Recreation and Leisure for Disabled Persons

Being active is important for people with or without disabilities because it

• Reduces depression and anxiety
• Decreases morbidity and other illnesses associated with a sedentary life
• Improves balance and range of motion
• Improves well-being and quality of life
• Reduces boredom
• Develops self esteem through recreation participation
• Provides emotional and social support to participants
• Promotes good health and physical well being among participants!

Active leisure provides physical and mental well-being and long term wellness. This need may even be greater for people who live with a disability! Leisure activities provide social interaction and a welcome break from jobs and the routines of our lives. Additionally, the accomplishment of overcoming the many challenges of sports/activities builds confidence, self-esteem and promotes a mental and physical wellness. Although the two video clips are 9:32 each, you will be enlightened and truly appreciative of the information.

So What Happened to you Part 1 http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=disabled+people&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&emb=0&aq=1&oq=disabled+#q=disabled+people+recreation&hl=en&emb=0So What Happened to you Part 2 http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=disabled+people&www_google_domain=www.google.com&hl=en&emb=0&aq=1&oq=disabled+#q=disabled+people+recreation&hl=en&emb=0

Being a Floridian, I had to know how we provide recreation and leisure enjoyment for persons with disabilities. We have Florida Disabled Outdoors Association which promotes health and wellness and enhances the lives of people with disabilities through SportsAbility, Miracle League, Recreational Activity Program for Adults (RAPAD), Recreation Assistive Services and Technologies Alliance (RASTA), ALLOUT, and Inclusion programs.

I benefit from this link http://www.outdoor-sport-leisure.net/disabled.htmleisure.net/disabled.htmleisure.net/disabled.htm to Outdoor Sports and Leisure Activities for Disabled People because each sport describes the rehabilitation advantages for persons with disabilities. I think knowing which sports activity will provide enjoyment and therapy will help when choosing an activity to participate in.

This link http://www.nscd.org/pdf/nscd_fact_sheet.pdf is the fact sheet for National Sports Center for the Disabled. It is one of the nation’s largest therapeutic recreational organizations offering summer and winter programs. This organization provides adaptive recreation in over 20 sports to individuals with almost any physical, cognitive, emotional, or behavioral diagnosis. Disabilities served include ADD, Amputation, Arthritis, Autism, Behavioral Health, Bone Disorder, Brain Injury, Cerebral Palsy, Deafness, Developmental Disabilities, Diabetes, Down Syndrome, Epilepsy, Fragile X, Hemophilia, Learning Disabilities, Little People, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Disorder, Muscular Dystrophy, Nerve Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Paraplegia, Post-Polio, Quadriplegia, Respiratory Disorder, Spina Bifida, Spinal Cord Injury, Stroke, Substance Abuse, Vision Loss/Blindness.

Students Must Manage Their Finances

Students with and without disabilities can be responsible for their own finances. Parents and teachers can help children by teaching money matters when they are young. Students with disabilities can start managing their own finances by creating and maintaining a budget. Parents can guide children into making wise choices by presenting early financial decision opportunities. */*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\ This web site, http://kids.daveramsey.com/ demonstrates an opportunity for young children to start making wise choices. The read along sample book, Careless at the Carnival, is an outstanding example of what happens to money when budgeting plans are not followed. The link to "Learn from Ben and Arthur" shows the importance of compound interest and saving money NOW. */*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/ Sandy Shields has written an article titled Successful Budgeting for Students. The article is located at website http://www.chiff.com/a/budget-student.htm. In the article, she expresses the importance of a budget as well as addressing five key elements to manage a budget. She includes vital information about life style changes needed to spend money wisely. */*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/

http://financialplan.about.com/od/moneyandcollegestudents/l/blcollbudget.htm provides a printable Budget Worksheet for College Students. Students can make copies of the worksheet and practice maintaining their budget. */*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/*\*/ Budgeting Tips for Students is a video about the financial issues that students face when attending college. Listening to the video will make you aware of possible financial issues that you may face when attending college. Planning and managing a budget prior to college can prepare students to avoid some of the pitfalls seen in the video. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLZzsa4Ng3c

Students with Disabilities Transition to Employment

My specific focus is employment for students with disabilities. I believe it is important to understand yourself, what you want from a job and how to work well with others. If we understand what makes ourselves tick and what makes us happy, then we should be able to devise a plan to get there.

• The video shows persons with disabilities talking about Equal Opportunity for employment. Each spokesperson gives a recommendation to complete school and attend college. The video shows how persons with disabilities overcame stereotypes and challenges to become vital participants to their work team. The video is very motivating and talks about the importance of education for employment purposes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IMoyseLQ1rA
• Learning activity created by Carolyn Kalil, MA-This link leads to a Personality Quiz to evaluate your own personality traits. The results of the quiz will allow persons with disabilities to understand themselves as well as others. Understanding yourself can assist with making better choices for employment. http://www.truecolorscareer.com/quiz.asp
• True Success is an interactive guide for achieving career, academic and personal goals. It is designed as a youth or high school workbook. This workbook is an excellent tool for students with disabilities to focus on self-awareness and natural strengths for school, work and personal life. Self-awareness and knowledge of natural strengths are needed to make great career choices. http://www.truecolorscareer.com/TrueSuccess.htm
• This book, Follow Your True Colors to the Work You love, is written by Carolyn Kalil, MA. It allows persons with disabilities to “discover who you were meant to be,” along with “what you were born to do.” The book will guide you to your dream occupation. http://www.truecolorscareer.com/Book.htm