There may not be a card for it, but Happy National Therapeutic Recreation Week from Brevard Medical Equipment!  Therapeutic Rec week is the second week of July each year when the National Therapeutic Recreation Society (NTRS) works to raise awareness of therapeutic recreation.  They do this in order to help people with illnesses, disabilities, and other conditions develop and use their leisure in ways that enhance their health, functional abilities, independence, and quality of life.

The NTRS wants you to get involved so here are a few suggestions our team at Brevard Medical Equipment has gathered:

1. Are you civic minded? Ask to speak before your town board or city council about accessible recreation needs. Are trails and parks accessible? What about equipment in children’s parks? Talk to local disability groups about their needs and wants. Are there any big projects that they could use      backing on?
2. Ask your local leaders to proclaim “National Therapeutic Recreation Week.” The press will be great for the cause and an easy way to inform a lot of      people quickly.
3. Work with local disability groups to plan a community disability awareness event. These are often held at local malls or churches.
4. Present to your co-workers, civic group or church group on the benefits of therapeutic recreation. Make the event bigger by inviting equipment      vendors to demonstrate adaptive recreation equipment. There are many products out there including hand bikes and upper body exercisers.
5. If  you enjoy sports, try organizing a coaches’ seminar on recreational inclusion.  There are many benefits of sports for youth and adults with disabilities. Many sports already have adapted versions including basketball, soccer, tennis and volleyball.   Check out some of the amazing performances of the athletes at the 2012 Paralympics in London. The net great Olympian could be from your neighborhood.

You don’t have to be an Olympian to benefit from some of the great equipment at Brevard Medical Equipment. See us for everything from dressing aids to wound care treatment supplies.