Up to this point, the Recreational Therapist has participated in the Meet and Greet session, as well as conducted the
Intake Session. Rather than boring the individual supported with back-to-back-to-back housekeeping sessions, we
recommend delaying the initial assessment, so the following sessions can be designed for leisure. After all, the individual
signed up for recreation! Take time to build rapport with the individual supported. Placing demands and questioning from the
get-go might not provide a pleasant experience. Therefore, do what Recreational Therapists do best: have fun! For these
reasons, Assisted Independence requires the initial assessments to be completed within 30 days of the Intake Session. The
time frame provided should provide the Recreational Therapist with enough observation to confidently complete an accurate
assessment.
As mentioned previously in the items to receive from the Director of Recreational Therapy, Assisted Independence provides
the Recreational Therapist with an Assessment Bin. The Assessment Bin is a starter kit, consisting of a variety of toys and
games referenced in the assessment instructions.
Most Recreational Therapists learn during university coursework the necessity for assessments to be reliable and
valid, meaning individuals supported will score the same no matter what Recreational Therapists conduct the assessment,
the performance of the individuals supported will be scored the same no matter who is being assessed. Assisted
Independence believes strongly in formalized, initial assessments. Beginning Recreational Therapy treatment with a formalized, initial assessment helps align our field with clinical processes. In return, the future of our field will have possibilities to gain more recognition, hopefully from private insurance companies, which may provide more people access to Recreational Therapy.