Home and Community Recreation Therapy

04/07/2026

We hope today's ⭐ Tuesday Testimonial ⭐ inspires you this spring!

“I’ve been working with a Recreational Therapist for over a year now. It’s kind of hard for me to meet people because I live on a farm; most of my friends are cows and chickens! Also, I can’t drive a car because of my TBI. Kellie helps me find, and get to, opportunities to meet people. In the past, I’ve made friends with a couple of the other clients I met through the group outings with Recreation Therapy. We went out to dinner, went bowling and went fishing at a picnic we all had. Fishing is a hobby of mine.

One of my goals was to make my garden bigger and to be able to sell more produce from my veggie stand. Kellie helped me learn to build a grow light stand to start seedlings; it was fun to put together. Then we planted the seedlings in raised garden beds and used adaptive gardening. This helped me be safer and more independent with my garden this year. I already have some ideas about making it better for next year.”

- Caleb

04/02/2026

🌲 No trail should be off-limits & thanks to the Michigan DNR there are many trails in our beautiful great state that aren't. The MI DNR offers free off-road track chairs at 30+ state parks across the state & they're built to go where traditional wheelchairs can't. Think sandy beaches, snowy trails, & even up to 8 inches of water.

🌲 Available at no cost
🌲 First-come, first-served with advance reservations recommended - some parks ask you to call while others offer online reservation systems & further details about each park are included further down in this post
🌲 Service animals are always welcome
🌲 Locations are statewide from Grand Haven to Tahquamenon Falls

These electric all-terrain chairs are part of the DNR's commitment to making Michigan's wild places accessible to everyone. Know someone who would love this? Tag them below! 👇

🔗 Find your nearest location & reserve: michigan.gov/dnr/about/accessibility/track-chairs

04/01/2026

This week's ⭐ testimonial ⭐ is short & simple!
"I feel more on the social side thanks to Recreation Therapy. I like that side! I feel adventurous." - HCRT Client

Stay tuned because tomorrow we share all you need to know about track chairs (pictured!)

03/27/2026

Sharing a free resource for those with Traumatic Brain Injuries:

To celebrate Brain Injury Awareness Month, Hope Survives is hosting an accessible virtual benefit concert centered on hope, inspiration, shared presence, and community voices - featuring music from Cristabelle Braden with Chrys Dolcé, along with encouragement from other special guests.

📍Virtual
💲Free
📆 Tuesday, March 31st, 2026
⏱️ 7 PM Eastern

Click on the link to get your ticket and access to the replay:

An Evening to Be Here A virtual benefit concert of music & community to celebrate Brain Injury Awareness Month 2026for anyone to attend and enjoy! To celebrate Brain Injury Awareness Month, Hope Survives is hosting an accessible virtual benefit concert centered on hope, inspiration, shared presence,...

03/26/2026

🧠Therapy Thursday: TBI Awareness Month

Getting out into the community when you have a traumatic brain injury can be rewarding but also challenging. Our Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialists are trained to assist with these considerations. This is what defines going out into the community different than a recreational therapy session. We can provide resources, guidelines, support and advocation for the needs of our clients.

03/24/2026

Testimonial Tuesday ⭐️

Community integration for our clients means much more than accessing the community. We include our clients in the planning process. We build traditions like going to a Mardi Gras party every year. This allows our clients to find purpose and meaning in accessing the community. They are learning about different locations, traditions and cultures. Here we learned about an instrument called a frottior which is a washboard instrument played in Cajun music.

03/21/2026

⭐️ Community event spotlight ⭐️ because our clients had an awesome time at iFly!

📍 Where: iFLY Detroit - 26975 Adell Center Drive in Novi
📌 When: Wednesday, March 25th - Call/email Program Coordinator, Andy Heins, to secure your spot & schedule an arrival time between 6-8pm. Contact Info: andy.heins@iflydetroit.com (313) 730-4359
🤩 Media Coverage: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ7kw66sx3Q

Our All Abilities program couldn't create superhero's without your attendance! We continue to encourage anyone with a physical and/or cognitive barrier, to push past their limitations and take flight at a special discounted rate of only $59.99! Space is limited for this All Abilities event, so please contact us as soon as possible if you plan on attending!

03/19/2026

Therapy Thursday 💙 | TBI Awareness Month
Caring for someone with a brain injury is more than a role, it’s a journey.

Caregivers/Loved ones often navigate:
🧠 Memory and cognitive changes
💬 Communication challenges
💙 Emotional and behavioral shifts

And while they support recovery… they need support too.

Did you know:
➡️ Up to 70% of caregivers experience symptoms of depression
➡️ Many feel unsure how to manage changes after injury
That’s why education matters.

The Brain Injury Association of America offers FREE caregiver webinars covering:
✔️ Behavior and mood changes
✔️ Recovery strategies
✔️ Supporting children and families
✔️ Caregiver well-being

If you or someone you know is supporting a loved one with a TBI, these are incredible resources.

Check them out here: https://biausa.org/public-affairs/media?category%5b%5d=Caregiver%20Webinars

Brain Injury Association of America's Resource Center has information for brain injury survivors, caregivers, and more.

03/18/2026

Thank you Home and Community Recreation Therapy , for being a Bronze Sponsor of our 2026 Art from the Heart Celebration! Your continued partnership helps make this special evening possible.

Join us for a night of art, food, entertainment, and auctions.

📅 Thursday, May 7, 2026
⏰ 6:00 to 9:00 pm
📍 Italian American Cultural Society, Clinton Township

🎟 Tickets are $50

Purchase tickets at http://givebutter.com/AFTH26
Or text AFTH26 to 53-555

Interested in sponsoring? Learn more at http://givebutter.com/SponsorAFTH26

03/17/2026

Testimonial Tuesday 💬

“Rec therapy is a way of getting out of the house and socializing rather than self-isolating. Not many people want to be in groups, but groups are the best way to get out of that bubble and get yourself back into socializing.

I used to work 60 hours a week and not have a care in the world and all of the confidence [pre-injury]. And now with rec therapy, I’m starting to regain my confidence and rebuild it from what it was.

I’m not 100%, but I’m getting better than what I was [right after the accident].”
— Julian

Stories like this remind us that progress isn’t always about returning to where you were, it’s about rebuilding, reconnecting, and moving forward. 💚

03/12/2026

If you or someone you know sustained a brain injury and need more support, you can find support groups throughout Michigan on the Brain Injury Association of Michigan - BIAMI Website linked here:

https://www.biami.org/resources-2/support-groups/

03/10/2026

✨Testimonial Tuesday✨ continues with the benefits of Recreation Therapy for TBI Survivors.

Recreation therapy (RT) significantly improves outcomes for traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors by fostering neuroplasticity, enhancing physical/cognitive function, and boosting emotional well-being. Key benefits include increase in executive function, improved motor coordination (e.g. balance), increased independence in community navigation, reduced isolation, and better emotional regulation.

Key Positive Impacts of Recreation Therapy:

⭐️Cognitive and Physical Rehabilitation: RT uses engaging, tailored activities—such as yoga, swimming, or adaptive sports—to boost neuroplasticity, enhance cognitive skills like memory and concentration, and improve physical strength and balance.

⭐️Community Reintegration: Therapists help patients overcome fear and lack of initiative by practicing real-world skills, such as using public transportation and navigating community settings, which increases independence and reduces isolation.

⭐️Emotional and Social Well-being: Group activities increase social skills, improve self-confidence, reduce stress, and foster a better quality of life and sense of normalcy.

⭐️Improved Executive Functioning: Research shows that TBI patients in RT programs demonstrate higher gains in executive function compared to conventional therapy alone.

⭐️Caregiver Support: RT has shown long-term positive effects on caregivers, improving their own well-being through better community integration of their loved ones.

How has RT helped you or a loved one with their TBI rehabilitation journey?