A Need for Increased Awareness of Disability Models in Recreational Therapy Practice

Inherently embedded within the descriptions, models, and practices of the field of therapeutic recreation, dis-ability models conceptualize disability, guide therapeu-tic processes and service delivery, and influence client experiences and outcomes. Despite their significance, disability models have received limited attention by the field resulting in inconsistencies within the philosophi-cal underpinnings of the recreational therapy profession. The purpose of this article is to increase awareness of disability models and their implications for recreational therapy practice. A brief conceptual overview of three disability models, including the medical, social, and In-ternational Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) models, is provided, and the models’ cur-rent applications in the field of therapeutic recreation are explored. Utilizing a disability studies lens, a critique of the relationships between each disability model and the core concepts of recreational therapy practice is pre-sented. Commentary is provided to stimulate discussion regarding the need for philosophical consistency of dis-ability values across the profession.