About TRO
Our Purpose . . . Our purpose is to recognize and unify the therapeutic recreation profession in the Province of Ontario by initiating, discussing, exchanging and promoting ideas and issues which affect the profession.
Our Vision . . . Recognizing that leisure is an integral part of every individual's life, "Therapeutic Recreation Ontario", as an acknowledged professional organization, is committed to representing the therapeutic recreation profession in the Province of Ontario. "Therapeutic Recreation Ontario" exists to direct and advance the profession in order to ensure quality professional services and to protect the rights of consumers receiving those services. We are committed to unifying the therapeutic recreation profession across diverse delivery settings.
Our Framework . . . A strategic plan has been developed to provide a framework to guide and advance the profession in the years to come.
TRO's Philosophical Statement for Recreation Therapy
The purpose of Recreation Therapy is to enable all individuals to achieve quality of life, and optimal health through meaningful experiences in recreation and leisure. We believe in the inherent capacities of individuals for personal growth, happiness and freedom. Recreation Therapy is a profession which provides service to, and advocates for individuals with physical, mental, social, behavioural or emotional limitations in a variety of settings such as hospitals, long-term care settings, day programs, community-based programs, and mental health centres. The Recreation Therapy profession recognizes the right of all citizens to have access to and the freedom to choose recreation and leisure opportunities regardless of their physical, financial, developmental, emotional, or social challenges OR the barriers imposed on them by society at large.
The foundation of the Recreation Therapy profession is the establishment of authentic relationships with the individual receiving services and all other key stakeholders. Utilizing a collaborative approach, Recreation Therapy follows a systematic process of assessment, goal-setting, program/intervention development, individual and group facilitation, documentation, and evaluation. Programs are designed to promote independent functioning within the physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, behavioural and social domains, and to educate individuals about the skills and resources required to participate in recreation and leisure. The Recreation Therapy profession utilizes evidence-based practice to create outcome-based interventions suitable to the client’s abilities. As part of its advocacy, Recreation Therapy is committed to educating society about the rights and capacities of all citizens to participate in recreation and leisure.
The role of a Recreation Therapist:
- The Recreation Therapist conducts an intensive needs assessment to determine the capacities of the population being served and the appropriate personalized interventions based on current best practices;
- In order to ensure appropriate service to individuals, the therapist must begin the Recreation Therapy process by developing a meaningful relationship with the individual receiving services;
- The Recreation Therapist and individual receiving services together determine the best way to assess current interests, abilities, needs, and barriers related to a meaningful leisure lifestyle; the assessment must look at the individual within the context of their family, environment, culture, friends, disability/illness, as well as the requirements of the agency/organization where the Recreation Therapist is employed;
- The Recreation Therapist works collaboratively to set realistic goals which can be achieved through engagement in recreation interventions and programs;
- The Recreation Therapist utilizes various facilitation techniques to engage the individual in a variety of opportunities designed to foster a meaningful leisure lifestyle;
- The Recreation Therapy process adheres to agency standards regarding documentation of the process and individual responses;
- To ensure efficacy, the Recreation Therapist systematically evaluates the outcomes of their services; wherever possible the individual receiving services should be involved in this process;
- Through on-going self-reflective practice, Recreation Therapists critically examine their personal and professional competencies to ensure best practices;
- Throughout the process, the Recreation Therapist is responsible for advocacy and developing relationships with key stakeholders to ensure that individuals are equally valued members of the community;
- The Recreation Therapist is responsible for community development through recreation and leisure;
- As a professional in a health care field, the Recreation Therapist is responsible for following TRO’s Standards of Practice and Code of Ethics.