A well-designed game or activity can do what a clinical session sometimes cannot: build confidence, ease anxiety and open a channel of communication for someone with special needs, without ever feeling like treatment. That is the premise behind recreational therapy, and turning it from an occasional add-on into a structured, evidence-based rehabilitation tool takes specific professional training.

This Training Course by the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy prepares professionals to design and run recreational activities as a genuine therapeutic and rehabilitative approach. Participants work through the physical, psychological and social characteristics of different disability categories, the scientific basis of recreational therapy, and how to plan programmes inside educational institutions, healthcare facilities and rehabilitation centres while respecting safety standards and ethical considerations.

Who Should Attend?

• Social workers supporting individuals with special needs in rehabilitation and care centres.
• Special education teachers working in inclusive or specialised learning environments.
• Healthcare and rehabilitation professionals involved in therapeutic services.
• Anyone seeking professional development in recreational therapy and rehabilitation services.

Programme Objectives

After completing the programme, participants will be able to:

• Build a comprehensive understanding of recreational therapy principles and their rehabilitative value.
• Design recreational programmes tailored to diverse disability categories.
• Plan structured rehabilitation initiatives that support psychological and social development.
• Assess beneficiary needs and align activity plans accordingly.
• Apply safety standards and professional ethical frameworks throughout.

Module 1: The Case for Recreation as Rehabilitation

• Definition and professional scope of recreational therapy, and its historical development.
• Classification of disabilities, individual differences, and the psychological and social dimensions related to disability.

Module 2: Designing Activities That Fit the Person

• Setting rehabilitation objectives and selecting appropriate activities based on functional abilities.
• Adapted physical activities, expressive arts and ensuring environmental safety.

Module 3: Building Social Confidence Through Play

• Strengthening communication, teamwork and a sense of belonging through group activities.
• Using recreational engagement to reduce stress and support emotional adaptation.

Module 4: Running Programmes Inside Institutions

• Developing operational plans and managing human and material resources.
• Ethical standards, protecting dignity and confidentiality, and compliance with professional guidelines.

Module 5: Measuring What Works and Keeping It Going

• Indicators and tools for assessing beneficiary progress, and preparing reports for stakeholders and families.
• Sustaining programmes through continuous development and community partnerships.

Course Venues:

Courses are held in Egypt, Jordan, Malaysia, Turkey, England, France, Italy, Germany, Sweden, Austria, Denmark, Australia and the USA, at a time and place convenient for your business and schedule.

Patterns of Implementation of the Training Programme:

• Group training in centres of the Academy.
• Individual training.
• Field and practical training according to a sophisticated curriculum.
• Theoretical training in dedicated halls within the Academy.

What Does the Participant Get?

After the course is finished, participants receive a certificate accredited by the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy.