2017 ITRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Conference Title
April 6th & April 7th, 2017
University of Northern Iowa
Plan Now to Attend!
Whether you work at a recreation facility, long-term care facility,
hospital, clinic or school, you’ll…
 Uncover the latest resources and techniques for therapeutic
recreation professionals.
 Share best practices and ideas with your colleagues.
 Visit exhibits and attend sessions addressing the very issues
you are currently tackling.
Sponsored by the Iowa Therapeutic Recreation Association; UNI School of
Health, Physical Education and Leisure Services; UNI College of Education;
and Training Resources.
ITRA ANNUAL CONFERENCE
Involve Me, I Learn
Pre-Conference Session, Thursday, April 6th
Pre-Conference Keynote Address
Sean Peterson,PhD, BCBA
Sean is the Clinical Director of the Pier Center for Autism in Sioux City, IA. He is a Board Certified Behavior
Analyst and began working in the field of behavior analysis as a graduate student at Texas Christian
University. Sean has been working with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities for
over a decade. In May 2016, he completed his Ph.D. in Applied Behavior Analysis through the University
of Nebraska Medical Center’s Munroe-Meyer Institute. He has a passion for serving those with special
needs and enjoys working to meet the needs of individuals with autism.
Thursday Schedule Overview
1:30-2:00 pm
2:00-5:00 pm
Registration
Pre-Conference Session (.3 CEU)
2:00-5:00 pm Keynote
Autism and Behavior: At the Intersection of Therapy and Recreation
Sean Peterson, PhD, BCBA
This presentation will focus on the unique diagnostic features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and how they
pertain to therapeutic recreation. Behavior of all individuals is functional, this is no different when caring for an
individual with ASD; the current presentation will center on the 4 most common environmental correlates of
behavior. Due to the broad avenues of therapeutic recreation an individual may encounter a person with ASD,
treatment elements will be considered for short, moderate, and long term care.
Conference Sessions, Friday, April 7th
Friday Morning Keynote Address
Nate Staniforth, Magician
For over a decade, Nate has toured the US college circuit as one of the
busiest wor king magicians in the country. He’s given a TEDx Talk,
lectured at the world-fam ous Oxford Union, and in 2018 the Harry Potterfamed Bloomsbury Publis hing will release Nate’s memoir in bookstores
worldwide. Here is Real M agi c follows Nate's evolu t ion from obsessed
wunderkind to disillusion ed wanderer, and tells the story of his
rediscovery of astonishment—and the importance of wonder in everyday
life—during a trip to the India, where he infiltrated a 3,000 -year-old clan
of street magicians.
Friday Afternoon Keynote Address
Dianne Morris Jones LMHC, CDWF-C
Dianne Morris Jones is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Certified Daring
Way™ Facilitator and Consultant (CDWF-C) practicing at Family Legacy Counseling in Des
Moines, Iowa. She has a degree in Family Finance from Texas Tech University and a
master’s degree in Counseling from West Texas A&M University. Dianne is an energetic
and creative person who approaches life and her professional counseling with an
enthusiasm for growth in wholehearted living. She practices individual and couples
therapy from a mindful, cognitive behavioral approach. Dianne is multi-faceted in her
practice, incorporating various learning environments in addition to one-on-one
counseling. Her clinical focus includes working with depression, anxiety, relationship
issues, trauma, and life transitions.
Friday Schedule Overview
7:15-7:50 am
7:50-8:00am
8:00-9:30 am
9:40-11:40 am
11:40am-1pm
12:00-1:00pm
1:10-2:40 pm
2 :50-3:50pm
4:00-5:00 pm
Registration
Welcome
Opening Keynote Address (.15 CEU)
Concurrent Session 1 (.2 CEU)
Resource Fair
Lunch & Business Meeting
Afternoon Keynote Address (.15 CEU)
Concurrent Session 2 (.1 CEU)
Concurrent Session 3 (.1CEU)
Opening Keynote Address: 8:00-9:30 am
Creating Magic, Illusion, and Astonishment
Nate Staniforth, Magician
The Arc of Southeast Iowa has been providing care to individuals with disabilities for over 60 years in
Iowa City and surrounding areas. In recent years, The Arc has expanded its camp programs, afterschool programs, and is looking to expand its Pre-K programs as well. The act of playing is essential to
children to learn basic relationship skills, fine and gross motor skill, creativity, and to be better
prepared to be community citizens. This presentation will look at the importance of play for all
individuals and will discuss what The Arc has and is doing to encourage more places of play for
individuals of all ability levels.
Concurrent Session 1
9:40-11:40 am
1A. Preference Assessment – These Are a Few of My Favorite Things
Sean Peterson, PhD, BCBA
Participants in this presentation will walk away understanding how to identify preferred items of activities for
their consumers. Participants will get hands on experience in participating in and completing a preference
assessment
1B. Meaningful Activities for End of Life
Jenna Nevins, BS, CTRS
This presentation is designed to discuss the implementation and benefit of meaningful, failure free, sensorial
activities in an end of life setting.
1C. Cultural Humility: Concepts for Recreation Therapists When Working with LGBTQIA+ Individuals
Sarah McMillian, MOT, OTR/L
In order to best serve our clients, we have to understand their needs. While each individual is unique, research has
shown specific health disparities and needs for various populations. This training will help you to understand the
needs of gender and sexual minority
1D. Cross Cultural Assessment Part 1& 2
Rodney, Dieser, PhD, CTRS, tLMHC
Part1: TR Cross-Cultural Assessment & Communication
The United States is becoming more diverse with each passing day. Just related to ethnicity, and not to other
dimensions of diversity, the U.S. Bureau of the Census suggests by 2060 non-Hispanic White people will represent
less than 50% of the population. This session, which will primarily be based on experiential learning and member
participation, will focus on cross-cultural communication as it relates to cross-cultural assessment.
Part 2: Basic Principles in TR Cross-Cultural Assessment
The primary purpose of this presentation is to adapt the context-phase-stage-style (CPSS) model, also known as
the Developmental Constructivist Model for Ethical Assessment, from the field of cross-cultural mental health
counseling into the field of therapeutic recreation. The CPSS model is an interactive assessment framework to gain
information about clients related to how their cultural identity and social contexts are related to their presenting
problem and leisure behaviors.
Resource Fair - 11:40am – 1pm
A new opportunity to network with local agencies and learn about their programs and services for people with
disabilities.
Lunch/Business Meeting - 12:00 pm-1:00 pm
Afternoon Keynote Address - 1:10-2:40pm
Opening the Gift of Compassion – Exploring a Mindful and Fresh Perspective of Seeing, Hearing and
Understanding One Another
Diane Jones, LMCH, CDWF-C
We will creatively and interactively explore the concept of examining a mindful and fresh perspective on ways to
1) “see” moments from a different angle, 2) “hear” to listen deeply and 3) “understand” how observing our own
stories can lead to more compassionate responses with ourselves, with one another and with our clients.
Concurrent Session 2 - 2:50-3:50 pm
2A. Rhythm of Life: A Beneficial Drumming Program for Adults with Intellectual Disabilities
Jessica Larson
The presenter will present on her experience of creating and implementing her graduate project while on
internship at Camp High Hopes in Sioux City, IA. The graduate project was a program developed to guide
participants through an empowerment focused drumming program that created a safe environment to build
community, explore emotional expression, and try new physically engaging activities. The presentation will
consist of background information and research, methods of the program through the Therapeutic Recreation
APIE process, and a summarization of the findings and evaluation. Besides giving an overview of the graduate
project, the presenter will also provide opportunity to experience beneficial drumming first hand.
2B. Paralympic Sports Club/Adaptive Sports
Jena Munson, CTRS & Janel Nielson, CTRS
The presentation will focus on developing and understanding of what it means to be involved with a Paralympic
Sports Club. The presentation will focus on developing an understanding of a variety of adaptive sport
opportunities for persons with disability along with identifying equipment needs and resources in order to offer
an adaptive sports program.
2C. Finding a Home for Inclusive Recreation in Therapeutic Recreation
Patricia Ardovino, PhD, CTRS, CPRP
This session focuses on the concept of Inclusive Recreation and asks these questions: How does Inclusive
Recreation fit in the profession of Therapeutic Recreation? Do current models of TR services support Inclusive
Recreation? What responsibilities do CTRSs have to provide Inclusive Recreation? The concept of Inclusive
Recreation will be reviewed and examples of how CTRSs provide Inclusive Recreation will be given.
2D. Providing Therapeutic Activities and Games to Assess Treatment Goals
Robyn Eisenbach, CTRS
Presentation on providing therapeutic activities to assess treatment goals. Presenter will introduce games and
activities that can be utilized in various settings. Presenter will demonstrate various ways to modify activities to
meet patient's and treatment goal needs. Presenter will discuss ways of providing a therapeutic environment to
help promote success.
2E. The Importance of Play
Jorja Ludeking, Development and Compliance Director, Arc of Southeast Iowa
The Arc of Southeast Iowa has been providing care to individuals with disabilities for over 60 years in Iowa City
and surrounding areas. In recent years, The Arc has expanded its camp programs, after-school programs, and is
looking to expand its Pre-K programs as well. The act of playing is essential to children to learn basic relationship
skills, fine and gross motor skill, creativity, and to be better prepared to be community citizens. This presentation
will look at the importance of play for all individuals and will discuss what The Arc has and is doing to encourage
more places of play for individuals of all ability levels.
Concurrent Session 3 - 4:00-5:00pm
3A. Project Search
Sydney Hinders, BS, CTRS & Amy Bakker, MS, CTRS
Project Search, an international employment training program, offers adults with intellectual disabilities the
opportunity to perfect work skills, which in turn will help them secure a job in the community. In this session, we
will discuss this excellent program, as well as dive into the effects of Leisure on employment success.
3B. Cyber-Seniors: How to Teach Older Adults About Technology
Kari Santos, MA, CTRS
Many older adults are curious about the internet and technological advances, but often they are hesitant to ask
questions about it. This presentation will discuss how to incorporate technology programs in your community.
We'll start with why it's important to have technology programming for Older Adults. Next is "Technology 101" making sure you know it before you try to teach it. Then we'll move into real stories of what has successfully
worked for technology programs, followed by humorous stories of what did not work. Finally, we will wrap up
with program tricks and trips, Apps and web pages that are beneficial, and how you can get started in your own
community (or how you can continue these types of programs).
3C. Recreation in Institutions: Opening a Portal
Ken Mobily, PhD, CTRS, Professor
The purpose of the presentation is to describe the role of recreation in institutions based on connecting with the
external environment. The argument is based on a broader concept of increasing institutional "permeability"
through ritual activities outlined by Erving Goffman in his book "Asylum".
3D. Innovative Activities
University of Northern Iowa TR Students
The UNI students will present on adaptive games that professionals can use in their every day jobs. The UNI students
will present games that are adaptive for many disabilities. Students and professionals will come together and build on
ideas that would work at their facilities. This session is 100% participation! The session will help the students learn
how to adapt games from CTRS / TRS professionals.
Conference Information
DATE, TIME AND LOCATION
Thursday, April 6, 2017 1:30-5:00pm
Friday, April 7, 2017 7:15 am-5:00pm
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA
Wellness/Recreation Center (WRC)
ACCOMODATIONS
ITRA room blocks reserved for April 6, 2017 at:
REGISTRATION
Register online at www.trainingresources.com or
submit attached registration form with additional $20
manual processing fee.
COST
Registration includes all sessions, parking permit, .
refreshments, exhibits, lunch and one year ITRA
Membership.
CEUs
Check the box on your registration to receive CEUs.
There is a $10.00 charge.
CANCELLATION
Please see the Training Resources website for
cancellation policy.
Country Inn & Suites
2910 S. Main St; Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-268-1800
Room rate is $107.00 plus applicable taxes
AmericInn
5818 Nordic Drive, Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-277-6166
Room rate is $103.99 plus applicable taxes
ITRA block rates are valid until March 6, 2017
PARKING
Parking is available north of the WRC in Section R
A permit and map will be mailed to the address
listed on your Training Resources profile. Lost
permits may be replaced for $1.25.
CONNECT WITH ITRA
www.iowatra.org
Conference Registration
NOTE– register online at www.trainingresources.org and save a $20 data entry (paper registration fee!)
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Confirmation will be sent electronically to those who register by the March 23, 2017 deadline and provide a valid email address. Directions to the site will be
included in the letter. A $35.00 processing fee will be withheld for cancellations received prior to the registration deadline. No refunds for cancellations will
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are responsible for the full registration amount. For more information, call 515-309-3315.