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Committee approves licensure for therapeutic recreation specialists; advocates say licensure protects vulnerable clients
Summary
The committee passed HB1218 to license certified therapeutic recreation specialists (CTRS). Supporters—therapists, a camp serving children with disabilities, and a former patient—said licensure would create accountability and protect clients; proponents argued the state currently has 76 CTRSs and other states have licensure models.
Representative Julie Mayberry presented HB 1218 to license recreational (therapeutic recreation) specialists in Arkansas. Presenters included certified therapeutic recreation specialists, Camp Aldersgate representatives and a person with lived experience describing rehabilitation benefits.
Why it matters: Supporters said therapeutic recreation (also called recreational therapy) is a structured clinical treatment that uses activity‑based interventions to improve health and function for people with medical and behavioral health needs. They argued a statutory license would protect clients by…
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