When have you had to adapt your activity planning to meet the needs of residents with a disability?
One of the responsibilities of an Activity Director is to plan activities based on the residents' needs. The activity schedule should include activities for people with all types of disabilities. Often, an Activity Director will need to work one-on-one with a resident to address their disability. Describe when and how you adapted your activity planning to meet the needs of a resident with a disability.
"I often have to adapt my activity planning to meet the needs of the residents. Most recently, a resident suffered a stroke and lost the use of her left side, and had balance issues. She had been an active participant in a yoga class offered at the facility but could no longer do the floor exercises after her stroke. I developed chair yoga exercises so the resident could continue doing her yoga in her wheelchair despite her disability."
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Anonymous Answer
I always made sure that there was space for wheelchairs at the tables when an activity was being set up. I also planned outings that could include those with wheelchairs and walkers, such as boat tours, baseball games at stadiums with handicapped seating, and visits to ethnic restaurants. In addition, for those who could not or did not wish to travel, I used to show travel videos and movies at our facility. Also, exercise was always done with the option of sitting in a chair, so that everyone could participate.
Marcie's Feedback
This is a great response because you clearly list multiple ways you've adapted activities to include residents with disabilities. The interviewer will be happy to hear that you're experienced in this area. To make your answer even more memorable, consider mentioning the positive reactions you've noticed on behalf of the residents who've benefited from and appreciated these adaptations. Nice job!
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