Faculty Publications

Genealogy Of The United States Therapeutic Recreation Certification Framework

Document Type

Article

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Leisure Studies

Volume

24

Issue

1

First Page

61

Last Page

79

Abstract

Building upon Foucault's (1977, 1998) research methodology of genealogy, the purpose of this paper is to highlight how educational disciplinary techniques utilized by the United States National Council for Therapeutic Recreation Certification (NCTRC) unknowingly normalizes people toward the dominant discourse of white Euro-North American individualistic notions. In particular, the NCTRC uses three types of individualistic technologies of educational discipline: the art of distribution, the examination and the confessional, to create individualistic actions as 'common sense' practice in therapeutic recreation. As the NCTRC attempts to gain a greater international and cross-cultural audience (e.g. Australia, Canada, China, United Kingdom), it may unintentionally assimilate people from different cultures and national backgrounds into a standardized framework of white Euro-North American individualism, which can result in damaging psychological consequences for clients from diverse cultures. The paper concludes by outlining an interdisciplinary therapeutic recreation certification model that is attentive to cross-cultural issues, entitled the Mosaic Certification Framework. © 2005 Taylor & Francis Ltd.

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

Original Publication Date

1-1-2005

DOI of published version

10.1080/0201436042000250140

Link to Full Text

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