CLEARINGHOUSE FOR ADAPTIVE REDREATION EQUIPMENT

MANY DISABLED INDIVIDUALS ARE CURRENTLY BENEFITTING FROM THEFIELD OF THERAPY CALLED THERAPEUTIC RECREATION. EVERY MAJORREHABILITATION CENTER HAS A SEPARATE AND GROWING RECREATION THERAPY DEPARTMENT AS THIS FIELD OF THERAPY GAINS RECOGNI- HAVE SPECIAL EQUIPMENT IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE. THE DIFFICULTY IN FINDING SUCH EQUIPMENT IS PERSONALLY UNDERSTOOD BY THE PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR, WHO WAS PARALYZED FROM A 1978 WATERSKI-RACING ACCIDENT AND THEN UNABLE TO LOCATE ANAN ADAPTED WATERSKI. SEVERAL SMALL COMPANIES SCATTERED ACROSS THE UNITED STATES CURRENTLY MANUFACTURE A FEW ITEMS THAT ALLOW HANDICAPPED PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE IN A LIMITED NUMBER OF EXERCISE AND REC- REATIONAL ACTIVITIES. HOWEVER, THERE IS A NEED TO (1) DEV- ELOP ADDITIONAL ADAPTIVE RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT, AND (2) PROVIDE A CENTRALIZED CLEARINGHOUSE OF INFORMATION ABOUT ADAP- TIVE EXCERCISE AND RECREATIONAL EQUIPMENT (SUCH AS A CATA LOG) FOR INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS REQUIRING THIS SPEC- IALIZED EQUIPMENT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE PROPOSED RESEARCH WILL (1) IDENTIFY WHAT, PRODUCTS ARE CURRENTLY AVAILABLE, (2) IDENTIFY WHAT PRODUCTSTHE MARKET NEEDS, BUT THAT ARE NOT AVAILABLE, (3) DEVELOP A SPECIFIC METHOD TO MEET THIS MARKET NEED, AND (4) DETERMINE THE MARKET STRATEGY AND DISTRIBUTION PROCEDURE REQUIRED TO BRING CUSTOMERS AND EQUIPMENT. FOR THESE PRODUCTS. PHASE II WOULD FOCUS ON DESIGNING AND