Leisure Education: A Model Facilitating Community Integration for Moderately/Severely Mentally Retarded Adults

Authors

  • Alice B Pollingue
  • Hazel B Cobb

Keywords:

Leisure Skills, Community Integration, Moderately/Severely Retarded Adults, Age-Appropriateness

Abstract

Moderately. and severely retarded adults have traditionally either been excluded from
community recreation activities or involved in segregated programs. This article presents a
rationale for providing opportunities for mentally retarded adults to be integrated into
community recreation programs by reviewing current literature. The review focuses on
aequisition and generalization ofage-appropriate leisure skills, and critiques recent models
developed for community integration. Finally, the article presents a model designed to
facilitate community integration. The model is divided into three interrelated phases:
assessment, implementation, and evaluation. The first two phases are designed to be
conducted by a therapeutic recreation specialist or community service worker in the field
of mental retardation. Phase III can be implemented by parents/caregivers, and increases
the possibility that the leisure activity will be continued. The model is unique because it is
designed to circumvent the traditional programming problems of transportation, person..
nel, and finances. It provides a continuum of leisure options based on individual ability
level and available community recreation facilities.

Published

1986-07-01

Issue

Section

Programming