Recreational Therapy within Inclusive Postsecondary Education Programs: Exploring Knowledge, Beliefs, Feasibility, and Intentions of Administrators

Authors

  • Lindsey Ryan Oakes East Carolina University
  • Casey Weidner East Carolina University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18666/TRJ-2025-V59-I3-12690

Keywords:

Inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs, intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD), feasibility, intentions, Certified therapeutic recreation specialist (CTRS), therapeutic recreation, recreation therapy

Abstract

There are currently a total of 337 inclusive postsecondary education (IPSE) programs across the United States that are specifically designed to serve and support college students with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities (IDD). Although researchers within the field of therapeutic recreation and other related fields have established the potential of IPSE programs as a new work setting for Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists (CTRSs), IPSE programs and/or the college setting are still not reported as employment sites among CTRSs in the United States. The purpose of this exploratory, quantitative, survey research that utilized a cross-sectional design was to better understand knowledge and beliefs of administrative staff within IPSE programs across the United States regarding recreational therapy (RT) and CTRSs, as well as feasibility and intentions for hiring a CTRS within IPSE programs. A total of 48 administrative staff who each worked within a unique IPSE program within the United States completed a Qualtrics survey. Descriptive and correlational statistics revealed several notable findings and important implications for the field of therapeutic recreation in regard to increasing IPSE administrators’ awareness of RT, CTRSs, and benefits of RT services, as well as recommended directions for future research.

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Published

2025-07-23

Issue

Vol. 59 No. 3 (2025)

Section

Research Papers

License

Sagamore Publishing LLC (hereinafter the “Copyright Owner”)

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