NEWS RELEASE

Contact: Laurie Jake, ATRA Communications Coordinator
Phone (480) 460-1525 or
Dawn DeVries, ATRA Conferences Coordinator
Phone: (703) 683-9420

Recreational Therapists Make Plans to March on Capitol Hill

(Alexandria, VA) The 2005 Mid-Year Professional Issues Forum of the American Therapeutic Recreation Association will be held March 6-9, 2005 in the Washington DC Metro area at the Crystal City-Doubletree in Arlington, Virginia, located across from the Pentagon, close to Pentagon City Mall, and overlooking the National Mall and the Potomac River. Conference participants will have incredible view of Washington, DC's unforgettable skyline, dominated by some of the world's most celebrated monuments. March is the perfect time of year to visit DC with its early springtime weather and numerous events.

Washington DC provides unique opportunities for the ATRA conference attendees to be actively involved in an empowering experience in our Nation’s Capital “Shaping the Future of Recreational Therapy”. Conference participants from across the country will enjoy our Nation’s capital as they gather for the largest national conference of recreational therapy professionals. The focus of the ATRA conference will be on public policy issues, in particular the Recreational Therapy Medicare Project to assure that Medicare beneficiaries have access to recreational therapy. Recreational therapists will have the opportunity to spend a day on Capital Hill, visiting with representatives and senators to discuss and educate them about the practice of recreational therapy and the vital need to support these services for our nation’s healthcare consumers. Extensive training and support will be provided to all those attending the conference, so that advocacy can occur in DC and in each state.

In addition to the advocacy efforts and activities, educational sessions will be provided to address clinical practice issues in mental health, rehabilitation, geriatrics, pediatrics, the community and the schools. Recreational therapists and DC area experts will be sharing their experiences and information to advance daily practice for recreational therapists.

ATRA has always had a strong commitment to Advocacy and our Nation’s capitol offers conference participants the opportunity to participate in the heart and soul of our government in a way like no other. Plan on attending the 2005 Mid-Year Professional Issues Forum and make a difference in shaping the future of the recreational therapy profession!

For more information about the conference or the field of recreational therapy please check the ATRA website at http://www.atra-tr.org/ or contact the ATRA National Office at (703) 683-9420.

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The American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) was founded in 1984 to advance the profession of therapeutic recreation. ATRA is a non-profit, professional membership organization dedicating 100% of resources and efforts to promote therapeutic recreation professionals in health care and human service settings. For more information, please contact the ATRA National Office http://www.atra-tr.org/