Advanced Recreation Therapy

The Full Story

What started as a 1,200-mile hand-cycle ride from Boston to Atlanta, has turned into JTF’s second initiative: Advanced Recreation Therapy (ART). Returning to life post-injury is critical in overcoming limitations to lead fulfilling lives. ART provides individuals with the opportunity to access new adventures to explore an inaccessible world with a disability while creating lasting memories. Our goal is to allow young adults to reintegrate back into society, and do the things they often feel are impossible. Through ART, a disability doesn’t prevent an individual from trying new things but rather encourages them to find new ways to be active in society after a traumatic injury. Guided by knowledgeable staff, people can focus on learning new skills to overcome limitations and find independence.

JTF's "Fun Fund"

In June of 2023, JTF initiated its first ART collaboration, funding the adolescent program at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta, GA. Recreation therapy is a pivotal program that allows individuals new to SCI to have the opportunity for experiences while guided by Shepherd staff. Outings and recreation play a key part in returning to society with a disability, and helps in learning new ways to do the things we love to do, while boosting independence and mental health.

"This life-changing experience has changed my perspective on my injury as a whole. Being surrounded by so much joy and such a diverse set of people has taught me so much about how I can pivot and live a long life as a person with a spinal cord injury. I had never been skiing even before my injury and being able to try this as open my eyes to an entire new sport."

Paris Carter, 2024 ART Participant

Residence: Georgia

Activity: Mono-ski

Where: Park City, Utah

When: January, 2024

Program: Adolescent Program; Shepherd Center

From "I can't," to "I can"

Shepherd Center’s renowned Recreational Therapy program offers a tremendous array of rehabilitation opportunities. From one’s customized inpatient rehabilitation regimen to a potential multitude of off-campus excursions that inspire community and build confidence. These adventures and excursions are very costly in transportation, staffing, and admission fees, but they are priceless to the patients who are experiencing them. Atlanta offers many exciting opportunities to travel off campus and enjoy building critical life skills and managing public areas with new challenges. Adolescent patients would love to attend sporting events, concerts, theatre, the Georgia Aquarium, Atlanta Zoo, World of Coke, Top Golf, Stone Mountain, Skyview Atlanta, College Football Hall of Fame, seasonal holiday lights viewing at the Atlanta Botanical Gardens, hand-cycling the Silver Comet Trail or even pumpkin picking at a nearby farm or fishing on the Chattahoochee River. These occasions to be out and about, and learning to navigate, are coveted by patients and staff alike. The profound way they impact the rehabilitation of mind, body, and spirit is immeasurable. These are true “I can’t” to “I can” moments at their finest!

Thank you to our sponsors, donors, and community who made this possible. We will be sure to share stories from Atlanta while this new partnership gets underway! This is beyond therapy — a new way to push the boundaries of an often inaccessible world.