Innovative activity 7: Blind Kickball

This is an awesome game for people with visual impairments to play. It is basically like a regular game of kickball, but each team is divided up into partners: one with visual impairments (VIs) and one without. The seeing person will kick the ball and the one with VIs will be the "runner." The partners run the bases together, but the seeing person can't touch the person with VIs. They will have to direct them with their voice. Also, in the outfield, the seeing person is able to catch or stop the ball, but the person with VIs must throw the ball to the base or do the tagging.

I've adapted this game a little bit from the website where I found it, because they did it with a youth group and would switch up each inning the blindfolds between partners. It is amazing for people with VIs because first of all, it gets them outside, which is good for everybody. Secondly, it reinforces clear communication (social) and builds trust (emotional) between each pair. It also challenges them physically to refine their gross motor skills.

Materials:
-large playing field w/ bases
-kickball
-blindfolds, if not everyone has VIs

http://www.thesource4ym.com/games/game.aspx?ID=395#

Innovative activity 6: The Power of the Story

This activity is a really great one that is simple and doesn't need a lot of materials. Each person brings a personal item that is specific to them and they get to share about themselves and why their object is special to them. Depending on your goals as a CTRS, you can have themed days, where their item has to be related to a certain topic, or it can be totally random. (Be sure to send them a message or email the day before, so the participants remember to bring their item.) This item could be anything. It could be a favorite blanket or a teacup from their grandma. Also, the intimacy/level of the group is insignificant because this activity could really help a group get to know each other.

A few questions to prompt discussion:

• Why did they choose it?
• What special memory does it elicit for them?
• What is its significance given your topic?

The Power of the Story could be used with almost any adult group, but would be really neat for people with Alzheimer's. It could help them remember things from the past and it would stretch their cognitive abilities. One part of remembering is thinking of a memory in your head, but when you have to explain it to somebody else, there is planning and strategic thinking involved. It's important to note that this activity might bring up hard/painful memories. Know how to positively direct the conversation towards what they've learned even in the hard times. Not only would this be good for them emotionally and cognitively, but it would be a chance for them to socialize with others. They would learn how to listen to people speak, and they would need to take turns while talking. The therapeutic benefits of this game are numerous.

http://adulted.about.com/od/icebreakers/qt/powerofstory.htm

Adaptive Activities

Goal ball, handcycling, fishing and hunting, extreme sports, fitness activities, and kayaking. People with disabilities can do them all. This makes me so excited to work in the therapeutic recreation field. I love all the options, the freedom, the room for creativity and uniqueness.

It was good to see that adaptations to the things we use can either be really simple and primitive (like the ones we made for the art projects), or they can be very technologically advanced, like Ken's Power Caster. I tend to think of all the expenses that come up with adaptations, but they're not always expensive. Even if some may seem super simple, they will often benefit the people you're working with.

One thing that I really enjoyed last night was learning how to play goal ball. What an intense game!! It is played with a huge medicine ball that has bells inside of it. The game is typically made for people with visual impairments, because they are able to hear the ball coming. So we went outside and made teams of three or four. (This game can be played anywhere because the goal is the area behind the players.) So one team will throw/roll/bounce the ball towards the other side and the defending team uses their BODIES to stop the ball. I have never even heard of that game before class last night. This sounds like a sweet game to use to integrate people with and without disabilities. People without visual impairments could use a bandanna/eye covering like we did in class.

I'm continuing to get excited about people who are blind and the potential of working with them. I would really love to develop a climbing program (and maybe include camping as well) for people who are blind. This continues to surprise me about myself. I guess I kind of get things set in my mind about what I want to do, but I forget that the Lord wants to continue molding and changing my heart and passions. I'm excited to continue to be obedient to how the Lord is working on my heart and the things he brings up. He knows me so well. I'm always learning how to listen to him and follow him, because he knows what is best for me.

Art Activities

This past week was really fun. We were pretending to have visual impairments and do various activities. The first thing we did was walk around (either leading or following a partner) the building, outside on campus and hopefully into a different building. That was really cool and it really instills patience in you as you slow down your own pace and work with someone who might need to go a little slower.

When we got back into the building, we were helping our blind counterpart do art projects. The first time we were led into the room, we made a tape mural on the wall. This was super hard because we couldn't talk to each other, but there still had to be communication. To me, this kind of art wasn't very empowering, especially when I couldn't talk to my partner. I think this is something to take into account as I look at the perspective of my participant. Are they enjoying what they're doing? Do they feel like they can take responsibility for their art/project/recreation?

The next project we did was bring someone into the room and sit them at a table with clay. Then we had to communicate to them different things to mold/make without talking. That was really exciting to figure out. I learned that I LOVE affirming people when they're doing something correctly. It was hard to express that without talking, so I would pat Kelsey (my partner) on the shoulder if she got something right. I think expressing affirmation and encouragement is also SUPER important for us as future CTRSs.

Something I pondered as we were role playing visual impairments is the idea of working with that group of people. I love being able to help them see life in the fullest sense, even if they can't actually see anything. I really enjoy describing the weather, the flowers, the people that I can see, and what's going on. I'm going to keep that in the back of my head when it comes time to look for internships and such.

.Adapted Art Activities.

Last night we brought in articles about adapted art equipment that could be used for a variety of populations and types of art projects. We had researched different adaptations and many of the art tools we found were adapted for better grasping (example: bigger, heavier, longer handles on a paintbrush). There were also tables/easels adapted for persons in wheelchairs,whether they were cut out differently or motorized so they could adjust to a person's needs. There were some really sweet hook-ups for wheelchairs that were paint rollers used on big paper sheets on the ground.

Soon after sharing our different ideas, we began making our own adaptations to scissors, paintbrushes, markers, erasers, and pencils. Each group had the opportunity to be innovative and use whatever they wanted to adapt art tools. We made some paint rollers with bubble wrap, a foot attachment with a paintbrush on the end of it, really big stamps, and other bigger supplies. I think I learned in this class that you don't really need to be fancy with adaptations. They don't always have to look really put together, as long as they serve the purpose for which you made them. In TR, we're going to have to think quickly and creatively-outside of the box. I know that I often want my adaptations/creations to look really nice, and that is definitely a good thing, but it's more important for the item to be functional. It's beneficial too, to actually think about different types of people that we will work with. There will be physical/cognitive limitations, but we get to enable them. The focus will be on the ability and the gift, rather than on the restrictions.

innovative activity 5: relaxation warm-up

http://www.recreationtherapy.com/tx/txwpq.htm

The relaxation warm-up is kind of a transition activity that would work best for people who are autistic or those with disabilities where they're very stimulated/distracted by things in the environment. In this activity, the facilitator will prepare a very soothing environment in which the participant can come in and sit down while there is soft music in the background and nice soft lighting. The participant will be able to use lotion and various types of massagers (hand/head/back). There could possibly even be candles or incense. This type of environment could allow for participants to calm down and mentally/emotionally focus before heading to the next activity or home.

I think it's important to note that with the relaxation warm-up (or cool down), there can be too many stimulators used, especially for people with autism. Be aware of allergies in the group when it comes to types of lotion.

Materials needed:
-lotions
-music
-CD player
-massagers
-candles/incense
-book/Bible

innovative activity 4: flash mobs

I had to do this. I had to pull this into an innovative therapeutic recreation activity, because it is! A flash mob is taking a large group of people and doing something big in public. A few ideas are car cheering, singing and dancing, freezing, having a mass pillow fight, walking invisible dogs, having a fake proposal, etc. These events get many people's attention, especially when in a well populated area. I think the group that this would best fit would be a group of teens who have behavioral issues. With the process of picking out what they want to do, practicing, organizing times and places, it would be a good opportunity for the youth to work together making choices and compromising. It would also be good for them to know how to take responsibility for and pride in something they can accomplish. Organizing and performing a flash mob lets them be able to lead and encourage their peers. It is a great way to get people out of their comfort zone, but at the same time, allowing them to bond with each other.

Materials needed for this activity really vary, depending on the type of flash mob. One might need costumes or props, but usually the materials needed are very slim. Some things to think about with the at-risk youth would be the appropriateness of the performance, the location at which it's done, and the music that's used. Make sure everyone has input so they can call it their own and feel positive about participating.