The National Ability Center (NAC) is a community based non-profit, tax-exempt organization aimed at providing high-quality, inclusive programs to individuals and families of all abilities and backgrounds, including those in need. Most of their funding comes from the generous support of individual donors, grants from private corporations and foundations, and the community. They provided scholarships to those who request financial support and continually keep program fees affordable (program fees account for less than 30% of the total cost of programming). The NAC offers a wide variety of programs both seasonally and year-round. Activities include alpine and nordic skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, horseback riding, hippotherapy, indoor rock climbing, swimming, archery, sled hockey, cycling, water-skiing, wake boarding, kayaking, canoeing, paddle boarding, and challenge course activities. More information about the National Ability Center can be found at https://discovernac.org/.
I chose the National Ability Center as a site to complete my internship because I wanted to gain as much experience as possible in many different areas of adaptive recreation. As mentioned in the description, there are many different recreation activities that are offered at the NAC and to become a better practitioner in the area of Recreational Therapy in adaptive sports the best option for me was to learn as much about as many activities as possible during my internship. I have had previous experiences of volunteering for the National Ability Center during their winter programs and I was able to work with their great staff that gave me insight into the great work they do and the skilled professionals they have. This is the place that I always hoped and thought I would be for an internship.
Goals and Objectives
Goal 1: To gain knowledge of the APIED process within the community-based programming The National Ability Center provides.
Objective 1: By the 9th week of the internship, I will be able to explain in detail three areas of the APIED process, as observed by supervisor.
Objective 2: After the intern meeting and NCTRC presentation on the 4th week of the internship, I will be able to answer 3 NCTRC questions on assessment by the 5th week of the internship.
Objective 3: After the intern meeting and NCTRC presentation on the 5th week of the internship, I will be able to answer 3 NCTRC questions on planning by the 6th week of the internship.
Objective 4: After the intern meeting and NCTRC presentation on the 6th week of the internship, I will be able to answer 3 NCTRC questions on implementation by the 7th week of the internship.
Objective 5: After the intern meeting and NCTRC presentation on the 7th week of the internship, I will be able to answer 3 NCTRC questions evaluation by the 8th week of the internship.
Objective 6: After the intern meeting and NCTRC presentation on the 8th week of the internship, I will be able to answer 3 NCTRC questions on documentation by the 9th week of the internship.
Progress of Goal 1:
This goal has been completed through practice questions. These were assigned the week before NCTRC Assessment, Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Documentation presentations and due the date of the presentation for the corresponding presentation and practice questions. Each packet of practice questions had 30 questions pertaining to the area and were each completed with a pass rate of 80% or more.
Goal 2: Improve my knowledge and skills in all activities provided by The National Ability Center.
Objective 1: After the first 3 weeks of initial training, I will be able to assist in all activities with thorough knowledge during the first session as observed by supervisor and instructors.
Objective 2: During the second session, I will independently lead at least 2 groups a week as observed by supervisor and instructors.
Progress of Goal 2:
Since initial training I have assisted in all programs provided by the National Ability Center Ranch which is their main site for programming. I have not and will not have the ability to visit or work at their Moab site or their Uinta site. Since the beginning of the second session I have been able to lead an equestrian session, cycling session, rock climbing session, and aquatics session weekly which goes above my second objective.
Goal 3: Develop my knowledge of the standards and regulations that The National Ability Center follows.
Objective 1: After the first week of training I will be able to identify basic information about The National Ability Center’s standards of practice as observed by supervisor.
Objective 2: After reading through the binder of regulatory agencies, I will be able to identify 3 national regulatory agencies that oversee the National Ability center as observed by supervisor.
Progress of Goal 3:
During my midterm evaluation meeting with my supervisor we discussed different policies and procedures of the National Ability Center which has also been done each week at internship meetings. At the midterm evaluation meeting we also discussed different regulatory agencies that oversee NAC programs that I found in the binder that was available with this information and from my supervisor.
Goal 4: Improve my skill in developing therapeutic relationships with clients at The National Ability Center.
Objective 1: Once completing a case study during the internship, I will discuss therapeutic relationship created with the client and its importance during the case study with my supervisor.
Objective 2: After completion of the internship I will discuss with supervisor my understanding and experience of the therapeutic relationship as observed by supervisor.
Progress of Goal 4:
The second session of programs has just begun and there are five weeks remain in the internship. I will discuss this at our final evaluation meeting and a review meeting after the case study.
Goal 5: Improve my abilities in using the APIED process through continual practice during the internship.
Objective 1: After the 4th week of the internship, I will observe instructors in assessing and implementing activities with clients, as observed by instructors.
Objective 2: During the second session, I will increase my comfort and confidence in assessment and implementation by practicing and take initiative in at least 3 activities a week, as observed by instructors and supervisor.
Progress of Goal 5:
Since the beginning of my internship I have been able to observe the APIED process throughout the NAC's programs from assessing client's with observation and informal interview to best provide services to the client. Instructors then plan how long a bike ride might be or what activity we do that day on the challenge course. They then implement the activity and evaluations are done at the end of a group's stay or at the end of a session or week of camp. Progress notes are done to document the implementation of the activity. I have gained a great amount of experience and confidence through implementing aquatics sessions, equestrian sessions, rock climbing sessions, and soon to be cycling sessions. My skills will continue to increase and be applied till the end of my internship in five weeks.
Being an intern at the National Ability Center (NAC) has been a great learning experience that has encouraged my growth and experience as a student going into a professional role. As an intern I have been placed in the many different programs at the NAC. They offer a variety of adaptive sports in the summer such as cycling, mountain biking, hiking, archery, equestrian, aquatics, challenge course, paddle sports (kayak, canoe, paddle boarding), water sports (water skiing and tubing), and indoor and outdoor rock climbing. Camps also run weekly for children with disabilities and groups come from around the United States and stay from a couple days to a week at a lodge on the NAC Ranch site which is their main location. During programs at the beginning of my internship I was more in a supportive role helping to facilitate the programs by helping participants prepare for the activity with equipment or answering any questions. Now that I am farther in my internship I take part in the actual implementation of activities by facilitating opening and closing circles, giving instruction for the activity, and be more confident in my abilities to assist more than observe. During camps I mainly assisted in behavior management for any participants that needed one on one attention. Overall, my experiences have been very educational with assisting in my expansion of knowledge from facilitating new programs to gain more experience in the APIED process.
During my time with the NAC I have had my fair share of working with participants that challenged me and days that helped me feel accomplished in the profession that I chose. Working in camps allowed me to work one on one with participants, but not without its difficulties. I would work to have them participate in activities with the group as much as possible while still ensuring safety for them and their peers. It also allowed me to be more creative in presenting activities and working through different barriers to encourage participation. Working with different groups that have visited the NAC has allowed me to work with a variety of individuals from different demographics and with different disabilities. This is an aspect of the NAC that I have enjoyed the most because there are populations that I have never worked with and it has helped me to gain competence in different areas and I have gained continual knowledge which I value most. I have also worked on a presentation of the evaluation process and what that looks like at the NAC as well as a presentation Rett Syndrome. I will be completing a case study in the coming weeks and I completed a partner intern project of designing and organizing the 4th of July float for the NAC in the Park City Parade. The 4th of July project was completed with another intern and we oversaw the design and the execution of the float. I organized the list of the materials needed, we both managed the safety of participants that would be in the parade, and we met with city hall members to discuss details of the parade and verify our entrance. This was a great experience for marketing the programs of the NAC and to see and grow the community partnership with the town of Park City. I will be completing my full internship project in developing their supported volunteer program with completing a needs assessment for volunteers, developing training, and scheduling procedures for these supported volunteers (individuals with disabilities that need assistance in volunteering). I am excited to complete this program and to contribute to the development of programs at the NAC.
As a student about to go into the professional world, I feel very confident in my abilities to provide quality services to participants and the NAC has been a fostering environment for my internship experience. A large majority of the staff were previous Therapeutic Recreation Interns like myself and have stayed because they enjoy the programs that they are able to provide. Since they have had similar experiences they have always encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and try to accomplish something new each day and give me great feedback on how to better explain something and provide better service. It is a very supportive environment at the NAC and the same person will work most of the different activities therefore there are very knowledgeable people to work with. I would 100% recommend this agency to future interns. It is a great place to be for anyone that either enjoys adaptive recreation and would like to know more or someone that has only worked in clinical settings and would like to try something new. Community-based settings and clinical settings are very different, but I would challenge anyone to challenge themselves and intern either where they would want to work in the future or where it may be more unfamiliar. All the professionals at the National Ability Center are extremely focused on providing quality opportunities and you are able to work in a wide variety of programs with a variety of different diagnoses. This is why I have enjoyed the NAC the most. After completing this internship, I will be done with my college education and will have earned a degree of a Bachelor of Science for Therapeutic Recreation and a minor in Spanish. At this point I am unsure if I would like to continue working at the NAC once my internship is complete or if I would like to find another adaptive sports organization or clinical setting. I enjoy challenging myself and being in an environment where I am continuously able to learn, but I am not sure where that will be for me after the internship. I would like to find full time employment near Salt Lake City that allows me to use my degree. My internship at the National Ability Center has given me great experiences in patience, a variety of programs, and working with a variety of diagnoses. I will leave with the confidence, competence, and the knowledge of a practicing professional.