RISE serves both kids and adults with a primary diagnosis of a physical disability. Individuals need to be able to understand directions to comprehend the safety precautions and instructions that come with participating in sports. Individuals with secondary disabilities will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Physical disabilities that RISE serves include Spinal Cord Injury, Traumatic Brain Injury, Stroke, Cerebral Palsy, Amputee, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Neuromuscular Disease, Deaf/Hearing Impaired, Blind/Vision Impaired and all other physical disabilities. Demographic Statistics:
According to the 2020 United States Census, those with a physical disability continue to face significant challenges, including the highest rate of unemployment, the highest rate of poverty, and the lowest level of education among minority groups in the United States. It's important to note that disabilities can vary widely in visibility, duration, and onset, encompassing physical, sensory, mental, and cognitive conditions. The latest census data indicates a total population of 331,449,281 persons with a physical disability in the United States. The American Community Survey (ACS) conducted alongside the 2020 Census provides updated figures for individuals living with a long-term disability. Nationally, there are 28,066,912 individuals living with long-term disabilities, constituting approximately 13.5% of the total population. In Texas, 3,012,785 individuals (approximately 12.2%) live with long-term disabilities, and within the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex, 706,421 individuals (approximately 10.8%) have some form of long-term disability. The financial burden associated with disabilities remains considerable. According to the latest data from the University of Alabama National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average yearly expenses for an individual with a disability range from $228,566 to $775,567. Given these statistics and the high cost of living associated with disabilities, all RISE programs are offered free of charge for participants and their family members. Program Benefits:
Our programs address the many concerns associated with immobilization and inactivity. Increasing activity levels and involvement in the community reduce medical complications and costly secondary disabilities after the onset of a physical disability. Documented and research-supported outcomes of therapeutic recreation specialists' interventions include:
(1) Psychological Outcomes: enhance body image perceptions, change attitudes towards individuals with disabilities, improve the sense of self, achieve controlled stress, enhance self-efficacy, and develop a sense of mastery
(2) Physical Outcomes: increase immune system activity, reduce pain, increase muscular strength, improve flexibility and balance, improve cardiovascular functioning, develop consistent activity routines, reduce urinary tract infections, and increase endurance
(3) Cognitive Outcomes: increase mental alertness, increase attention span, enhance memory skills, improve organizational skills, improve problem-solving
(4) Community Reintegration: prevent social isolation, develop/maintain social skills, develop self-advocacy skills, build skills to minimize disability stigma, master skills for managing environmental barriers, increase knowledge of community resources, and increase overall activity level
