This blog is for the class Innovative Activities in Therapeutic Recreation at the University of Wisconsin- La Crosse. I will be introducing myself as a student and then describing what I have been learning in class. I will also be writing about activities that I have found to be innovative while searching on my own. Enjoy! and feel free to take whatever might help you in your search for innovative activities for Therapeutic Recreation or otherwise.
Project Mobility represents a collection of Land Rover addicts, from all walks of life including; the 4x4 industry, soldiers, pacifists, mechanics and off road racers. Project Mobility helps ordinary people achieve extraordinary things through a range of exciting projects and initiatives from; converting Land Rovers to be driven by amputees, to organising overland safaris through to putting together Britain’s first all disabled Rally Crew for the 2013 Dakar Rally. This organization is working hard to help their wounded warriors regain independence, confidence, and mobility.
BMSAD is the British MotorSport Association for the Disabled
The objective of the British Motor Sports Association for the Disabled is to assist drivers with disabilities to compete in motorsport. Since 1991 over 200 competitors with a variety of disabilities and medical conditions have earned the right to compete in Racing, Rallying and Karting. The variety of conditions vary from paraplegia, arm, leg and finger amputations, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, motor neurone and Parkinson’s disease, visual and hearing challenges and many more. The future is looking very bright with more opportunity for all disabled motorsport enthusiasts with more Kart tracks committed to fitting hand controls where required and most racing circuits prepared to accept the need for disabled access.
Off roading is fun too!! Who says that you need to compete to have fun ;]
I love bowling. I always seem to start out really great getting strikes and everything, but then I just go down hill. Haha, I still just love being with friends and cheering for everyone as we all try our hardest.
Why can't everyone have the same enjoyment of this simple sport? Now those who have no use of their arms or legs CAN!!
This system allows a person to control the speed, direction, and timing of the bowling ball’s release. Wheelchair movement and the unique parabolic bowling arm generate the energy to propel the ball down the lane; braking the wheelchair sends the ball in the direction the bowler wants.
This would be a great outing for those who have been unable to bowl since a spinal cord accident or who have never had the opportunity to try bowling!!
“Art is a tool of empowerment and social change, and I consider myself blessed to be able to create and use my work to promote health reform, bring awareness about ALS and help others.”
– Tempt One [initiator of the eyewriter]
How awesome would it be to get teens who are "vandalizing" buildings with graffiti to keep their artistic talent growing without harshing a city's peaceful (or not) look! This is a great way to get other people who don't think that they have any artistic ability to get involved with a different style of art.
This is the future of art for those who have been unable to express themselves and for a new generation of artists!
I've always wondered whether or not people who have lost their ability to hear or who have never been able to hear are able to enjoy listening to music. I understand that they would be able to feel a strong base or louder music vibrations, but what about the other sounds?
People who are considered deaf have the ability to reinterpret music through vibrations that register in the audio section of one's brain. They can be taught to feel all musical vibrations and tones through their bodies. Some concerts that are deaf friendly provide balloons for the people to hold in order to feel the vibrations easier.
"One is not 'required' to enjoy music via the ear canal. Music enjoyment comes in many forms, shapes and sizes, just as the instruments themselves.
For me, with my profound deafness, I enjoyed music by vibration. The advantage I had was I played drums prior to my hearing loss, and knew the vibrations each drum and cymbal gave out. As a kid, while watching friends rehearse in their garage, I used to touch each instrument, and feel the vibrations. I memorized those vibrations, then sat down with a balloon in my hands and 'listened' to the music via vibrations. It was different, but it was still enjoying music. To this day, I still enjoy 'vibrational music' and it gives me as much pleasure as when I could hear as a child."
The students of the institute keep asking to do theatre productions with music and dancing. This production involves more than 100 people!
These stories and happenings are very inspiring! I think that this could be used in therapeutic recreation; whether it is using balloons while listening to music with people who are hearing impaired or having others listen with balloons (ear plugs in) or go to performances by people who are hearing impaired can be beneficial for learning and therapy. I would like to use this some time to put myself and others in someone else's shoes.
Can't wait for the future? Well it's alredy here for Deaf people!!
Deaf people may not be able to hear music, but soon they might be able to feel it, even on the go. A concept device from German designer Frederik Podzuweit promises to make hearing music a reality for the deaf community based on synesthesia — a type of sensory stimulus evokes the perception of an entirely different sense.
Music for Deaf People hopes to turn music into the same emotions and feelings the non-deaf hear by using electricity to stimulate a special membrane on the device. Music for Deaf People can project the vibratory feelings of bass, midtones, and treble from any portable audio device to a device that sits on a persons neck as headphones would when resting on shoulders. The volume or track number adjusts by use of the large, easily accessible controls right on top. With a clean futuristic design, even audiophiles looking for a new way to listen to music might find it interesting to try.
