Assessment Instrument

I.

Introduction to Assessment Tool

The assessment of an individuals ability as well as their recreational preference to engage in

recreational activities are key factors in deciding what level of intensity that person should be
allowed to participate in. For example, an individual who enjoys high level of competition would
likely be more aggressive than someone who prefers a more leisurely level of recreation. In
addition to this, physical and mental ability and health are elements that must be measured to
accurately in order to properly assess a persons appropriate level of recreation. Improper
assessment of these aspects of recreation can lead to injury or negative experiences during the
course of the activity (Middleton, 2006). In order to prevent these occurrences, this assessment
tool was created in order to accurately assess a client or patients ability to participate in
recreational activities on the physical and cognitive level as well as their willingness and desire
to participate in recreational activities of any kind from those that require physical activity and
ability to activities that require mental strategy and cognitive skills.

II.

Assessment Instrument Description

This assessment will be targeting individuals from age 13-65. These people will also be
clients in a rehabilitative or recreation therapy program. The assessment will be all inclusive to
people in these programs and assess individuals with disabilities or conditions that affect them
physically, cognitively, and/or emotionally. In other words, the assessment will address the
aptitude levels of people with disabilities from paralysis to disorders such as intermittent
explosive disorder.

The target area/domain for this assessment will mainly focus on clients and patients in any
inpatient rehabilitative care facility or program, mental health program, animal-assisted therapy
programs, and adventure therapy programs.
This assessment calls for all clients and patients to be assessed in an objective scope. This
means ignoring all comparisons to other clients or patients and only comparing the client or
patients to the baseline and standards of what constitutes an individual that is able to effectively
and competently participate in recreational activities. This is done by asking objective questions
that the only pertain to the assessment of the individual. Also, any interactions with the
individual must be professional and ethical as in accordance with the ATRA Standards of
Practice. This means that when interacting with the patient, the Recreation Therapist will use
person-first terminology and attempt to make the client feel at ease and comfortable. These will
all be very important to the assessment process due to the fact that some clients and patients will
have emotional disorders and may have volatile temperaments.
This assessment is one that will only be able to be administered by a Certified Recreation
Therapist Specialist (CTRS). This assessment can take place in many places depending on the
clients needs, recreation goals, and target recreation activity. For example, in the case of
individuals who wish to participate in an adventure therapy activity such as hiking, the
assessment could partially take place in an outdoor setting. The same could be said for a client
taking part in an equestrian-assisted therapy program. However, the CTRS conducting the
assessment would either require certification from a horse instructing certification provider such
as the North American Riding for the Handicap Association or have someone present with the
proper certifications. In other words, depending on what recreational activity the individual is
being assessed for, the CTRS performing the assessment must have the proper certifications and

licensing or have someone present who meets these requirements. However, if for any reason
whether it is medical or otherwise, the client cannot make it to the planned assessment location,
the CTRS can go to the client at an authorized and safe location. During the administration of the
assessment, everything must be well documented.

III.

Instrument Development and Trial

The information that will be required for this assessment will include medical as well as
behavioral history. This information will be coupled with information about the patients physical
and cognitive abilities as well. For example, in terms of physical ability, stamina, endurance,
flexibility, strength, agility, and ability to endure physical stress will be some areas that will be
measured as part of the assessment. In terms of cognitive ability problem-solving, ability to think
under pressure/stress, reaction time, ability to endure cognitive/mental strength, and the ability to
form strategies and brainstorm are some factors that will be measured. In addition to this,
emotional and behavioral information will be needed to get an idea of how the individual will
respond to certain scenarios. The information from this area will consist of a qualitative
measurement of irritability, patience, sociability, cooperative skills, temperament, and ability to
manage emotional stress, anxiety, and frustration.
This information will all be compiled and used in criterion-reference testing. This testing is
the preferred form of testing because for this assessment, the goal is to observe and measure an
individuals ability to complete tasks and behave in a manner conducive to being able to
participate in certain recreational activities. With this in mind, the individual does not need to be
compared to a larger sample but instead just needs to be able to demonstrate absolute ability.
This testing will allow the client/patient to be tested as well as allow the healthcare or recreation

therapy provider to also keep track of their progress through periodic assessment that will
measure their ability to engage in recreational activities.
The environment in which this testing takes place is also very important. The initial testing
will always take place in a setting that is comfortable for the client in order to facilitate an
assessment in which the patient does not have any undue stress placed on them. However, the
environment in which the assessment takes place will also have to be completely ready to
support the assessment. This means that any necessary tools or equipment that is needed for the
assessment must be readily available. In other words, in order to create a truly functional
environment it must be completely ready in order to allow the CTRS to facilitate the assessment
but also comforting and safe for the client in order to avoid placing undue stress or hazard on the
client.

IV.

Assessment Report Form

Recreation Ability Assessment

Chart
Assessment Administered by: _______________________________________
Date: _________________________
Location Assessment was administered: _____________________________
Activity that Client is being assessed for: _____________________________

Client Information:
Name: _________________________
Date of Birth: ____________________
Facility (If Applicable):______________________
Program Unit (If Applicable):______________________
Room 3 (If Applicable)):___________________
Client Health (Cognitive, Emotional, Physical, Social)
Present Impairments/Disabilities: ______________________________________
Health at Time of Assessment: _______________________________________
Health Concerns: ________________________________________________
Mental State: _________________________________________________
Emotional State: _______________________________________________
Client Cooperation (Scale of 1 to 10) 1=Combative/Uncooperative;
10=Highly Cooperative: _________
Blood Pressure: ___________
Heart Rate: _______________

Physical Ability
Able to sit/stand independently: ____________________________
Able walk independently (no assistance from people or devices):
_________________________
Length of time able to walk without rest: ______________________
Able to jog: Y/N
Length of time able to jog without rest: ____________________
Able to sprint: Y/N
Length of time able to sprint without rest: __________________
Able to jump: Y/N
Maximum vertical jump (inches):_______________
Maximum Horizontal Leap (inches): ______________
Able to squat: Y/N
Able to kneel: Y/N
Flexibility: ________________________________________________________________________
Stregth: __________________________________________________________________________
Agility: ___________________________________________________________________________
Reaction Time:
_____________________________________________________________________
Hand/Eye Coordination:
_____________________________________________________________
Balance:
___________________________________________________________________________
Proprioception:
_____________________________________________________________________
Endurence/Stamina:
_________________________________________________________________

Cognitive Ability
Ability to think under stress: _______________________________________
Ability to solve problems: __________________________________________
Ability to think under strict time constraints: __________________________
Ability to Brainstorm: ______________________________________________
Ability to think of different solutions to one problem: ___________________
Ability to recognize Patterns: ________________________________________
Information Processing Speed: ________________________________________
Ability to understand task presented: __________________________________
Ability to understand and follow Rules of task: ___________________________

Behavioral/Emotional State:
Ability to remain relatively calm under stress: ___________________________
Ability to handle disappointment: ______________________________________
Ability to manage anxiety: _____________________________________________
Ability to manage anger: _______________________________________________
Ability to interact safely and positively with others: __________________________
Ability to cooperate with others: __________________________________________
Ability to handle stress: __________________________________________________
Ability to cope with loss (resulting from activity):____________________________
Ability to respect others: _________________________________________________
Willingness to participate respectfully and properly:
__________________________
Ability to manage and overcome fear:_______________________________________

V.

Summary and Conclusions

In conclusion, this assessment is one that is to be administered by a

certified recreation therapy specialist. This CTRS will be responsible for
conducting this assessment in a professional and competent manner. In
addition to this, the CTRS must make sure to choose an appropriate setting
in which to conduct the assessment as well as make sure to have all other
requirements met such as certification and licensing. When conducting the
assessment, the CTRS must make sure to make the client feel comfortable
and safe in order to obtain accurate results. If all is done correctly, the CTRS
will accurately be able to assess a client or patients ability to participate in
their desired recreational activity as well as the degree to which they may
participate.

References
Middleton, J. (2006, February 7). The impact of accurate patient assessment on quality of
care. Retrieved November 1, 2015.

Standards of Practice. (n.d.). Retrieved November 1, 2015, from https://www.atraonline.com/what/standards-of-practice

Dotonik-Nana, C. (n.d.). Equine Therapy Certifications: Which Is Best? Retrieved November

1, 2015, from http://blogs.psychcentral.com/equine-therapy/2011/03/equine-therapycertifications-which-is-best/