Recreation Therapists of Indiana, Inc.

President: Bailey Harkins, MS, CTRS 

Bailey earned her master's degree in Recreational Therapy from Indiana University and has been a CTRS for six years. She currently works as a recreational therapist under the Indiana Medicaid Waiver, serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities in home and community-based settings. She recently taught Adapted Physical Education as an adjunct faculty member at Indiana University Indianapolis and has participated in multiple research projects focused on rehabilitation, participation, and quality of life.

This is Bailey's fifth year serving on the RTI Board of Directors, including three years as Treasurer, one year as President-Elect, and now as President. She also serves as Chair of the Licensure Task Force, leading efforts to advance professional recognition and public awareness of recreational therapy throughout Indiana.

Bailey is passionate about expanding access to recreational therapy services, strengthening the profession through advocacy and education, and promoting evidence-informed practice. Her professional interests include community-based services, health policy, program evaluation, and the impact of recreational therapy on participation and quality of life.

Beginning this fall, Bailey will start the PhD program in Human Performance and Rehabilitation Sciences at Indiana University Indianapolis, where she plans to further explore the role of recreational therapy in improving outcomes, access to services, and community participation.

Past-President: Juanakee Durden, MA, MS, CTRS

Juanakee Durden, MA, MS, CTRS, is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist and Behavior Consultant with more than a decade of experience serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health needs, and mental health diagnoses across residential, community-based, and inpatient settings.

She earned a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Grand Valley State University, a Master of Science in Park, Recreation, and Tourism Administration from Western Illinois University, and a Master of Arts in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University, graduating with Honors with Distinction. She is currently pursuing her Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Indiana University, further expanding her expertise in leadership, strategic planning, and organizational management.

Throughout her career, Juanakee has developed and implemented evidence-based recreation therapy and behavior management services designed to improve quality of life, community participation, social engagement, emotional regulation, and independent living skills. As both a Recreation Therapist and Behavior Consultant, she collaborates with individuals, families, and interdisciplinary teams to develop person-centered interventions that promote meaningful outcomes and long-term success.

As Past President of the Recreation Therapists of Indiana (RTI), Juanakee has been a dedicated advocate for advancing the recreation therapy profession. During her leadership, she helped expand professional development opportunities, strengthen member engagement, support legislative advocacy efforts, and oversee successful statewide conferences and networking events. Under her leadership, RTI was recognized as the ATRA Chapter Affiliate of the Year in 2025. She remains committed to supporting the growth and visibility of recreation therapy and mentoring the next generation of professionals.

Juanakee currently provides recreation therapy and behavior consultation services, empowering individuals to achieve meaningful goals and maximize independence through therapeutic recreation and positive behavior supports.

President-Elect: Tyler Neimeyer, CTRS 

Tyler is a recreational therapist with F.L.O.W. Recreation LLC. He earned his master’s degree in recreational therapy from Indiana University and has experience in community-based and waiver-funded services, helping individuals build meaningful routines, relationships, and access to recreation within their communities. Tyler is passionate about advocating for recreational therapy and supporting providers in developing sustainable, person-centered practices. In recognition of his contributions to the field, he was awarded the Dave Austin Award at the 2026 RTI Conference.

Secretary: Autumn Dishroon, CTRS

Autumn became a CTRS in 2020 after completing her Bachelor of Science degree in Recreational Therapy at Indiana University in Bloomington. She has since been working on the Indiana Medicaid waiver where she works as a community-based recreational therapist serving individuals with disabilities. Autumn is a Qualified Internship Supervisor certified through ATRA and she also holds certifications in ChairOne and Chair Chi. In Autumn’s free time, she enjoys spending time outside, preferably camping or at the lake with her family and friends, wokring in her garden with her mom, visiting local farmers markets on the weekend, and spending time at home with her two cats.

Treasurer: Lydia Miller, CTRS

Lydia received her Bachelor’s of Science in Recreational Therapy from the University of Toledo in 2024 and her Master’s of Arts in Recreation and Leisure Studies in 2025 from the University of Toledo. 

While at the University of Toledo, Lydia served as the Student Member at Large for the Ohio Recreational Therapy Association for 2 consecutive years and worked to bridge the gap between students and professionals. Lydia was also honored to be named a 2023 ATRA Peg Connolly Scholar and attended the ATRA conference in St. Louis. Throughout those opportunities, Lydia desired to continue to work on a professional board following graduation and is now proud to be the Treasurer of the Recreation Therapists of Indiana. Lydia is extremely passionate about the field of Recreational Therapy and works to educate others on the benefits and necessity of the field. Lydia has been working on the Indiana Medicaid Waiver for a year and a half as a CTRS and truly feels fulfilled helping her clients to reach their individualized goals. Lydia is proud to work at Torres Behavioral Health, LLC and strives to provide exceptional care to her clients. When Lydia is not working, she loves spending time with friends and family and her dog Kobe. Lydia also enjoys listening to music, reading, and being outdoors in her free time! 

Membership Chair: Morgan Bell-Crist, MA, CTRS

Morgan earned her bachelor’s degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Eastern Michigan University in 2018, and went on to complete her master’s degree in Special Education with a concentration in Applied Behavior Analysis from Arizona State University in 2020.

She has spent over seven years working on the waiver as a Recreational Therapist (CTRS) supporting individuals in home and community settings to build independence and engage in meaningful activities. She also brings more than five years of experience as a Behavioral Consultant, focusing on practical, individualized strategies that help people succeed in their everyday lives.

Throughout her career, Morgan has taken on leadership roles, mentoring team members, collaborating across disciplines, and helping guide programming to better support clients and families. She’s passionate about creating inclusive opportunities, advocating for others, and making services both effective and accessible.

Member at Large: Kelsey Thompson, CTRS

Kelsey Thompson, CTRS is a 2013 graduate of Indiana State University with a Bachelor's of Science in Sport and Recreation Management. Kelsey has been working as a home and community based CTRS for 12 years. Kelsey is certified in Chair Chi and created an adaptive sport league forindividuals with developmental disabilities. Kelsey has previously served on the RTI board as a student representative, the president, and a member at large. Kelsey is looking forward to serving on the board again and continuing to advocate for our profession.  

Member at Large: Angelica Dowdell, CTRS 

Angelica earned her Bachelor of Science in Sport and Recreation Management with a concentration in Recreational Therapy from Indiana State University in 2015. As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), she has spent the past decade working under the Medicaid waiver in community-based settings, supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. With a passion for advocacy and professional growth, Angelica has served as Secretary on the Recreational Therapy Indiana (RTI) board for two years and Member at Large for two years. She is committed to continuing her work on the board to advance the field of recreational therapy and empower fellow CTRS' across the state.