'TR' profession keys on
communication, cooperation, commitment

The Special Recreation Associations of Northern Illinois (SRANI) and the Therapeutic Recreation Association of Clinical Settings (TRACS) are dedicated to promoting and improving the quality of therapeutic recreational services offered to disabled persons.

By Larry Lindholm

The Special Recreation Associations of Northern Illinois (SRANI) is an affiliate of the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) that meets to exchange ideas and information among professionals who are in the field of community-based recreation for special populations.

Background

The Association started when three special recreation directors met in 1973 to discuss the new concept of recreation that was taking shape in Illinois. That idea involved park districts signing agreements to form special recreation cooperatives that would program for disabled persons within their communities. These cooperatives would be able to have their own tax revenue to conduct this type of comprehensive program.

In 1975, a group of directors authored a book. Special Recreation Cooperatives in Illinois, through the Office of Parks and Resources, Department of Agriculture, at the University of Illinois. As time progressed and special recreation associations (SRAs) grew in staff and in number, two separate monthly meetings were held.

At one meeting the SRA directors discussed current issues affecting their organizations. These included legislation, new cooperatives and park district membership in existing SRAs.

Program coordinators and staff met separately to discuss successful programming for certain disabilities. These individuals also acted as a support group for the staff who were "working in the trenches."

As more and more special recreation associations did cooperative programming, like the week-long summer camp, it became apparent that there should only be one meeting for all programmatic and administrative personnel involved in this type of activity. The SRANI was formed on Nov. 1, 1976.

One of the SRANI's first major projects was testifying on behalf of the then proposed law (PL94-142) to provide education for all handicapped children. Members testified on behalf of recreation as a supportive service.

SRANI today

Seventeen SRAs, four affiliate members and two individual members comprise the working body of the Association. It is an active organization constantly working to support community-based recreation cooperatives in all areas of the State and nation.

The SRANI is professionals working together for a common goal through various committees. These include the:

• Sports Committee. As part of the Interagency Committee, it is charged with the overall direction of SRANI-sponsored sports tournaments, and unifying the playing rules for these tournaments and other intra-SRA competitions.

At the present time, SRANI sponsors volleyball, softball and basketball tournaments. They are divided by class so participants compete on a level where success can be attained.

Social Committee. The SRANI publishes and distributes a calendar of events for area SRAs to encourage their participation at dances and other social events. This committee is also a part of the Interagency Committee.

• Camps Committee. Three different week-long camps are offered to participants. One week is for children who are learning disabled or behavior disordered. Another is for mentally handicapped campers ages seven and

Illinois Parks and Recreation 26 November/December 1986

older, and the third camp is offered for physically handicapped/mentally alert participants.

The direction of these camps is rotated among the SRAs which participate in them.

• Public Relations Committee. The task of this committee is to inform the user public and allied national. State and local organizations which work with special populations about the operation and role of SRAs. This committee is currently compiling a contact list of conventions and meetings where this information can be disseminated.

• Fund Raising Committee. An 18-hole, "$20,000 Open" golf outing was held at the Woodruff Golf Course in Joliet to help raise funds and introduced SRAs to the public. These funds will be used to help defray the cost of SRANI-sponsored sports tournaments and assist the Public Relations Committee's endeavors.

Two fund-raising events are planned annually, and they are open to all people in the recreation field and the general public.

Over the years, the SRANI has developed an ongoing series of inservice workshops for its members, other recreation professionals and members of allied health professions. Discussion topics range from current developments in the field to specific instruction, such as first aid.

Planning ahead

As an active and growing organization, the SRANI has set four major goals. These are to:

• work more closely with the Illinois Park and Recreation Association (IPRA) and IPRA's Therapeutic Recreation Section,

• promote the goals of those organizations,

• become actively involved in those organizations by participating in their endeavors, and

• continue and expand the promotions of SRAs as a viable way to program for the total population of any given area or community.

The SRANI meets on the first Thursday of each month at 9:15 a.m. at the Northeast DuPage Special Recreation Association (NEDSRA), 644 Ardmore, Addison.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Larry Lindholm is the director of Special Recreation of Joliet and Channahon.

By Lisa Noble

The Therapeutic Recreation Association of Clinical Settings (TRACS) is a professional organization in the Chicago area. It addresses current trends and issues affecting clinical therapeutic recreation professionals, and provides informative speakers on pertinent topics in the clinical field. In addition, TRACS serves as a support system and a resource network to members and, most importantly, furthers and improves therapeutic recreation services in clinical settings.

Origins

TRACS has been a formal organization for more than three years. Its grassroots origin can be traced to a group of clinical-based therapeutic recreation and activity therapy directors who met monthly to discuss common issues and concerns. After several years, these directors broadened the group to include all therapeutic recreation professionals who worked in clinical settings. Other disciplines such as art, dance and music therapists were welcome.

Potential members were surveyed to assess the need for such a group, and the response was overwhelmingly positive. The group, becoming more formalized, modified and adopted bylaws, a purpose statement and an organizational structure from other affiliates in the Illinois Therapeutic Recreation Section (ITRS).

Organizational growth

The new clinical-based organization held its first meeting on March 9,1983. On May 12,1983, the organization was officially named.

Ry the end of 1983, TRACS had become an affiliate of ITRS and elected its first officers. The group continued to grow and became an organizational member of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) in 1984.

In 1985, TRACS completed its first service project; a community resource directory for the Chicago area. In addition to these special accomplishments, TRACS also hosted many informative speakers on such topics as hospital accreditation standards, quality assurance, internship programs and horticulture therapy.

Although TRACS has come a long way (we now have 60 professional members), this organization continues to grow and set new goals. Some of TRACS future goals include sponsoring workshops for area professionals and working more closely with the Special Recreation Associations of Northern Illinois (SRANI) to address common therapeutic recreation issues.

TRACS meets monthly, alternating between morning and evening meetings. New members and guests are welcome to attend. For more information, contact TRACS president Julia Karnstedt at the Marianjoy Rehabilitation Center, (312) 462-4039.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Lisa Noble, public relations chairperson of TRACS, is a 1984 graduate of the University of Illinois. She worked for two and a half years as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) at Forest Hospital. She is currently working as a CTRS at Riveredge Hospital. Both are private psychiatric facilities in the Chicago area.

Illinois Parks and Recreation 27 November/December 1986