Are you aware that recreation has been identified as a related service ever since The Education for All Handicapped Children's Act was authorized in 1975? Many parents are not.

The basic entitlements of P.L. 94-142 provide for a free, appropriate public education for all children. In providing appropriate educational services to all students with disabilities, the local education agency must ensure that these students receive all related services necessary for the child to benefit from special education. Related services as defined by the law include: speech pathology and audiology, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, early identification and assessment of disabilities in children, counseling services, and medical services for diagnostic or evaluation purposes. (Federal Register, 1977, p.42473)

Recreation is identified in P.L. 94-142 as a related service which enhances the educational goals of a child with a disability. If recreation is included in a child's IEP, it cannot be completed by a curricular service such as special education or physical education. Recreation should be provided by a trained Therapeutic Recreation Specialist as specified in the EHA [sections 1211.126(b)2, and 121a.382(a)3]. The actual role of the TRS varies dependent on the actual school in which he/she is employed. Generally, the TRS serves as a direct service deliverer and/or as a consultant depending on the needs of the students.

     Recreation is a "related service" which includes professional:

     Assessment of leisure functioning;
     Therapeutic recreation service;
      Recreation programs in schools and community agencies; and
      Leisure Education
 

  Assessment of leisure functioning

     Uses specific procedures to determine current functional strengths of students in terms of skills, abilities,
     and attitudes relative to recreation and leisure as the basis for IEP prescription and subsequent
     remediation.

  Therapeutic recreation service

     A process that uses recreation activities and experiences to ameliorate deficits in social, cognitive, and
     physical functioning of students with disabilities. It is practiced by certified professionals with
     specialized training; whose services include, among others, the areas of activity analysis, leisure
     education, assessment, activity and equipment adaptation and modification, and prescriptive/individualized
     programming which is established within the framework of the student's IEP.

  Recreation programs in schools and community agencies

     Focuses on the importance of school extracurricular activity for students with disabilities and provides
     an avenue for enhancing the integration of these students into their local communities. The official
     regulation states that each "agency shall take steps to provide extracurricular activities in such a
     manner as is necessary to afford handicapped children an equal opportunity for participation."
     Addressing the needs for year-round, community-based leisure experiences as well as family recreation
     opportunities is integral to providing opportunities in the least restrictive environment.

  Leisure education

     Uses instruction to improve the leisure participation and leisure lifestyle of students with disabilities
     through the development of: specific leisure skills necessary to participate in recreation opportunities,
     positive attitudes toward leisure, knowledge of leisure resources in one's community and home, and
     skills required to make appropriate choices regarding one's active involvement in leisure.

Participation in recreation as part of a free, appropriate public education for students with disabilities
was upheld in the court decision Tuttle vs. The State of Massachusetts in 1980. The ruling in that case
reinforced the positive aspects of recreation in special education by maintaining that recreation enables
a student to benefit from special education in cognitive learning as well as other areas of identified need.
 

How can you assess whether your child is receiving any current   services related to recreation:

     Has your child received an assessment of leisure functioning, either formal or informal, and was it
     included in the goals of your child's IEP? Who is conducting the assessment? Are they qualified?

     Is "Therapeutic Recreation" service, or any component of recreation included in your child's IEP?
     If so, "who" is implementing the IEP services? For example, if language and social skills are
     developmental areas addressed on your child's IEP, your child's annual goals might include:

          To improve receptive and expressive language skills and cognitive concepts;

          Therapeutic recreation services through the use of play and recreation experiences can develop
          and integrate receptive and expressive language skills such as: listening and responding to verbal
          directions, naming of objects and equipment, identifying sound, shapes, textures, and spacial
          concepts up/down, in/out.

          To progress from isolated play to cooperative interaction with peers;

          Therapeutic recreation services can assess your child's ability and self-confidence to determine
          readiness for each social interaction progression, identify appropriate reinforcement activities and
          techniques, and assist your child and his peers in establishing "ground rules" for cooperative play
          experience such as "taking turns" and completing game or task. The ability and motivation to
          participate in play activities with others can develop from parallel play to interactive play to a
          cooperative play effort.

     Are certain school and community recreation programs being offered as part of "free, appropriate,
     public education" in your town? Are they accessible to your child? This could take place through a
     number of avenues a summer camp program, an after-school program, a community-based recreation
     program.

     Is Special Olympics the only option available for your child to meet their recreation needs or the
     school's need to provide recreation?

     Does the classroom teacher include instruction in leisure education concepts and activities as part
     of the curriculum?

     Are you concerned about what your child's leisure pursuits entail i.e., extensive TV watching, video
     games, passive spectator activities only. How satisfied are you with your child's ability to make
     decisions regarding their own leisure behavior?

     Are you concerned about your child's development of health and fitness interests?

     Are you concerned about your child's ability to develop friendship circles and social skills?

     Does your child have knowledge of recreation resources and opportunities in your community?

With the current movement to integrate children and adults with disabilities into local communities, we
must enable people with disabilities to exercise their right to be full participating members of the
communities in which they live. The need for recreation, meaningful activity experiences during one's
discretionary time, is important for everyone. Having the ability to make choices about one's leisure
and having the opportunity to actualize those choices is everyone's right.

"Participation in leisure and recreation activities is an important aspect of life in our society. When
such activities meet the needs of individuals, they promote physical health and conditioning, provide
opportunities to develop social relations, and lead to the development of new skills." (Schleien, 1988)
Recreation offers a way for all of us to express ourselves, to interact with others and our environment
in a non-threatening and non-competitive environment, to develop a positive self-concept, and to find
personal satisfaction in our lives. It is learned behavior that emulates from the home, school and
community. Your child deserves the opportunity to learn and engage in recreation activities with their
non disabled peers.
 

 

TRIPS Home Page

For Parents