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Adaptive Sports Internships

Spaulding Adaptive Sports Center (SASC) is proud to provide internship opportunities to motivated students and/or recent graduates who are interested in careers related to adaptive sports. Our internship offers the opportunity to gain practical skills and knowledge within the rehabilitation, recreational, and competitive adaptive sports settings. As an intern, you can expect direct involvement in: adaptive sports programming, planning and management, equipment maintenance, and program development, while learning about physical, cognitive, and neurological diagnoses within physical medicine and rehabilitation. We offer two different internships: General Adaptive Sports, and Therapeutic Recreation.

General Information • General Adaptive Sports Internships • Therapeutic Recreation Internships

General Information

Availability & Locations

Boston/North Shore

Internships are offered year-round, with spring, summer, and fall opportunities located primarily at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Charlestown, MA. Winter internships offer programming in the Boston area, as well as travel throughout New England.

Cape Cod

Cape Cod internships are offered May-October, and are located primarily at the McGraw Center for Adaptive Sports at Nickerson State Park in Brewster, MA, with once-weekly travel to Sandwich, MA. Summer housing is provided in yurts with electricity and Park amenities.

Deadlines for Applications

  • March 1 for Summer internships (May-August)
  • June 1 for Fall internships (August-October)
  • November 1 for Winter internships (January-March)

We encourage early application as these are competitive positions and filled as qualified candidates are identified. Selected candidates will be contacted for an interview.

All candidates' academic institutions must have an affiliation agreement with Spaulding Rehabilitation. If your institution does not have an affiliation, please contact the appropriate person from above.

General Adaptive Sports Internships

Applicants from graduate and undergraduate majors that are related to the field of adaptive sports will be considered, which include: adaptive physical education, exercise science, kinesiology, sport management, and other related fields. Please contact SASC if you are interested in our internship and are not currently studying one of these majors.

What to Expect & Goals

Interns are expected to assist with all elements of programming. This includes:

  • Participant sessions and programs under supervision
  • Marketing events and in services in the community
  • Team and programmatic travel – which may include overnights
  • Equipment transport and management
  • Program reporting
  • Working weekends and evenings as needed
  • Occasional administrative assistance

Interns are expected to commit to a 10-week, 15 hours/week minimum placement

Goals

Interns will:

  • Evaluate each participant for equipment and coaching needs.
  • Gain knowledge of different diagnoses and the rehabilitation process.
  • Become knowledgeable about adaptive sports equipment and programming.
  • Work with participants to identify realistic and achievable goals.
  • Promote safe participation to maintain health and decrease secondary injuries.
  • Actively participate in a multidisciplinary team centered approach.

How to Apply

Please send the following:

To:

Kathleen Salas, PT, MHA at ksalas@partners.org for Boston area Adaptive Sports internships

Elizabeth Dahlen, CTRS at edahlen@partners.org for Cape Cod Adaptive Sports internships

Therapeutic Recreation Internships

The Therapeutic Recreation internship program with Spaulding Adaptive Sports Centers is offered to students enrolled in Therapeutic Recreation degree programs and are seeking eligibility to sit for the NCTRC exam upon successful completion of the internship. We offer opportunities in a community based adaptive sport and recreation setting, with additional clinical exposure to inpatient and outpatient clientele. Interns will gain knowledge and experience within a hospital based adaptive sports program.

What to Expect & Goals

Interns will:

  • Incorporate the APIE process into individualized treatment plans and functional outcomes.
  • Become proficient in clinical documentation.
  • Engage and lead 1:1 and group interventions specific to sport and recreational activities.
  • Collaborate among interdisciplinary team members.
  • Teach participants and referral sources how sport and recreation can improve quality of life.
  • Promote safe participation to maintain health and decrease secondary injuries.
  • Learn risk management skills to increase safety of all participants and staff.
  • Gain experience in program development with a community based/non-profit program.
  • Assist with marketing events and in services in the community.
  • Participate in team and programmatic travel – which may include overnights, weekends and evenings. 

Interns must commit to at least a 14-week, 40 hour/week placement.

How to Apply

Please send the following:

To: Elizabeth Dahlen, CTRS at edahlen@partners.org for TR internships