Connolly & West Support Name Change

Peg Connolly and Ray West have indicated their support of the name change to the American Recreational Therapy Association (ARTA). Here is what they have said:

As the first presidents of ATRA, in 1984-85 and 1985--86, we want to provide members with our shared perspective and support for changing the name of the organization to the American Recreational Therapy Association (ATRA). In 1984 if the group of founders of the organization would not have been concerned about the potential survival of a new professional organization we would have probably chosen the name American Recreational Therapy Association in 1984. This was something we struggled with at the time. We felt it important to truly represent our profession and it should have probably been recreational therapy. But, in hind sight, we did not take the bold action we should have back in 1984. Now, we think it is long overdue that the name of the organization should reflect and promote the goals, mission and priorities of the organization to stakeholders in the industry that employs professionals to provide the services. Which is why we support the change of the organization to the American Recreational Therapy Association.

Since it's inception ATRA has been focused on the promoting and advancing the understanding of the profession in the "education, rehabilitation, habilitation and medical treatment of individuals in need of services (ATRA Membership Recruitment Brochure, 1984). The correct and prevalent term used for the type and focus of the services our professionals provide in health care and human service agencies is recreational therapy. Since promoting and advancing the recreational therapy profession in health care and human service agencies is the primary purpose and priority of ATRA and this is reflected in the mission, vision, values, definition and in the organization's budget priorities and focus we believe the name of the organization should reflect this priority and focus and be changed to the American Recreational Therapy Association (ATRA).

Besides thinking about where we work (which is primarily in health care agencies according to recent research (Riley and Connolly, 2007), the title recreational therapy has been the official title of the profession used not only by the Department of Labor but also as designated in the U.S. Department of Occupational Titles. We believe most professionals working in health care refer to themselves as recreational therapists. We further believe that the stakeholders in the health care and human service industry primarily use and understand the term recreational therapy.

So to enhance understanding and increase support for the recreational therapy profession and the services which competent, qualified and credentialed recreational therapists provide, we believe the name of the national professional association representing us should be consistent and should be changed to ARTA, We feel this name change is in the best business interests of the professional association, the profession and the recreational therapists who provide quality recreational therapy services in health care and human service agencies.

Peg Connolly and Ray West