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Recreation Therapy Resources

This page features helpful resources provided by the Recreation Therapy Department at Shepherd Center.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

The ADA prohibits discrimination and ensures equal opportunity for persons with disabilities in employment, state and local government services, public accommodations, commercial facilities and transportation.

G - Government

  • All government facilities, services and communications must be accessible for all individuals. Examples: DMV, libraries, court proceedings, etc.
  • Any state and local government programs must be accessible for all.

E - Employment

  • Employers may not discriminate against an individual with a disability in hiring or promotion if the person is otherwise qualified for the job.
  • Employers can ask about one’s ability to perform a job, but cannot inquire if someone has a disability or subject a person to tests that tend to screen out people with disabilities.
  • Employers need to provide “reasonable accommodation” to individuals with disabilities. Examples: Providing a larger workspace, higher desk or extra break time to do an IC.

T - Transportation

  • Any public transportation service (bus, train, subway, etc.) 1992 and newer must be accessible to individuals with disabilities.
  • Bus transit authorities must provide comparable paratransit or other special transportation services to individuals with disabilities who cannot use fixed route bus services, unless an undue burden would result.

P - Public Places

  • Private entities such as restaurants, hotels, and retail stores may not discriminate against individuals with disabilities.
  • Public places 1992 or newer must be completely accessible for all. If older than 1992, reasonable accommodations must be provided for individuals with disabilities to access services. Examples: ramps, wider doorways, accessible parking and entrances, etc.

T - Telecommunications

  • Landline telephone providers must provide free 411 service to any person who cannot physically flip the pages of a phonebook.

To learn more about the ADA, visit www.ada.gov.

Outing Preparation

What to bring when you go out:

  • Extra IC kits and supplies
  • Extra pair of pants
  • Be prepared for all temperatures

Hot Temperatures

  • Sunscreen
  • Water
  • Umbrella or hat
  • Handheld fan

After SCI, a person is much more susceptible to sunburn. A daily practice of wearing sunscreen is highly recommended. Staying hydrated in hot weather is also very important. Always keep water on hand. Umbrellas and hats are helpful in protecting skin from direct sunlight. Personal handheld fans can also aid in cooling.

Cold Temperatures

  • Wear insulating clothing (wool, nylon, polypropylene)
  • Wear a hat
  • Add layers
  • Artificial heat sources (heat packs)
  • Warm drinks

After a spinal cord injury, the body may not regulate its temperature as before. This results in many people feeling cold almost all of the time. This is especially true for people who have higher-level injuries. Reduced circulation can make the extremities feel cold while the body is warm. Keeping the entire body warm in cold temperatures is important for the body to work properly and avoid tissue injury or hypothermia. 

Time Management

Always give yourself extra time to get to your destination.

If you think it will take 10 minutes to push to your destination, then allow yourself 20 to 25 minutes to get there. You never know if an issue may arise that will slow your progress (e.g., an impromptu IC, waiting at crosswalks, chair malfunction.)

Plan ahead.

If it is your first time visiting this destination, call ahead to ask about accessibility. Remember not everyone knows what “accessibility” really means. Ask specific questions about entrances, ramps, walkways, etc. to determine accessibility.

Blood Pressure Management

Low Blood Pressure

Potential Signs and Symptoms

  • Pale, ashen face
  • Dizziness
  • Fainting

Treatment

  • Power tilt
  • Assisted manual tilt
  • Lift patient’s legs above heart level.
  • Put on stomach binders and TED hose.

High Blood Pressure (Dysreflexia)

Dysreflexia is the body letting you know that something is not right.

Potential Signs and Symptoms

  • Red face or red blotches on the skin
  • Excruciating headache
  • Sweating above the level of injury
  • Nausea
  • Cold, clammy skin

Treatment

  • Remove any stomach binders and TED hose.
  • Head-to-toe check. Check for any loose items that they have fallen underneath the legs or anything that may be causing the body discomfort.
  • IC
  • Bowel program

If problem persists, call 911.

Dysreflexia is usually only experienced by individuals with a T-6 level of injury and above. However, knowing and understanding this information is important for people with all levels of injury.

Problem-Solving

Problem-Solving in the Community

1) There are steps into a building:

  • Look for another entrance.
  • Check and see if there is a ramp.
  • Have someone bump you up the steps.
  • Carry a portable ramp in your car.
  • Talk to the manager.

2) Your table is too low at a restaurant:

  • Look for a table that might be higher.
  • If your armrests are not in the way, try removing them.
  • Raise the table using phonebooks, dishwashing crates, trays, etc.
  • Put a tray in your lap.
  • Pull up sideways to the table.
  • Transfer into a chair or a booth.
  • Talk to the manager.

3) The door to the restroom is too narrow:

  • Check the other restroom (men’s or women’s).
  • Ask if there is a private room or space that you can use.
  • Use your car/van.
  • See if the place next door has a restroom that is accessible.
  • Talk to the manager.

4) The waiter/waitress does not talk directly to you. He or she asks the person with you what you want:

  • Use humor. Say to the person you are with, “Tell the waiter that I would like a Coke.”
  • Be direct. Say, “Thanks, but I can order for myself and I would like a Coke.”

5) There isn’t accessible seating where you can sit next to your friend or family:

  • Transfer into a chair.
  • Sit in your wheelchair in an aisle next to a chair.
  • See if there is a chair that your friend can move to sit where there is accessible seating.
  • Talk to the manager.

Terrain Management

  • Ramps
    • Power chair
      • Caregiver stays on side of joystick
      • If chair dies, be prepared to do a manual push.
      • If caregiver needs to rest, turn chair perpendicular to ramp, and the chair will remain stationary.
      • Patient can partially tilt back while going down a ramp to feel more stable. 
      • Patient should NOT be in tilt while going up a ramp.
    • Manual chair
      • Caregiver always has hands placed on chair when going down ramps.
      • Patient will do short pushes at first then more full-range pushes once his/her momentum is going up the ramp.
  • Sidewalks
    • Always avoid any large cracks, holes, or debris on sidewalk. The chair may get stuck or messed up.
    • Stay in the middle of the sidewalk. The middle is usually the flattest and most stable.
    • The caregiver should always walk on the side of traffic so that they are between the patient and the cars in the street.
  • Curb Cut-Outs
    • Square up behind the yellow curb-cut box. It is important to stay behind the yellow box so that if cars round the corner too sharply and the back tires come up onto the sidewalk, the patient is out of harm’s way.
    • Always enter at the flattest part of the curb cutout.
  • Crossing the street
    • The caregiver should always cross on the side of the patient where there will be oncoming traffic.
    • The caregiver will be more visible to oncoming cars as they will be taller than the patient who is at a seated level.
    • Pedestrians have the right-of way while in the crosswalk. Even if the crosswalk timer is running out, continue to cross the street as normal.
    • If the crosswalk is unfamiliar, wait one full rotation of the light before crossing. This will ensure that you know how much time you have to cross the street once the light turns.

Specialists

Outdoor Specialist

The outdoor specialist educates on activities such as camping, boating, hunting, target shooting, fishing, ATV, canoeing and kayaking.

Outdoor Specialist
(404)-350-7790

Outdoor Resources

ATV Transfer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZAS_tUOfIk

ATV Rhino Transfer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlmZHlL63xs

Boat Transfers
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DINw0bbJBSM

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAGFtVFJpTQ

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywSpNi6bfg0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt5cvdrVr34

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oIYV1bSIwPE

www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYPQ5UbrK1I

Sports Specialist

The sports specialist provides education on activities such as basketball, quad rugby, billiards, power soccer, hand-cycling, sled hockey, football, snow skiing, bowling, track and field, fencing, softball, golf, tennis and bocce.

Sports Specialist
(404)-350-7797

Sports Resources

Handcycle Transfer
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu-fLVhV2YM

Handcycle Safety Light
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sxp1xMZBevM

Exercise Specialist

The exercise specialist educates on the importance of health and wellness, appropriate strength and cardiovascular exercises and equipment, basic adaptations for equipment, home exercise programs, and general guidelines for health and wellness.

Lead Exercise Specialist
(404)-350-7789

Arts Specialist

The arts specialist provides education in the expressive arts such as painting, ceramics, clay work, pottery wheel, jewelry making, photography, sewing, wheelchair dance, drama, creative writing and journal writing.

Arts Specialist
404-350-7792

Art Resources

Wheelchair Ballroom Dance:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJ9NqyChCA0

Painting by Mouth:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4L_PKEIDi4

Aquatic Specialist

The aquatic specialists provide education on activities such as water safety, swimming, water exercise, water-skiing, person watercraft use and scuba diving.

Aquatic Specialist
(404) 350-7786

Horticulture Specialist

The horticulture specialist educates on indoor and outdoor gardening, seed propagation, flower arranging, bamboo gardens, lawn care, landscaping, raised outdoor garden beds and horticultural crafts.

Horticulture Specialist
(404) 350-7785

Music Specialist

The music specialist provides education in the expressive arts of music such as music appreciation, composition, voice, piano, guitar, drum set, harmonica, violin and percussion.

Music Specialist
404-603-1447

Other Resources

National Spinal Cord Injury Association:  www.spinalcord.org

Canine Companions:  www.cci.org/

Facing Disability:  www.facingdisability.com