." https://youtu.be/oLdi0hMkinM

Resources I found for this week  Lesson: 

•  I was wondering if there was nerf guns that were made for those who didn't have limbs. There was. You can find that on this website. https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/nz7mqz/bionic-nerf-gun-prosthetic-lets-you-fire-darts-from-muscle-contractions
• I found a few different videos of people with disability who are almost like superheros of how they move and the spots they can do. The first one is called, "YES I CAN - Paralympics RIO 2016 - We're The Superhumans!"  please watch this, this is inspiring. https://youtu.be/vzjuQoNM534 
• The next one is a bit more insight about USA Adapted sports and experiences they gain and their personal experiences. It called, "Change the way you think about disabilities forever! Adaptive sports at Disabled Sports USA"https://youtu.be/tjZQwoR2Bkg
• This last one shows people with and without disabilities completing with each other.  https://youtu.be/a6krLeYduBY

Conclusion:  
Let's stop limiting people with disabilities and bring them into our programs, activities, and stop telling them that they can't because THEY CAN! Believe in them. Help train them just as you would anyone else. Yes, it might be more challenging to train.. but isn't the whole thing about sports is to challenges the participants who is a part of the sports? So.. shouldn't you as a leader.. challenge yourself in helping a person with any disability to achieve the impossible? It doesn't matter what program it is, what activity it is, let yourselves be challenge and grow by helping others be challenged and grow. 

Lesson 11- Arts

Introduction: 
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone! Have an wonderful time with your family or loves ones. Family can be related blood, friends, or anyone whose truly care for you. This week is going to be a special treat. It will be shorter, but has some amazing videos and other cool information that I felt that I should add to this. Like normal, It will be my classmates resources from Lesson 10, things I found useful or enlightening from this week lesson, and links that I found interesting and helpful. The only differences is that I am also going to add a thanksgiving video to this slide to add to the spirit of thanksgiving, and also an video that we watch one of our assignments that is inspiring. It is about a guy who is an artist, but his arms are not usable, and so he draw everything with his mouth, and those drawings are better drawings than I can draw with my own hands. What an talented guy. Just by looking at the drawing, you would never guess it was someone who draw with their mouths. Don't let anyone tells you you can't do anything, you can do anything you put your heart into. Enjoy!!! 

Classmates resources from Lesson 10: 

           Jessica

• when I googled prosthetic for sports the top website that came up was Horton's Orthodontics and Prosthetic, I was looking on their website and they have legs for swimming biking and running, and hands and arms as well.
  Emma Tennyson 
• Thanks for sharing your thoughts Jessica! From my web search results, I'd say that prognostics are more advanced and readily available than before.   
• http://theweek.com/articles/448972/future-artificial-limbs
  • https://gearpatrol.com/2012/08/01/life-limb-the-evolution-of-prosthetics/ 
   Paige Zohner
• This is from Paige and it actually from Lesson 2, but I felt that this was really helpful in making programs accessible and to help those with disabilities to participated.  https://cmetoolkit.com/wp-content/uploads/Recreational-Activities-for-People-with-Disabilities.pdf
• the resource is from Lesson 10, and it is about a kid name Josh who is blind and he love play time, but not able to play with his friends. They made it possible so he could play with his friends. "How Josh finally got to play with his friends - BBC Stories
• "https://youtu.be/caEr5xQrgNY

                  Davin Lybbert 

•  "The Benefits of Outdoor Activity" This is about how Outdoor activities help disabilities, mental illnesses, etc. Just 30 minutes a day can help you health. https://youtu.be/pPwZUL6Dd3Q

• This isn't a video Davin added, but watching this made me think about those with mental illnesses, which in a sense is like a disability by itself. It stop you from functioning normally and life is just harder. the first one is called "Living with Depression" It shares what it is like. https://youtu.be/EJ_S5Rjt_iI . The second one is called, "7 Tips to Help Manage Depression, Anxiety, Insecurity & Low Self-Esteem" This video give you tips to help you feel better. Just like a broken bone, it take time to heal. The last thing is what always help me is listening to music of people who struggle with despression and how they find hope. Kerrie Roberts is one of the best one to listen to. It called, "Kerrie Roberts- "Come Back to Life" https://youtu.be/u66wLLGCSP0 . If you sit in the darkness, it is not going to get better, you have to act. and another thing that is important to know that it is ok to be not ok.
• Also want my companion will always tell me (down below)

       Remember the Six.        1. Trust Heavenly Father and that it's all going to be okay. 
       2. remember who you are! there's power and strength in your divinity! 
       3.change bring beauty! All the great things in life were possible because of change!
       4. there's power in repentance because it allows us to take holding of the enabling power of the    atonement to lift us higher every time we fall.
      5. Every change is different because everyone is different and learns differently. Don't compare your change to anyone else's!
       6. You always have resources and you are never alone. Your greatest resource is your Father in    Heaven and He will never leave you. Christ was alone so you would never have to be.
Lastly, "I love you because of who you are. None of this changes that, none of the changes change that, none of the "issues" change that. You are beautiful and amazing!! 

       Jake Muhlestein 

• "The North Face and Paradox Sports: Adaptive Climbing Initiative" This is a video of how North Face go to all different gyms to make rock climbing available for anyone, even for those in wheel chairs. so cool! https://youtu.be/v8gyNf56rIM

 Rachel Orchard 

• She added an article how people with Cerebral palsy  can enjoy the outdoors.  https://www.cerebralpalsyguidance.com/cerebral-palsy/living/enjoying-outdoors/

enlightening and useful from this week’s lesson: 

A. Assignments

• My question I had from Lesson 10 was, "The main thing is how to you make sure every program is accessible? How do you figure out a way to support a specific disability when the resources haven't been discovered yet? What is the best way to discover those unknown resources?  Do you think this can also be applied to those who love basketball, but hurt their back which make them not be able to play basketball just to the back injury?" The answer I received was how It hard to make all programs accessible.. you have to do what you can do.. and when you see others needs that are not being meet, help them become part of your program. 
• Application assignment 
•  

B. From the reading The Arts: 
Like Outdoor activities and Sports the Arts provides participants with many unique opportunities. The arts includes such activities as music, theater, painting, sculpting and pottery, photography, creative writing, and poetry, etc. Participation in the arts can be broken down into three distinct levels:

• The Perceiver: At this level participants might enjoy listening to music, watching a play or going to a photo exhibition. They appreciate the talents of others.
• The Performer: Performers enjoy playing a piano piece or acting in a play. Their participation is much more than that of the perceiver.
• The Creator: Participants at this level enjoy shooting photos, sculpting with clay or painting a mountain setting. Participation involves high levels of creativity.

• Researchers have identified the following benefits of participation in the Arts at any level:

1. Self-discovery
2. Communication with others
3. Improved self-concept
4. Skill development
5. Societal recognition and awareness
6. Social interaction

Many programs exist today encouraging persons with disabilities to participate. The article below demonstrates the possibilities and positive benefits for people participating in just one area of the arts: music.

Music Therapy for People with Disabilities

(Full Article and more information here: Music Therapy)

• Abstract: Information regarding music therapy as an effective educational and therapeutic tool for children and adults with disabilities.“An increasing amount of scientific evidence indicates that rhythm stimulates and organizes a person’s muscle responses and helps people with neuromuscular disorders.”

• Detail: Music therapy is an effective educational and therapeutic tool for both children and adults with forms of disabilities. The strategies involved with music therapy may effect changes in skill areas that are important for people with a variety of forms of disabilities such as learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, cerebral palsy, autism and many others. As a person with disabilities, I have found music to be invaluable in relation to the forms of disabilities I experience. 

  • From a therapeutic perspective, music has a number of benefits for people with disabilities. It is an important learning tool of course. A portion of the benefits of music comes from the fact that repetition within music may be more enjoyable than without it. Music also provides significant memorization assistance. Maybe the most important thing for some people is the fact that they can participate in music even if they experience difficulties in other areas and music therapists are trained to help them accomplish this goal. Successful participation in music can find a person with a disability feeling motivated to pursue additional efforts. 

  • Music is also an effective way to stimulate and focus a person’s attention and might be particularly significant for some people who may not respond to other types of interventions. At times, music is used as a stimulating introduction. At other times, an entire therapeutic intervention might be structured using music to maintain a person’s attention. Changes in music may provide other signals or alerts that important interactions or information are coming. Some kinds of music might also provide a calming effect when a person’s anxiety interferes with their cognitive focus.

• Music therapy is an effective tool to use for stimulating and motivating a person’s speech. It provides a path for nonverbal communication as well. Music therapy is a valuable tool for people who are learning to use an augmentative or alternative system of communication.

• In some songs, harmony and melody cue a person’s speech by setting up a type of auditory anticipation, yet delaying the resolution until a person provides the final lyric. In other singing activities, rhythm may help a person to slow down their rate of speech and become more intelligible. The way songs are stored and the way rhythm stimulates a person’s motor function appears to help people with apraxia of speech. Changing melody lines can help to improve a person’s range and the inflection of their voice.

• An increasing amount of scientific evidence indicates that rhythm stimulates and organizes a person’s muscle responses and helps people with neuromuscular disorders – one of the ways that music therapy strategies can help to improve a person’s physical skills. When a specific note played on an electronic device or an instrument is crucial to the completion of a particular song, anyone – to include people with severe forms of physical disabilities, can become the focus of a successful musical experience. The opportunity to participate in music may motivate a person to attempt physical movements that require some additional effort. Music may also be very relaxing, on the other hand, and help to alter a person’s perception of pain.

• As a person who experiences pain related to osteoarthritis, music has become a part of my relaxation therapy. Listening to certain types of music helps me to relax and also helps to ease the physical pain I experience through relaxation to music. After learning that I can use music as a means of relaxation, it has become a part of my routine for responding to osteoarthritis pain.

• Music therapy can help people work on their social skills too. It helps in a couple of ways – by providing a familiar and consistent support for practicing, and by encouraging cooperation in the completion of a satisfying musical product such as a musical piece accompanied by others who each play a beat for example where each note is important. Music also provides people with developmental disabilities with opportunities to interact and cooperate with those who do not experience these forms of disabilities. Music has the ability to equalize and enrich the lives of those who become involved with it.

• From an emotional perspective, music provides people with many opportunities to express and experience a number of emotions. The desire to participate in music, as well as to produce something musical, may become motivations to control emotional outbursts. Live music may be changed from moment to moment to reflect, or maybe alter, the moods of the people who are listening and participating. Successful participation with music that a great many people with disabilities have the ability to achieve has a positive effect on self-esteem too.

• From a simple perspective, music has always been something that I can enjoy with others because I enjoy a number of types of music. It is a social equalizer in many ways and has led to friendships, social participation, and much more. Somehow, when music becomes involved, the presence of disabilities seem to fade or disappear entirely. Where pain is concerned, music is one of the best things in the world.

 Resources I found Helpful: 

•  The first one is a website that shares the important of art. http://www.arttherapyblog.com/what-is-art-therapy/#.WhRY2TRrzIU
• The next one is called, "How Does Art Therapy Heal the Soul? | The Science of Happiness"  For this, it doesn't matter good or bad you are at drawing. That isn't the point. In this exercise, they had them write on a piece of paper who they are, and put colors by each... than you draw with those colors on a trace on your body on the wall, and described to a therapist is what you realizes though your drawing. https://youtu.be/BN2rTaFUlxs

Conclusion: 
This was insightful. to know how art can really help. It also make me want to use art as a therapy for those I work with. Help me have a desire to do art again as well. Have an wonderful week, and yes before I go, I will put up a thanksgiving video. https://youtu.be/G7j07SsBhTk

 

Lesson 10: Outdoor Activities

Introduction: 
This week we were told to go do our favorite activity, that will be more difficult or limited for a person with a disability. It wasn't suppose to be an activity that you think would be easy, but challenging. Here were some of the suggestions:

Decide what limitation or disability you would like to simulate in this activity, and get a friend or family member to help you perform the activity safely. Be Creative! Maybe try out a few different limitations. Here are some ideas:

• Perform the activity in a wheelchair or with one or more limbs immobilized.
• Perform the activity blind-folded, with one eye blocked, or with blurred goggles that inhibit what you can see
• Perform the activity with a few layers of hearing protection to block out the sound
• Perform the activity with a bunch of friends causing a lot of distractions that inhibit your focus and performance
• Perform the activity with a painter’s mask or cloth tied around your mouth and nose to restrict your breathing, or with a bandage tied tightly around your abdomen to restrict your diaphragm
• Perform the activity with an extra 50-80 pounds (30-50 for women) tied around your body and limbs.

For this activity, I was going to be partly death and partly blind, but I decided to stick with one. I used ear  plugs for this activity. The experiences I had was eye opening which I will shared more about later down in this blog. Before that I will share some classmates e-portfolio submission from last week and anything along with that which I see if helpful, activities and camps that is accessible for disabilities, and than share my experience I had while doing Lazar tag and Mini Golf. It most likely will be through a link where I already shared my experiences and other thoughts.

Classmates Resources from Lesson 9:  

1. From Tiffany Packard

• https://autismlearningpartners.com/resource-list/
•  https://www.autism-society.org/living-with-autism/
• (Any type of disability help)  http://nationalautismassociation.org/family-support/find-a-support-group/
•  http://www.usautism.org/index.htm
•  https://www.autismspeaks.org/community-and-support-network/support-groups

Others I found that I thought would be helpful that wasn't from Tiffany Packard)

• https://ldaamerica.org/parents/
•  https://ldaamerica.org/adults/
•  https://ldaamerica.org/support/new-to-ld/
•  http://www.ldonline.org/

2. Beth Horan

•  Lead India - The Tree https://youtu.be/GPeeZ6viNgY  This is a powerful video of what was shared last week, the power of collaboration and the differences it can make
•  The power of one, and the power of a few is not to be underestimated. When people come together with one goal, or vision, they have to power to change the world. But how do you help others to obtain the same vision you have. I asked this question on my Team Huddle, and Rachel shared with me, "if I am trying to share or inspire others with my "vision", I put my heart and soul into it. If I am passionate enough about my idea, then I will go out of my way to research it, practice it, and then present it in a way that guarantees to illicit some kind of emotion, any kind of emotion depending on the point I am trying to get across. It can be happy, sad, inspired, angry, surprised, the list can go on. The reason why, is because people might forget what you have said, but they will never forget how you made them feel." 

3. Rachel Orchard

•  I added Rachel Orchard website for resources. It is so helpful. http://recreationnation4all.weebly.com/

4.Kelci Johnson

•  The Inclusive Fitness Coalition is a group that collaborates to spread the reach of accessible recreation as far as possible. There are ways to get involved, listed resources for information, places to get needed equipment, and ways to become certified in different areas.  
  http://incfit.org
  Enlightening things from this week Lesson  
  1.  As explained in the introduction, what going to follow is the list of different camps and places that does provide accessibility to everyone. Hopefully, as the years goes by, there will be more places like this all across the world. 

•  Outdoor Activities includes water sports such as sailing, canoeing, kayaking; snow based programs such as downhill and cross country skiing, snow machining, ice fishing; land based activities such as camping, rock climbing, hiking bicycling, riding horses, fishing and hunting.

• Benefits of Outdoor Recreation

  •  Physical Exercise and Activity 
  • Physical Challenge
  • Learning new skills and applying those skills
  • Enjoy the wonders and beauty of  Nature
  • Opportunity to be with friends
  • Freedom from stress and pressure
  • Closeness to Heavenly Father; spiritual growth
  • Outdoor activities are Fun and enjoyable! 
  • Excitement of planning an outdoor experience.
    

   Below are a number of successful outdoor programs.

  •  Breckenridge Outdoor Education Center (www.boec.org

  •   Bradford Woods (www.bradwoods.org) 

  • The State of Colorado offers a variety of year-round activities for disabled persons seeking indoor and outdoor adventures.

Summer

• Hiking in Boulder

  Outside of Boulder are 21 natural sites and 22 trails that meet Americans with Disabilities Act accessibility guidelines. The website provides a guidebook for people with disabilities featuring descriptions, maps and videos of wheelchair user Topher Downham navigating each trail www.Bouldercolorado.gov

• CTRC Camps 

  The Colorado Therapeutic Riding Center (CTRC) provides the opportunity for children and adults with disabilities to ride horses with the assistance of certified instructors. CTRC offers a camp where children with and without disabilities can learn to participate in group games and horse-related arts. www.ctrcinc.org

• No Barriers 

  No Barriers USA, a gathering of assistive technology pioneers, has selected Telluride to host its summit August 8–11, 2013. Scientists, inventors, and people hindered by physical limitations will collaborate on solutions for those who are challenged to achieve their wildest dreams. www.nobarriersusa.org

• Summit Rock Climbing with Paradox Sports 

  Paradox Sports, in partnership with the Boulder Rock Club, has established a bimonthly Front Range Adaptive Climbing Clinic for disabled climbers. www.pardoxsports.org

• ASA Summer Program

  Durango’s Adaptive Sports Association’s (ASA) summer program supports accessibility with rafting as well as canoeing and kayaking. Adaptive adult and tandem trikes are also available. www.asadurango.org

• NSCD Summer Program 

  The National Sports Center for the Disabled’s (NSCD) summer program offers adventures for all ages, including horseback riding, sailing, and more. www.nscd.org

• ASC Summer Program

  The summer program at the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) brings dynamic adaptive activities including downhill mountain biking, cycling, hiking, and more. www.adaptivesports.org

Winter

• ASA Winter Program 

  The winter program at Durango’s Adaptive Sports Association (ASA) provides one-on-one lessons and state-of-the-art equipment and instruction, even the method of “sit-skiing.” www.asadurango.org

• NSCD Winter Program 

  The National Sports Center for the Disabled (NSCD) offers options from alpine and cross-country skiing, and even ski biking. The NSCD camps of overnight hut trips, moonlight adventures and world-class ski racing. www.nscd.org

• ASC Winter Program 

  The winter program at the Adaptive Sports Center (ASC) includes Siblings Camps, Ladies Getaways, full and half day ski, monoski, ski bike, and snowboard lessons as well as hut trips and snowshoe outings. www.adaptivesports.org

  2. As shared up in the introduction, I said that I would share my experience at doing Lazer tag and mini golf. Enjoy!! 

    https://1drv.ms/w/s!Ano_1vcorOeMqiLqiZhP4WrK9uya

   Volunteer Practicum: 

   I learned a couple of things this week. This week we went to our mentee's home, to make a simple meal he could cook. While there, we wasn't sure if we should asked him about how his goals was going, if he understood how to cook the meal, or anything because his roommate was there. We didn't know what his roommates knew about his disability and what they didn't know about it. We didn't want him to feel embarrasses. One thing I did have asked him, which took some courage for me to asked, was, "Have you sign up for classes?" I am so glad I did, because he didn't realizes it was the time to sign up yet. Than on Wednesday, the next day, on Nov 15, we had our autism meeting. I have a hard time asking questions due to I think it may sound stupid, but I decided to asked anyway. I told them of the situation we had while at our Mentee home, and what was the best way to address the situation. The two advice that was given was too just asked, "So what did we just do?" another thing is take whoever you are mentoring into the hallway and asked "What do your roommates know about your disability? The main reason I asking because I want to make sure you know you are learning what is being taught, but I don't want you to feel uncomfortable" or "While we teaching you how to cook, how will you feel comfortable for us to make sure you understand what we are teaching?" or.. "I know this situation is a little bit different. Normally we meet at the library, but this time it in your own home. What do you feel comfortable in talking about when with roommates?"

  Than yesterday I messaged our mentee's, asking if he sign up for classes alright. There was no response, which isn't normally. Our Mentee's is pretty good at responding. I message and asked if our men-tee was doing ok. The response was "I'm fine" I asked "Did you sign up for your classes ok, or was they all filled up?" By asking that question, I was able to help him share how things were going, and help with what was confusing to him.

  Resources I found that would be helpful for this week lesson: 

  • The first resource I found is called "Wheel Chair Lazer Tag." I really like this because not only those with and without disability join into the fun, but everyone have to be in a wheelchair which make it more challenging.  https://youtu.be/yJn6rZa5uQk

  • The second resources is called "Wheel Chair Mini Golf" I love this because it is a family playing Mini Golf together and just having a good time together. https://youtu.be/77JB7rvN7MA

  • The Third resources is called "Wheelchair Playground Challenge | How Is That Possible?" In this one, the playground is not accessible, but the family is making a challenge in making the playground accessible. Even through it wasn't possible, they still had fun trying to make it work. https://youtu.be/IvBtY92GgO0

    The last one is called, "How to include young disabled people in activities - narrated by Warwick Davis for Scope" It is about how to make everyone feels included. I almost think through the blond hair boy in this video may have ADHD or ADD. https://youtu.be/wKkRwIOoW0w

    Conclusion: 

    I hope you enjoy this and I hope you found it insightful and better understanding in how to make all outdoor activities and other events accessible for the outdoors. Even through I did it inside (due to it really cold), we have to think about how to make programs available inside and out.

   

Lesson 9-Networking and Collaboration

 Introduction 

Hi Folks I am back again! For those who don't know it, I am a Rec Therapy Major. My goal is making people lives better through recreation activities and make sure everyone will have an opportunity to be a part of recreation activities, which benefits so many people. This class (Accessible Recreation) that I am taking will help me to be able to do that. This blog I hope will help inform people, and help people as a community, professors, and parents to provide good opportunities for EVERYONE. (Even those who has disabilities, in wheelchairs, hearing lost, Mental Illnesses, etc.) 

Helpful Things From This Week Lesson

A. From Reading

• Definition: Networking is the process of establishing and maintaining communication with professionals and consumers from a variety of backgrounds that have a common vision about community leisure services.
  

  1.      Networking occurs between various individuals including different

  • Disciplines
  • Consumer  
  • Agencies  
  • organizations 

 2. Primary reasons for Networking

• Accommodate needs of individuals in our program

• Serve more people with disabilities

3. Benefits of Networking

1. Agencies can increase internal resources by adding the specialized skills of staff that work with the other agencies with which they network.
   Can guide individuals to programs
   • Provide planning, teaching and leading skills to recreation activities
2. Staff within the network may be able to assist other agencies
   • Can help during peaks
   • Lead to higher quality service
   • Improve resource utilization
3. Networks are enhanced when united
   • Focus more on individuals needs
   • Greater success is achieved
4. Increased information flow through organizations in the network
   • For example, when a therapeutic recreation specialist in a hospital shares the discharge with a community recreation professional
   • Individual with disability has a better chance of receiving better care.
   • Both parties are able to communicate needs of patient with each other successfully
5. Keeps professionals and peers informed within and outside their respective fields
   • Provide more diverse programs, better facilities, and a variety of trained professionals
   • Better services that improve quality of life for individual
6. Share common vision
   • The vision spreads and more rights are created for people with disabilities
   • No longer parents or advocacy groups, it’s the whole network

  Keys to Effective Networking

1. Common Vision
2. Communication
3. Compromise (win-win)
4. Commitment
5. Consumer Involvement by people with disabilities
6. Clarity (roles, authority)

Elements of Networking

1. Decide if you have enough in common to start a partnership
   1. Shared vision and motivation to accomplish is a must!
   2. Combines missions through mutually agreed upon goals and objectives
2. Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of all individuals involved in the network
   1. Supplementing weaknesses and complimenting strengths increases success
   2. By realizing that networks are long-term relationships, we can overcome short-term failures
3. Compromise
   1. Take risks without anticipating rejection
   2. Be receptive to new ideas
   3. Always search for win-win solutions
4. Communicate
   1. Remain in touch with those involved
   1. Promotes motivated employees
   2. Provides information regarding consumer satisfaction and views
5. Benefits of communication:
   1. Increases motivation
   2. Shares important information regarding progress toward the goal
   3. Provides assistance when facing a difficult task

What you can do to promote networking and collaboration

1. Personally
   1. keep an open mind, ask questions and seek clarification
   2. follow through with your responsibilities and tasks
   3. know your limits and when to get help
2. Regarding Others
   1. bring more people into your network
   2. recognize others and their achievements give feedback
   3. value and act on the expertise of others in the network-listen
   4. obtain training and info. that will increase your skills
   5. remember why you are collaborating-to help people with disabilities live enriched lives with inclusive recreation.

Community Resources

1. Human Resources
   • Give out responsibilities
2. Information
   • Net, Libraries, Computer resources, and conferences
3. Financial
   • State and Federal taxes, fees from participants, fundraising and grants
4. Facilities and Equipment
   • Work with other facilities to save money
   • Special Olympics using BYU swimming pool for free, also had volunteer network
5. Transportation
   • Carpools and carts
   
   B. From Assignments 
   
   •  This is how I applied what I learned through the reading and part of my assignment. I added this to help show people how they can apply this to their own program or how anyone can make a differences in their community.
   • https://1drv.ms/w/s!Ano_1vcorOeMqVnfHktvkOC2Fek6 

C. Video from this week Lesson

• I thought this would be helpful to show the videos down below to  actually explain collaborative and networking in a simple form. I know videos help me understand things a lot more better than just words. The first link is called "The Power of collaboration." and it shares why it is important and the benefits of collaboration. The second one is called, "VNPA - HEAL: A Community Collaborative" This is about getting the community together to help the community be better and for people to feel safe in it. Instead of thinking about the specific of what happen in this area, think of how you can apply the principles of collaborative to your own area or a program you want to create.
• https://youtu.be/y_m9nReouVY
• https://youtu.be/-IfiFMTe9tI
• Here was my thoughts from the videos and the things I learned through the reading.
  
  • What was the one message that really stood out to you?

  To me, this whole semester, I been seeing cool things that people have been doing to included those with disabilities with those without disabilities, to make playground for those with and without disabilities.. And I been wondering how to begin. I feel this week video really stood out to me in how we can do that. I can't do it on my own. I need to use social media. I really think it would be remarkable to have a playground for those with or without disabilities to be able to be play on the playground. I think more people will come to Rexburg If that was a near location and a park everyone can join together and just be their self.  It helps me want to act, and I going to act. I finally feel I have a action plan or a way to at least beginning somewhere, even if it doesn't get finished by the time I leave school.  To make a differences in a community, it means being brave enough at sharing ideas. If not in person, at least through social media, to get it start going. That is the key.

  • What did you learn that will help you create an outline/plan for an effective play group?

  I think the main thing is to make sure who work with others and get different groups who are part of the community involved. It can be start with a Facebook group page, where you message your idea, and where others share other ideas to start it moving forward, and than it can move to the community slow and surely.

  • How did your awareness of community networking and barriers to inclusive programming change?

  Truthfully, there is no way you can make a playground, a event or anything happened, without sharing your idea. Yes, many of us have a dream, but we think that dream isn't possible. We don't share the dream, or help create it make it reality. It just sits in our minds, and after a while forgotten and know by  no one. The flame died. How sad is that. I think that is the hardest thing for me personally,  I get nervous about my ideas being rejected, or I not being clear enough, or misunderstood, that I keep my ideas to myself. It is great I have ideas, but it not helping me or anyone else by keeping it in my head.

  What are ways you find helpful in trying to network with others? or in other words, find people to help ya in your goals?

Helpful resources to understand Networking, Collaboration, and how simple it really is. 

•  The first video is called "The Power Of Team Work Good Team Work" I choose that because it shows good example in the way of team working which I think is a big part of Collaboration. It is better when we work together than trying to do everything on our own. https://youtu.be/ftPOy4yUGMQ
•  The next video is called "Cultivating Collaboration: Don't Be So Defensive! | Jim Tamm | TEDxSantaCruz"  It shared about how important it is to work together, the green zone, than being in the red zone, which means working against each other. https://youtu.be/vjSTNv4gyMM
• The next video is called "Turning Networking Upside Down | Jeff Slobotski | TEDxUNO" We often think of networking of handing out business cards or tweeting with our friends, but it actually is who we engage with others. https://youtu.be/xWVWh-vNLtU
• The other video is called, "Networking is not working: Doug McColgin at TEDxIndianapolis" To find new ideas and new inspiration, we need to go out to other groups to find new perspective. https://youtu.be/reCX9LDQVKw
• The last video I add is called, "The art of active networking | Mark E. Sackett | TEDxFultonStreet" This video talked about when we hear the word, "Networking" we feel dread, we get business cards, but we just throw them on the floor, we don't use the resources we been given, or give them a chance to help us. Each of those people we network with can become our good friends, if only we reach out to them. (Warning, his message is a powerful, but he has a colorful language) https://youtu.be/IjSPfGsaC3g

Things I learned through my Volunteer Practicum and how I will used it in the future
 The main thing I learn is when you are helping people in the special population, is to not be nervous to asked if they would like help to learn how to cook, to take the bus, etc. You want them to be independent, but helping them one or two times is somethings the key for them to be successful.  

Also, If they have a fun event they think would be nice to do during mentoring or helping them, don't be afraid to say, "Sure!" The main thing is you don't want them to be dependent on you, but doing something fun can help the person with the disability to feel more confidence and feel their ideas matters. It can also be used for the hour you were planning on meeting them anyway. Each person with a disability is different and each has different needs. Treat them how you would like to be treated.

 If they offer to pay for you, don't let them. Just say something like, "That sound fun, but you don't have to pay for me. I will pay for myself." 

Classmate Resources from the e-portfolio from Lesson 8 

• I added what  Savanna Marquardt added with I felt was so inspiring. It called "Gillette Stadium: Accessible to All" Their goal is to make the stadium accessible to all which is incredible in what they did. It shows you can make any sports available for anyone. https://youtu.be/DyY-728TQUI. 
• I also added a video about Wheel Chair basketball that Savanna added and along with it another video I found personally. It first video, which Savanna added, is called, "How To Play Wheelchair Basketball - Team GB's Harry Brown" It explains the tricks in how you can play basketball while in the wheelchair. The second video is called, "PlayWheelchairBasketball" This is where people are actually playing wheelchair basketball. Just because you in a wheelchair, please don't think you can accomplish your dream.https://youtu.be/o0lA6x9q6iM. Also Here is a trainning in how to train for wheelchair basketball. It  is called "Wheelchair Basketball Training" https://youtu.be/18MJxhEsGwc
•  I also added Heather Whittingslow resources callled, "Playground Directory" It gives you a list of all the accessible parks and where they are located. Right now, not every community has this, but It nice to know where to go to visited one. https://www.accessibleplayground.net/playground-directory/
•  Tiffany Packard put this on her resources, It is called "Paralyzed Football Player's Comeback" https://youtu.be/DCyG7xH9C98
• Jake added this video also about sports who had autism. It is called, "You'd never know this football player has a disability"https://youtu.be/rY8awq4yKd8

Conclusion 
Everything I added is to inform, to give hope to those who has disabilities, and to help programs make their activities accessible for all. We in the community can make an impact. We as a people have to network with others, to share ideas, so we can make them more than we over thought was possible. It will take time, and will be a tone of hard work, but it is possible and each one of us can reach our full potential as we help each other and collaborate with each other.