Terry Robertson.

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Dr. Terry Robertson has been a long-standing leader in the profession of therapeutic recreation and the following narrative only highlights a portion of his many accomplishments.

For four decades, Terry Robertson has taken the lead regarding advocacy and service provision for persons with disabilities. His leadership within the therapeutic recreation profession is well recognized, as he has served as a Board Member and Past President of the National Therapeutic Recreation Association. He has also served on many national committees and task forces, including the National Institute on Recreation Inclusion steering committee, the World Leisure task force on Inclusion, and on program committees for events such as the National Recreation and Park Association's National Congress and the Midwest Symposium on Therapeutic Recreation and Adapted Physical Activity. Most notable among his publishing accomplishments are his work as Co-Editor of the Therapeutic Recreation Journal (2008-2010) and as Co-Editor of the popular textbook, Foundations of Therapeutic Recreation: Perceptions, Philosophies, and Practices for the 21st Century.

Dr. Robertson has also had a significant impact on the development of future professionals. He is responsible for developing the Therapeutic Recreation program at Northwest Missouri State University in the mid 90s and has served as Department Chair at NWMSU for the past 10 years. He has been a key developer and former Chair of the Leadership Development Institute of the Missouri Park and Recreation Association and is a graduate and advocate for the Leadership Northwest Missouri program.

In addition to his work within the Therapeutic Recreation Profession, Dr. Robertson has a long history of contributing within the general community. He spent 12 years as a Board member for Midland Empire Resources for Independent Living (a center for independent living), and still works with this agency as an advisor to this day. This agency experienced extreme growth during Dr. Robertson's six years as Board Chair, and now serves over 800 clients with disabilities in a variety of ways. He has served on the Board of the Nodaway County Association of Group Homes, the Board of the Heartland Foundation's Empower U program for youth development, and is the current Chair of Board for the Nodaway County Health Department.

Dr. Robertson is a true visionary and his impact within the therapeutic recreation profession, as well as the general community, are far beyond the limitations of this nomination. His continued leadership has empowered countless others to make their own contributions as well. As such, I believe he is an exemplary candidate for this award.

by Terry Long

Professor, Therapeutic Recreation Northwest Missouri State University