| Background
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The Illinois Recreational Therapy Association (ILRTA)
is a state membership organization representing the
interests and needs of recreational therapists. ILRTA is
a chapter of the American Therapeutic Recreation
Association and an affiliate member of the Illinois Park
and Recreation Association.
Recreational therapists are health care providers
using recreational therapy interventions for improved
functioning of individuals with illness or disabling
conditions.
The parent organization, the American Therapeutic
Recreation Association, ATRA, was incorporated in the
District of Columbia in 1984 as a non-profit, grassroots
organization in response to growing concern about the
dramatic changes in the health care industry. As a
result of this response, ATRA has grown from a
membership of 60 individuals in June 1984 to 4,500 in
1999.
ILRTA supports ATRA definition of therapeutic
recreation as "the provision of Treatment Services
and the provision of Recreation Services to persons with
illnesses or disabling conditions. The primary purposes
of treatment services, which are often referred to as
Recreational Therapy, are to restore, remediate or
rehabilitate in order to improve functioning and
independence as well as reduce or eliminate the effects
of illness or disability. The primary purposes of
Recreational Services are to provide recreation
resources and opportunities in order to improve health
and well being. Therapeutic recreation is provided by
professionals who are trained and certified, registered
and/or licensed to provide therapeutic recreation
(1987)."
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| Meetings
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None at this time
TR Education Calendar: National Link
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| Membership
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| Membership dues… $30 for
professionals and $15 for student members.
Educational Opportunities… Conferences,
workshops.
Legislative and Regulatory Advocacy…
actively promoting the profession at the state level.
Standards and Regulatory Advocacy… actively
promoting and advocating for the profession to JCAHO,
CARF, HCFA, and other healthcare related consortiums and
groups.
Network… Discussion thread web pages coming
soon!
Newsletter… published six times per year
containing timely information about the profession.
Web Site… providing access to professional
resources and direct links to ATRA and other TR sites.
Scholarship… opportunities for students to
attend national conferences with provisions for housing
and tuition assistance.
Join
ILRTA! Online Application Form
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| Additional Information
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| For additional information regarding
the Illinois Recreational Therapy Association contact us:
ILRTA, University of St. Francis
Attn: Ann Zito
500 Wilcox
Joliet, Illinois 60435
(815) 740-3691
ILRTA Website
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