Mad Hatter Page 4

 

 

and study together, Paterson says,
and this helps to improve the appli-
cation of all the required skills.

Another way TRTs learn skills is in
the practicum portion of their pro-
gram. A full 40 per cent of the
course time is spent working in
group homes, rehabilitation centres,
hospitals, and care facilities; the
same places graduates will eventually
find work.

And to help TRT students discover
what work setting is best suited to
their desires, Douglas College allow
the students to choose what type of
facility they work in during their
fifth and final practicum.

Douglas College also allows the stu-
dents a large selection of elective
courses to choose from to complete
their diploma requirements, including
training in drama, psychology, crimi-
nology, anthropology, recreation,
and sociology.

"This helps students round off their
education, and may give them a speci-
alty if they decide to pursue a
degree higher than the diploma,"
Paterson says.

The future of TRT at Douglas College
could include giving the program
graduates the necessary prerequisites
for a university level recreation |
program - including a specialty in
Thereapeutic Recreation Training, ,of
course.

TRT Becomes More Successful

In the meantime, the course is.
apparently becoming more successful
every day. The Douglas College
calendar shows between 80 and 85 per
cent of all students find work in the
field within the first six months
after graduation.

 

The waiting list for entry to the

program currently stands at about
150 names, but at this time last
year, over 200 people had applied
for Therapeutic Recreation Training.

While the earliest names on the
list have the best chances of being
accepted, all applicants undergo a
complete ornentation and interview to
help identify which students are
most prepared for the intensive 12
month program.

"Often someone will sign up and not
know what TRT is," Paterson says.
"Tf we feel a person is not quite
ready for the program, we'll suggest
they get involed in volunteer work
and reapply the next year."

The TRT program also accepts part-
time students, but these spaces are
generally reserved for people
already working in the field, she
adds.

"It's really important that potential
TRTs know what it is they're getting
into and we strongly recommend that
they get some volunteer experience
before applying," Paterson says.

— DCGUG

 

Co ee
Time to Share-

Volunteer!

April 15-21