Assignment 2: Subgroup A --Therapeutic Recreation

    Therapeutic Recreation

     The agency we researched for this project was the CUSR which is short for the Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation. The person we talked to for this project was Dawn Schaefer who is the Director and has been involved in the Therapeutic Recreation field for more than twenty years. CUSR and its member park districts believe that all individuals should be provided with leisure opportunities that allow for performance at their highest level of ability. CUSR provides the type of support that is needed for participation. 

WHO: CUSR (Champaign-Urbana Special Recreation) which is also known as Hays Recreation Center

WHERE: The CUSR is located in Champaign on W Church Street

HOW:  The CUSR is funded by tax dollars. They also charge fees for their programs programs and are actively seeking grants for funding. In addition, Dawn informed us that they are also trying to develop a scholarship fund.

WHAT: The mission is to advocate for and provide access to a full range of recreational opportunities for people with disabilities to focus on, further define and provide our core programs to create partnerships that will increase participation and programs.

WHY: CUSR exists to ensure that people with disabilities have access to a full range of recreational services.

CUSR is open Monday through Friday from 8am until 5pm.

     Not just anybody can work in this agency. Two core competencies that are required in order to obtain a job at CUSR is that the applicant must have a degree in special recreation and also pass the NCTRC (National Counsel for Therapeutic Recreation Certification) exam in order to receive CTRS (certified therapeutic recreation specialist).

     Dawn informed us that there are a few different employment opportunities that are available at the agency. The highest is the Director. There are also three coordinators. One is responsible for coordinating activities and programs for teens and children, another coordinator is responsible for adults and seniors and the final coordinator deals with athletics. The Staff are the leaders of the programs and CUSR also has many volunteers who are people that support the leaders. Many volunteers come from here on campus and the surrounding high schools. 

      There aren't really any present issues with the agency. However, Dawn specifically said that one of the strengths of this agency is that they are a therapeutic program, not just a recreation program. She told us that in the past for pizza night the people would just come and eat, but now if they want to eat, they have to make it first. This allows the participants to learn skill building. In addition, this approach also serves as an excellent learning process. There are many different activities that people can take part in. As seen by the pictures, kids can play at the playground or enjoy a game of basketball. 

CUSR strives to enhance participants' abilities in enjoyable recreational, leisure, and social settings. One of the many benefits that this agency provides is that it is for anyone. Although the majority of the people have autism or are on the autism spectrum, there are some with cerebral palsy and CUSR strives to make sure that everyone, no matter what your disability, is successful. The CUSR is also currently trying to build into a paraolympic program.

After visiting the Champaign Urbana Special Recreation center, it was easy to see the benefits of having a job of a career in this agency. It was clear (and she even told us a number of times) that Dawn absolutely loves what she does. "I get to come to work and play every day". Every day is a reward, it is easy to see the improvements in the people that take part in the programs. CUSR gives people with disabilties many of the same opportunities that people without disabilities have access to. One of the difficult tasks of this career is that it takes the right kind of person to ensure that the job will get done in a successul manner. These careers are very exclusive to a specific person, not everyone can do this, demands a certain person that is fit to handle all that the job entailsNot everyone may be fit to handle some of the jobs in this field because they can be emotionally bearing. This agency fits into the leisure system because it was recognized that people with disabilities had unique needs with respect to leisure and recreation and therapeutic recreation provides community-based leisure opportunities for people with disabilities throughout the United States.