(11-5-98) The National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) is pleased to announce the Call For Education Session Program Proposals for the 1999 NTRS Institute scheduled for Nashville, TN on October 20-24, 1999. Theme for the NTRS Institute is "Therapeutic Recreation is instrumental." The proposal deadline is set for December 1, 1998. Proposal forms may be secured from NTRS, National Recreation and Park Association, 22377 Belmont Ridge Road, Ashburn, VA 20148-4501, Phone (703) 858-2151, Fax (703) 858-2151 or e-mail to NTRSNRPA@aol.com.

It should be noted with the cancellation of the 1998 NRPA Congress in Miami due to the presence of Hurricane Georges, NTRS will be automatically submitting proposals from those session chairs and speakers from the Miami Institute who have indicated a desire to have their session submitted for the NTRS Institute in Nashville. Those individuals have been contacted by NRPA with a deadline of October 30 for their confirmation. This means those sessions will be included in the pool of 1999 NTRS Institute session proposals, with no guarantee for acceptance. In other words, all session proposals will be reviewed and evaluated on an equal basis. NTRS looks forward to another exciting and educational Intitute program.

Any inquiries or questions may be fielded by contacting Gary Thompson, CTRS, CLP, Chair, 1999 NTRS Institute Committee at (417) 836-4454 or fax at(417) 836-4200 or e-mail at mgt374f@mail.smsu.edu or contact Rikki Epstein, Executive Director, NTRS, at the above mentioned address.

(10-29-98) The National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) offers a unique internship or independent study opportunity each year to a therapeutic recreation graduate student. The NTRS Fred Humphrey Intern works at the National Recreation and Park Association's (NRPA) Public Policy Division office in Washington, DC and the NRPA Ahren's Institute in Ashburn, Virginia. Working closely with the NTRS Executive Director, the intern monitors public policy and legislative efforts in the areas of health care and human services, and issues related to aging and persons with disabilities. Involvement with national legislative coalitions, attendance at briefings and hearings on Capitol Hill, and preparation of testimony and action alerts are examples of the responsibilities of the position.

The internship is scheduled to begin in January, 1999 and continues through April, 1999. It is a full-time, 15-week internship, with a $200/week stipend.

The deadline for applications has been extended to November 15, 1998. If you know of a student who might be interested in this opportunity, please have them contact Rikki Epstein, NTRS Executive Director, at (703) 858-2151 or via e-mail at <NTRSNRPA@aol.com>.

If you would like additional information about the NTRS Fred Humphrey Internship Program or other resources available through NTRS, I encourage you to check out the NTRS website: http://www.nrpa.org/branches/ntrs.htm

Thanks in advance for any assistance you can provide in identifying prospective candidates for the NTRS Fred Humphrey Internship Program.

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(9-30-98) LARNet: The Cyber Journal of Applied Leisure and Recreation Research is an international online refereed journal, dedicated to the publication and distribution of scholarly research that makes an original contribution to the advancement of knowledge in leisure and recreation. The Journal encompasses a broad range of leisure and recreation topics, including (but not limited to): leisure behavior/theory, recreation and play, travel and tourism, government/municipal recreation, campus recreation, commercial recreation, Armed Forces recreation, employee recreation, recreational sports, voluntary/not-for-profit recreation, therapeutic recreation, outdoor recreation, parks, higher education/professional preparation, and recreation administration.

LARNet is sponsored by North Carolina Central University, the nation's first public HBCU. NCCU was founded in 1910 by Dr. James E. Shepard. Dr. Shepard's founding principle, "Truth ans Service" is NCCU's motto and one in which LARNet hopes to continue. Truth refers to research that strives to find it; Service refers to our commitment to recreation practitioners and educators. Truth in research, service in application.

LARNet: The Cyber Journal of Applied Leisure and Recreation Research is published with the hard work of its editorial board members and peer reviewers. LARNet: The Cyber Journal of Applied Leisure and Recreation Research is free of charge to individuals, libraries, academic and commercial organizations. Anyone with Internet access can read or download articles. This will assure the author an international audience. LARNet is part of a new publishing paradigm whereby the scholars themselves retain control over all aspects of the scholarly communication process.

LARNet is a member of the International Consortium of Alternative Academic Publication

Visit their web site at: http://www.icaap.org/

LARNet is now accepting manuscripts for consideration. Due to a lack of traditional publication and distribution restraints, LARNet has no deadline for article review and publication and can accept submissions in an "on-going" basis. Articles are reviewed in a timely and open fashion and can be immediately published at the conclusion of the review/decision/editorial process.

Submissions can be sent directly over the Internet via e-mail attachments or mailed on a 3.5" disk to:

Rob Stiefvater, Re.D., Editor
P.O. Box 19542
Durham, NC 27707

(9-27-98) Research indicates that people with mental retardation have very low levels of cardiovascular endurance. A lack of cardiovascular endurance often means the individual is unable to sustain long workdays or participate in leisure-time activities (e.g., hiking, swimming, biking) without becoming fatigued. A poor cardiovascular fitness level also translates into a higher risk of disability and death.

(9-27-98) Scientists from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reviewed bicycle deaths and injury data from 1984 through 1988 and found that some 1,000 people died each year from bicycle crashes. Head injury was involved in 62 percent of those deaths. Some 558,000 people sustained bicycle-associated injuries each year, and of those, 32.5 percent or 181,000 suffered head injuries. The CDC estimated that if all bicyclists had worn helmets during the five-year study period, one death could have been prevented every day and one head injury could have been prevented every four minutes (Sacks et al., 1991).

(9-27-98) Children and youth with disabilities need opportunities to enjoy recreational and leisure activities with others their age who do not have disabilities. (Schleien & Ray, 1988). Parents and children have always known the importance of integrated activities. Ask any group of parents, and they will tell you about informal ways - often creative and ingenious - in which children with disabilities have been involved in neighborhood play.

(9-27-98) Training in problem solving skills can be useful for persons with mental retardation and mental illness who are likely to have problem solving deficits. Of special interest is training to improve social or interpersonal problem solving, in contrast to cognitive problem solving. Training in social problem solving is often part of cognitive-behavioral treatment "packages" such as Valenti-Hein and Mueser's Dating Skills Program (reference 18) and Benson's Anger Management Program.

(7-8-98) Over the past ten years, there have been a number of significant reforms to enhance lifestyle opportunities for Australians with a disability. These have included major legislative and policy changes such as the Disability Services Act (1986), the Disability Reform Package (1991), the Disability Discrimination Act (1992), the Commonwealth State Disability Agreement (1992) and the Commonwealth Disability Strategy (1994) (CDHFS, 1994). While these reforms have directly contributed to the state provision of education, transportation, and accommodation services (ie. community housing or centre-based) (QDPC, 1997); and the federal provision of advocacy and employment services (CDHFS, 1994), the focus has not been upon the provision of recreation services for people with disabilities.

(7-8-98) The leisure socialisation process is a major factor in determining an individual’s perception about their leisure competence, leisure control and ensuing leisure involvement (Iso-Ahola, 1980). In the case of those who have experienced the effects of social deprivation, such as those people with high physical support needs, it is important to present them with the opportunity to restore or raise these perceptions. Considering that people with and without high support needs alike seek computer game play experiences, it was suggested that integrated computer game play may hold the catalytic properties necessary for the restoration of perceived competence and control levels (Roarty, 1985; Liverton, 1997; Hanley, 1996). In an effort to substantiate this claim, the effect of computer game play upon levels of leisure competence and control was investigated.

(7-8-98) Fulfilling leisure experiences are vital for all members of the community as they offer relief from the daily pressures of life and provide the opportunity to attain a lifestyle that is healthy and optimistic (Hamlyn,1995). If Australia’s 20,000 children and adults with a neuromuscular disorder (MDAA, 1996) stand to gain these benefits, they need greater access to sought after leisure experiences, and assistance in overcoming the most constraining of barriers. Despite having knowledge about the aforementioned benefits, very few service providers currently facilitate leisure experiences chosen by people with a neuromuscular disorder. To a large extent inadequate service provision can be attributed to a lack of appropriate information.

(3-3-98) Microsoft and Sony will provide more than $30,000 in software and hardware to be distributed through competitive grants at National Council On Aging's Annual Conference. The grant competition challenges aging service professionals to present innovative programming for older adults that incorporates computer technology. The organizations that come up with the most creative plans will get tools to put their ideas into action.

NCOA is delighted and honored that Microsoft has agreed to join in the process of identifying the best ways to effectively employ technology in our senior service facilities. The grant submissions will be combined to create a national database of model programs, available to all participants.

Only confirmed conference participants can submit their proposals for consideration. Don't miss this opportunity to compete for thousands of dol-lars in technological tools. Register for NCQA's 48th Annual Conference in Washington D.C. before March 9, 1998 to receive a grant application.

For more information visit NCOA's web page at www.ncoa.org or call (202) 479-6998.

by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan

Special to SRD BULLETIN from Dr. Tzipporah Benavraham, People to People Committee on Disability, New York City and Washington, D.C.

(2-9-98) United Nations, New York -- United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan made the following statement on the occasion of the recent International Day of Disabled.

More than 500 million men, women and children suffer some mental, physical or sensory impairment, making people with disabilities one of the world's largest minorities. In developed and developing countries alike, people with disabilities face discrimination and are found disproportionate among the poorest strata of society. This is a "silent crisis".

Rights of People with Disabilities. The United Nations, since its founding, has been at the center of global efforts to promote the well-being and rights of people with disabilities.

The World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons, adopted by the General Assembly in 1982, and the United Nations Standard Rules on Equalization of Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, adopted in 1993, represent political and moral commitments by Member States to enhance disability prevention, to improve rehabilitation and other services, and to fight against prejudice.

"ARTS, SPORTS, DISAIBLITIES". The theme of this year's observance of International Day of Disabled Persons -- "Arts, Sports and Disabilities" -- highlights the achievements and contributions of artists and athletes with disabilities. Arts and sports play a vital role in preparing people with disabilities for learning and career success.

Participation nurtures the independence and self-worth of persons with disabilities, and contributes to the cultural and economic life of their communities. This, in turn, can help bring about positive changes in public attitudes ...

BAN LANDMINES. The International Campaign to Ban Landmines, winner of the Nobel Peace Prize for 1997 ... [has] been highly successful in raising pubic awareness about the devastating impact of anti-personnel mines on people and societies, and in achieving agreement on a worldwide ban.

With an estimated 110 million mines and pieces of unexploded ordnance already in the ground around the world, it is my great hope that the landmark Convention on the prohibition of mines ... will help put an end to the terror and disability wrought by these terrible weapons.

People with disabilities possess an enormous reservoir of talent and energy that must be tapped. On the International Day of Disabled Persons, let us remember that the world is not monolithic; and, let us renew our pledge to do our utmost to build a world in which every citizen can participate fully and actively.

Start Planning Now for National Therapeutic Recreation Week, July 12-18, 1998

at NTRS home page

This year’s theme is "Therapeutic Recreation—Staying on Course in a Sea of Change." The 1998 theme aims to educate internal and external audiences about the benefits of therapeutic recreation in this day of mergers, reorganizations, and buyouts of hospitals and health care organizations.

During the nationwide celebration, agencies and individuals host health fairs, career days, festivals, wheelchair athletic events, workshops, receptions, information booths and open houses. Proclamations, press releases, articles and public service announcements also help enhance awareness during National Therapeutic Recreation Week.

submitted by Ellen K. Mathia, Indiana Universtiy

(Feb 2, 1998, BLOOMR\IGTON, Ind.) -- David Austin, professor ofthenpeutic recreation in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation (HPER) at Indiana University, was recently selected to receive the Distinguished Fellow Award from the American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA)-- his third national professional award.

The ATRA honor recognizes Austin as a professional in therapeutic recreation who has achieved highegt regard from peen, and ii adolowledges his leadership. dedicafion. contributions and overall impact on the profession.

Previously the recipient of Distingoished Fellow Awards from the National Therapeutic Recreation Society and the Society of Park and Recreation Educators, Austin is believed to be the only individual to have received all three of the highest honors attainable in his profession.

Austin is also coordinator of distance learning for the TZI Department ofIiecreation and Park Administration.

[RESOURCE: U.S. Disabled Athletes Fund, Inc., SPECIAL RECREATION DISGEST UPDATE, 98-1-23, Pub/Ed by John Nesbitt]

(ATLANTA, Jan. 22 /PRNewswire) BLAZE, the colorful and highly popular mascot for the 1996 Paralympic Games, and the ongoing representative of athletes with physical disabilities, is back in Georgia adorning the most colorful license tag ever offered in the State. Part of the proceeds from the sale of the license tag will benefit the US Disabled Athletes Fund (USDAF), the successor organization to the Atlanta Paralympic Organizing Committee, and the sponsor of statewide competitive sports programs for youth and young adults with physical disabilities.

''The BLAZE license tag was a very big seller in 1996 and we expect that it will be again. Already the sports programs that it will help support are changing the lives of young people with physical disabilities across Georgia - - bringing values to these youths through competitive sports and positioning them for more productive lives,'' stated Andy Fleming, President of the US Disabled Athletes Fund, Inc.

The BLAZE license tag is priced as a prestige tag and carries a one-time $25 manufacturing fee and an annual charge of $25. The tag can be renewed each year throughout the next four-year tag cycle for the annual fee only.

The mission of the US Disabled Athletes Fund is to advance the disability sports movement in the United States so as to improve the quality of life and economic self-sufficiency of Americans with physical disabilities. For further information, contact USDAF at 770-850-8199.