Therapeutic Recreation Services breathes fresh air into city’s disabled services

By Cynthia Robertson

A little R&R does the body and soul good, everyone knows. Playing a game of ball, doing crafts or just hanging out with friends takes the mind off burdens and relaxes the muscles.

But for people with special needs, limited options can make enjoying leisure time with others a challenge. In San Diego, that’s where Therapeutic Recreation Services (TRS) steps in. A program of the city’s Park and Recreation Services, TRS offers all kinds of opportunities for disabled persons to form friendships with others while improving their quality of life through recreation.

“We serve people of all populations with different disabilities, such as cognitive, behavioral, physical, developmental, mental health, people in recovery, seniors programs and any other disability,” said Jonathan Richards, supervising recreation specialist. “This improves their physical, mental, social, emotional, behavioral health while participating with their peers.”

Youth on a nature hike, Courtesy City of San Diego, TRSweb — Therapeutic Recreation Services leads trips filled with outdoor activities in the San Diego region. (Courtesy of the city of San Diego)

Richards oversees many of the programs at TRS such as “Leisure Seekers,” “Transitional Youth,” “Adaptive Sports” and the “Beach Wheelchair Program.” These programs provide recreation for children and adults with disabilities. Through these programs, certified therapeutic recreation specialists work with disabled children and adults on social and recreational skill development, leisure education, appropriate behavior and recreation participation in inclusive environments.

Many times, TRS offers the only window on the outside world for its participants. This isolation stems from several factors.

One reason is the community’s lack of compliance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access guidelines. TRS provides a safe and accessible experience for all people to participate.

Another reason is affordability. Many people with disabilities have higher medical costs, which can typically lead to a lower socioeconomic status. TRS is able to keep costs low to participate in the programs, often by receiving discounted access to events and activities.

Transportation is typically another difficulty for disabled people. Factors such as cost, accessibility and ability to travel alone make opportunities for recreation and socialization infrequent. In some of the TRS programs, transportation assistance is offered.

More than 50,000 people take part in the recreational opportunities within the Disabled Services Section each year. The target demographic is incredibly broad: children and adults, ages 3 and up, with any type of disability.

“TRS is a unique-to-San Diego organization,” Richards said. “Most other organization’s missions are to serve a specific disability; whereas, TRS is the only organization that serves all people with any kind of disability.”

The programs are designed for each disability in mind. Some programs are designed for a specific disability group or age range.

Aquatics for All, Courtesy City of San Diego, TRS — A TRS outing in the San Diego Bay (Courtesy of the city of San Diego)

“Some of the favorite activities through TRS are our camps, dances and outings,” Richards said.

For 2015, some planned programs include bowling leagues, softball leagues, a Disneyland trip, a whale watching boat trip, recreational meetings of all kinds, hand cycling and holiday dances. Richards said their recent Halloween dance had more than 400 people in attendance.

Jennifer Gary has seen her son Caulden flourish in the company of others at the Kick Back Club, the dances and the summer camps.

“I was incredibly impressed by how safe I felt dropping him off the first time; I felt he was being well watched,” said Gary, adding that she appreciated the diversity of the kids participating in the activities.

“Caulden loves it,” she said.

A major funding agency for TRS is Disabled Services Advisory Council, Inc. (DSAC), a nonprofit run by the city of San Diego. DSAC serves as a liaison between the Park and Recreation Department and the community at large. It also administers contract programs for persons with disabilities and provides public relations and financial support to the Disabled Services Section.

“Through DSAC we are able to receive donations, apply for grants and generate revenue from special events or fundraisers. We rely heavily on the general public and foundations to assist with the funding of our programs. Also, since we are a program of the [city of San Diego], our salaries and facilities are paid by the City,” Richards said.

One of the biggest challenges for TRS is funding to keep the programs at a low cost for the participants. Without philanthropic assistance, costs for TRS programs could increase. TRS also offers scholarships for to help those with less means to participate in the programs.

“We pride ourselves on quality programming that is low in cost for the participants. Some programs are free,” Richards said.

TRS can always use volunteers. People of all ages, 13 and up, can volunteer, with camps being the most popular programs for volunteer opportunities. However, all of the programs benefit from volunteers. Call 619-525-8247 to inquire about opportunities.

—Contact Cynthia Robertson at [email protected].