IU digitizes recreation therapy videos

IU has made the entire collection of 23 videos produced by the Recreation Therapy Video Project available through streaming technology so they may be viewed by students on their home computers, in University classrooms and by recreation therapists in health-care centers.

A grant from the U.S. Department of Education to the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation supported the video project developed by David Austin, professor emeritus in the department of recreation, park and tourism studies.

The instructional videos cover a variety of topics, including therapeutic communication, professional ethics, clinical supervision, interacting with persons with disabilities, recreation therapy practice models, behavioral observation, documentation and the history of recreation therapy, according to an IU press release.

“This is a very significant event, not only for the IU recreation therapy program, but for the entire profession,” said Bryan McCormick, associate professor and coordinator of the therapeutic recreation specialization, in a statement. “These videos should be of use to recreation therapists and students preparing for careers in recreation therapy throughout the world – or for anyone wishing to learn more about recreation therapy.”

John Winninger, a senior producer and director with the IU Radio and Television Services, worked closely with Austin in producing the recreation therapy videos.

The video streaming was made possible through IUScholarWorks. IUScholarWorks is supported by IU Libraries and the IU Digital Library Program – a collaborative effort between IU Libraries and University Information Technology Services, according to a press release.

IUScholarWorks is managed by Julianne Bobay, associate dean for collection development and digital publishing with IU-Bloomington Libraries. IUScholarWorks librarian Jennifer Laherty was instrumental in overseeing the digitizing of the collection, according to a press release.

“IU is known for having one of the best university libraries and one of the best university technology environments,” Austin said in a statement. “I’m very appreciative that IU Libraries and the Digital Library Program has shown such support of recreation therapy by making the RTV videos available to the world.”