Therapeutic Recreation
The Therapeutic Recreation Program at Craig Hospital promotes overall fitness and well-being, with the goal of improving, maintaining or restoring physical strength, cognition, and mobility for someone with a spinal cord, traumatic brain or nervous system injury through recreational activity.
Therapeutic recreation is an integral part of the total rehabilitation process. Leisure-time activities help define who we are, give life fullness, and keep us healthy. We have seen patients make dramatic improvement in their rehabilitation program when they rediscover their leisure-time activities.
Leisure-time activities help define who we are.
Statistics
years providing therapeutic recreation to our patients
nationally certified therapeutic recreation specialists
combined years of experience
What is Therapeutic Recreation?
Tom Carr, Director of Therapeutic Recreation, shares the history, benefits, and goals of Craig's Therapeutic Recreation program for patients with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries.
Therapeutic Recreation Team
The therapeutic recreation staff works very closely alongside the rehabilitation team in meeting each patient’s goals. Our therapeutic recreation specialists get to know each patient’s recreation interests and investigate potential resources and put together programs and outings that will maximize skill development and promote community reintegration.
Our goal is to give patients a chance to participate in a wide variety of satisfying recreation experiences as part of recovery from their spinal cord or traumatic brain injuries. Our staff work with patients one-on-one and in group settings. Families are an integral part of the rehabilitation process and we take them into consideration when planning activities.
Meet Our Therapeutic Recreation Team
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Tom Carr, Director of Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation
Tom Carr is the Director of Therapeutic Recreation and joined Craig in 2012. Previous to Craig, Tom was the director of athletics and the director of the U.S. Paralympic New England regional program at Northeast Passage, a privately funded program of the University of New Hampshire offering recreational opportunities to individuals with disabilities. His experience also includes his work as coordinator of adaptive skiing at Mount Snow Resort, therapeutic recreation instructor at the University of New Hampshire, and member of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness for the State of New Hamp
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Bert Menardi, Assistant Director of Therapeutic Recreation
Therapeutic Recreation
bmenardi@craighospital.org / 303-789-8290
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Brenda Bertrand, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
bbertrand@craighospital.org / 303-789-8342
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Angela Dodge, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
adodge@craighospital.org / 303-789-8587
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Donna Goldberg, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
Donna Goldberg is an SCI Therapeutic Recreation Specialist who brings her wealth of talent and expertise to a 35 year career at Craig Hospital. Her areas of specialty include artistic and athletic skills that have had great impact and have enhanced the TR experience of her patients. / dgoldberg@craighospital.org / 303-789-8334
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Susie Hall, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
shall@craighospital.org / 303-789-8394
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Carol Huserik, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
chuserik@craighospital.org / 303-789-8588
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Lori Womeldorff, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
lwomeldorff@craighospital.org/ 303-789-8583
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Joan Danks, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
jdanks@craighospital.org / 303-789-8395
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Danielle Scroggs, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
dscroggs@craighospital.org
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Kimmy Malm, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
kmalm@craighospital.org / 303-789-8031
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Sydney McGill , Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
SMcGill@craighospital.org / 303-789-8031
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Robyn Perez, Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist
Therapeutic Recreation
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Amber Flores , Therapeutic Recreation Technician
Therapeutic Recreation
aflores@craighospital.org
Community Outings
We strongly encourage patients to participate in community outings. Craig Hospital has a unique relationship with our local state parks, community and private partners, which allows us to provide exceptional opportunities for our patients and their families. Our trained staff conduct our outings to ensure safety, health and fun for all participants. Therapeutic Recreation offers an opportunity for adventure and new experiences. Trips have included shopping, movies, museums, bowling, professional sporting events, kayaking, cycling, rafting, fishing and hunting.
We offer a greenhouse with an accessible garden, small theater and computer lab. We utilize our weight training room, full court gymnasium, and a swimming pool year-round. In addition, we have a remarkable collection of equipment available to our patients including all-terrain vehicles, equestrian gear, handcycles and recumbent foot pedal bikes, sports chairs, kiln for pottery, stained glass equipment, remote-controlled sailboats and cars, innovative bowling equipment and lots more!
The Craig staff, along with patients and their families, bond together through everything from the water sports in the summer, to the talent shows and a staff holiday performance in the winter.
Gallery
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Limitless Recreation
Our former patients with spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries have discovered that there are no limits to their recreational interests. They have participated in everything from hunting big game in Africa, to gardening in their backyards.
Craig Hospital also offers an Adventure Program with unique opportunities for travel, sports and outdoor recreation. In addition, our Adaptive Equipment Scholarship is a way for us to partner with our graduates both to ensure they are getting the right piece of adaptive equipment and also to supplement a financial shortfall that prohibits them from acquiring equipment on their own.
Therapeutic Recreation, like many of the programs that contribute to Craig’s unique Culture of Care, is not covered by insurance companies and relies on charitable support to offer services to Craig patients, grads and their families. To achieve these important programs, the Craig Foundation produces a variety of fundraising events each year to raise money, including Pedal For Possible.
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Hobie Day
For more than 35 years, Craig Hospital in partnership with Denver Hobie Fleet #61, has hosted Hobie Day - the largest patient outing of its kind. The event involves hundreds of staff and volunteers. Hobie Day provides patients with the opportunity to experience what is possible after catastrophic injuries through participation in "applied therapy," using functional skills.
Patients and their families have an opportunity to ride Hobie Cats (small sailboats) and take power boat rides, and enjoy a picnic lunch and music.
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Families are an integral part of the rehabilitation process at Craig Hospital.
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Our therapeutic recreation team gets to know each patient’s recreational interests.
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Craig offers a greenhouse with an accessible garden.
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Craig Hospital has a few accessible gardens on the campus grounds with flowers and vegetables.
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The therapeutic recreation staff works very closely alongside the rehabilitation team in meeting patient’s goals.
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We strongly encourage patients to participate in community outings.