Therapeutic Recreation Leadership Summit Sessions

Do you have a hard time keeping a team member’s attention? Feel like they’re easily distracted or not valuing your time together? Or has the coworker disclosed that they have been diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and has asked for your support? You are not alone. As the number of adult diagnoses increases and medication availability decreases, the need for a compassionate and supportive workplace is strong. Join this session to learn a little more about ADHD, gain insight into how ADHD brains work best, and how you can help support a successful working relationship. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify what ADHD tendencies, barriers, and superpowers may be influencing your coworker’s performance. 2. Develop a list of potential workflow, interaction, and/or environmental modifications. 3. Generate a list of action items that can collaboratively leverage your coworker’s strengths.

All behavior has meaning! Understanding the ways in which children take in, process, and respond to sensory information enables teachers to have an alternative lens through which to observe and interpret behavior, as well as to enhance their curriculum and environmental design especially for young children with disabilities. In this workshop participants will learn about the 'lesser known' sensory systems, the interrelated components of sensory processing and the concepts of sensory modulation and sensory threshold. Time will also be spent discussing the possible meanings of specific behaviors and, more importantly, how to help the children who demonstrate these behaviors. The role of the stress response system will be introduced as a means to support alternative interpretations of behavior from a neuroscience perspective. The importance of cue reading will be examined as a window into understanding each child's unique sensory-neurological profile. The session will conclude with an interactive discussion of the practical ways in which this information can be utilized in an educational setting. We will also discuss ways to analyze these modifications in order to know if they are working. Learning Objectives: 1. Name the 8 sensory systems, identify receptor organs and describe developmental influence. 2. Identify, describe and apply the five interrelated components of sensory processing in the service of understanding behavior 3. Explain the concept of a neurological threshold and behaviorally describe four categories of self-regulating profiles.

This interactive session explores the relationship between therapeutic recreation professionals and parks and recreation professionals, as both groups serve people with disabilities. Strategies for collaboration with the best interests of people with disabilities will be shared. Learning Objectives: 1. Attendees will discuss the similarities in training and skills of TR and parks and recreation pros 2. Attendees will discuss court decisions and settlement agreements regarding the inclusion mandate 3. Attendees will discuss strategies that enable a better quality of life for all

This session will explore how cultivating a curious mindset encourages growth and efficiency. Learning practical techniques for managing time to become better prepared for current responsibilities and new opportunities. Being organized not only clears the mental clutter but also creates a proactive space for learning and adapting. By the end of the session, you'll leave with actionable strategies that you can apply immediately to stay ahead of your workload, develop new skills, and lead with confidence. This session provides the blueprint for anyone looking to maintain continuous curiosity about their growth. Learning Objectives: 1. Foster a culture of efficiency through organization: Learn how being organized can help streamline your daily tasks, support others in their growth and help your agency improve collective efficiency. 2. Master administrative tools: Explore essential organizational tools and other administrative techniques to help maintain order and reduce time wasted on repetitive tasks. 3. Overcome the franticness of last-minute tasks: Learn how to stay ahead of your work and organized with re-occurring tasks that can eliminate stress and make seemingly chaotic deadlines more manageable.

At Lyman Woods we spend as much time as possible outdoors for programming, especially during camps and preschool. Our environment can seem like a limiting factor for participants that need accommodations due to physical or behavioral needs, but we have been successful in expanding our inclusion in recent years. This success can be attributed to creating working relationships with parents, staff, and the participants, finding unique solutions for each individual, and knowing our limitations. I would like to highlight the success of a few participants and discuss some examples of when we were not the right fit. Through these case studies I will walk you through our decision-making process, share successes and set backs, and outline the check points we try to keep coming back to throughout a program. I’m excited to highlight one of our NaturePlay School students and his dramatic growth between his first and second year of school. Our summer camp participant that had an amazing time at camp but would have been turned away without the investment of his family, and a current student that while still trying to find the best support plan has been showing many positive changes. I’m also going to talk about some students/participants that we weren’t the right fit for and how we came to that conclusion along with their families and the suggestions we had for them moving forward. I’d like this to be an honest discussion about concerns, steps forward, set-backs, and get audience feedback on how they would handle the same situations. Hopefully, through highlighting these children we can showcase each participant as an individual and show that one solution never fits all. Learning Objectives: 1. Find multiple solutions to a difficult ask 2. How to work closer with families 3. When to adjust accommodations 4. When to be directly involved

Beyond the Buzz: Practical AI Workshop Are you searching for ways to use AI tools, but struggling to transition from “Wow!” to “How?” Join HR Source's own Blaise Adams and Ben Opp for a dynamic and interactive AI workshop, applying the power of generative AI tools like ChatGPT to real-world professional tasks and responsibilities. You’ll learn how Large Language Models work, how to use them ethically and responsibly, and how to optimize results through masterful prompt writing. Our real-world examples will deliver an AI boost to your creativity, efficiency, and analysis, starting today! Learning Objectives: 1. Attendees will gain an understanding of the basic conceptual underpinnings of Large Language Models (LLMs) and LLM-based tools like ChatGPT. 2. Attendees will learn a framework for determining whether a particular LLM/AI use case is safe or unsafe from diverse perspectives such as accuracy, bias, and legality. 3. Attendees will be empowered through real-world examples to experiment with integrating LLMs into their workflows in new ways.

During this presentation, participants will learn how to effectively support individuals with disabilities in managing their mental health. The session will begin by increasing understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by individuals with disabilities, including how various types of disabilities can intersect with emotional and psychological well-being. Attendees will explore a variety of practical strategies to support mental well-being in this population, with an emphasis on inclusive, strengths-based approaches that can be adapted across settings such as schools, community programs, healthcare environments, and caregiving situations. In addition to gaining new knowledge and tools, participants will access a curated list of resources and tools to use when working with individuals with disabilities experiencing mental health difficulties. All attendees will also receive handouts and materials to reinforce learning and support future application of the strategies discussed. Learning Objectives: 1. Increase understanding of the unique mental health challenges faced by individuals with disabilities 2. Explore a variety of practical strategies to support mental well-being in this population 3. Access a curated list of resources and tools to use when working with individuals with disabilities experiencing mental health difficulties

Developing and managing a successful athletic program requires more than just a passion for sports, it demands planning, effective leadership, and a commitment to fostering a positive environment for athletes and staff. This training session is designed to provide supervisors with the skills and knowledge to create and maintain athletic programs. Participants will learn how to recruit, mentor qualified coaches, and manage conflicts. By the end of the session, supervisors will be prepared to lead programs that promote athlete development, teamwork, and fun for all! Learning Objectives: 1. Develop Effective Coaching Leadership Equip supervisors with strategies to recruit and mentor coaches, as well as foster a cohesive and effective team environment. 2. Implement Best Practices in Program Management Educate supervisors on the principles and best practices of athletic program delivery including staff training and program preparation. 3. Enhance Conflict Resolution Skills Provide supervisors with techniques to manage conflicts and facilitate constructive conversations with parents, athletes and staff, promoting a positive and collaborative atmosphere.

Through this presentation participants will learn how to identify Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and how to support students in their classroom, regardless if the ACEs are identifiable. Participants will reflect on how to care for self while they care for others. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will understand how ACEs impede learning and judgment. 2. Participants will evaluate how toxic stress impacts learning. 3. Participants will analyze how self-care and mindfulness support their role as educators.

This lively session is designed to bring together leaders from Special Recreation Associations for an open, collaborative, and slightly caffeinated discussion on how to mentor and empower the next wave of professionals without burning out in the process. We’ll explore how to turn “just out of college” into “future department leader” with real-life strategies, shared challenges (we know, we know—the group text etiquette alone), and actionable steps to keep young professionals on the path to growth and success. Whether you're a mentor, a manager, or just trying to get to the next step in your career path, this session will have something for everyone. Learning Objectives: 1. Identify the core competencies and characteristics that make young professionals not just promising—but promotable. 2. Develop strategies to provide meaningful growth opportunities, such as leadership training, cross-department collaboration, and giving them just enough responsibility to shine—without needing a fire extinguisher. 3. Assess the common (and uncommon) challenges young professionals face, from navigating our non-traditional field to figuring out what “business casual” actually means and build thoughtful approaches to guide them through it.