1. For the student to become more knowledgeable about one of the population groups discussed in this course (the hospitalized child, the elderly, persons who are developmentally disabled, socially deviant persons who are physically disabled, persons who are emotionally impaired and persons who are substance abusers) and the role of the recreation therapist with the population.

2.For the student to engage in independent research and develop skills in that area.
Each student will select a population from the above list.

Population List: Musculoskeletal impairments,Sensory and other Hidden Impairments,Cognitive Impairments ,Psychological Impairments, Social Impairment,Children and Youth, The Aging Process

Part A (objective)
1.Title page: student?s name, population group
2.Population definition, characteristics, needs and nature of the general group(1 page)
3.Factual information on a specific disability within the group (i.e.,developmental disabilities ?Down?s Syndrome or physically disabled?the blind) (1 page).

Part B (objective)
Select 3 topics from the list and write 2-3 pages on each topic.
1.Current events: find 2 current events articles, write a synopsis and your reaction to each.
2.Journal articles: read 2 articles from recent professional journals on this population. Write a synopsis and your reaction to each
3.What agencies provide services to this population?write a factual report about the specific agencies and how they operate. (agencies can exist out of NYS)
4.What other professionals typically work with this population? What is their role? What is the training, licensing and education for this profession? How do the other professionals work with the recreation therapists?
5.What type of adapted equipment is used with this population? Describe.

Part C (subjective) (1-2 pages)

Why did you select this population? What did you learn? How did this assignment affect your professional and academic year?