A model therapeutic recreation program for the reintegration of persons with disabilities into the community.

Abstract

This article provides an overview of a model community reintegration program. The purposes of the article are: (a) to highlight the conceptual framework applied to the development of the model, (b) to describe the model, (c) to explain the implementation of transitional therapeutic recreation services (leisure education), and (d) to offer preliminary qualitative evaluation data. The model's conceptual framework is social role valorization theory which extends normalization to include both the individual's and society's responses to disability. The model has three components: (a) individualized assessment, which is accomplished through standard hospital protocol; (b) transitional therapeutic recreation services, which primarily involve leisure education; and (c) client follow-up and client/community follow-through, which are performed by the transitional therapeutic recreation specialist. Preliminary evaluation data of the transitional therapeutic recreation services and the follow-up/follow-through ofthe model show support for social role valorization as operationalized through the conceptualization and implementation ofthe Community Reintegration Program.