RPG Mobile

Wheelchair Accessible Mobile Facilities

"We go where no one else does.

Helping those who need it most!"

Videos:


NOTE THIS PAGE IS STILL A WORK IN PROGRESS. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO VOLUNTEER TO HELP COMPLETE IT,

PLEASE CONTACT US.


On KREM 2 News & NorthWest Cable Network (NWCN)

A mobile, wheelchair-friendly facility expanding the reach of RPG Therapeutics, providing Recreation Therapy and Music services to un-served and under-served populations throughout North America. Using role-playing games to achieve therapeutic "RPG Therapy" and educational "RPG Education" goals for clients and students.

Video #1, from Segment ("Hit") #3, 7:45 am, October 10, 2016. Donate To the RPG Trailer Today!

Archived Video & Article from KREM 2 News, original URL: http://www.krem.com/news/local/spokane-county/local-man-opens-unique-mobile-therapy-unit-to-help-physically-disabled/333302903

Also they posted it on Northwest Cable News here: http://www.nwcn.com/news/local/spokane-county/local-man-opens-unique-mobile-therapy-unit-to-help-physically-disabled/333306503

 
 



The Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer - Donate Today!

Zombie Orpheus Entertainment, of The Gamers and Journey Quest.

 
 



Interested in having the RPG Mobile come to you?


The Wheelchair Accessible RPG Bus and 2 RPG Trailers (collectively known as the "RPG Mobile" or RPG fleet) are personally owned by RPG Research's founder Hawke Robinson. He acquired them at substantial personal financial burden to bring his vision of mobile accessible facilities to life.

He donates their free use to RPG Research (and others) whenever feasible.

They are available for use across the continental US during annual tours and for special arrangements.

To date we have not tried to take them into Canada, Mexico, or other countries, and do not know what the regulations are for such vehicles and their use in those countries. Though we would love to have the funding to find out!

They are also generally potentially available throughout the Northwest USA (WA, ID, MT, OR), depending on program schedules, each month.

Generally RPG Research does not have enough funding from donations to cover the transportation costs, so most of the time Hawke Robinson has either covered the travel costs personally for RPG Research programs, or when he uses them in conjunction with paying events or clients through RPG Therapeutics LLC, which includes speaking engagements at conferences/conventions, training workshops, and program contracts with various organizations and facilities. Recently we have sometimes had sufficient donations to cover the gas money for the RPG Mobile to support RPG Research programs locally and across the US.

Due to requests from many families, the RPG Mobile is available for a wide range of uses. See RPG.LLC for details on the variety of programs available beyond RPG Research's core community and research programs.

For RPG Research programs using the RPG Mobile, you can get further information by contacting info at rpgresearch dot com, calling US Toll-free (833) RPG-INFO (774-4636), or direct phone/text (509) 608-7630.

For all other uses of the RPG Mobile (including parties, retreats, therapy programs, etc.), you can get further information by emailing info at rpgtherapy dot com, calling US Toll-free (833) RPG-PROS, or direct phone/text (509) 608-6441 for specifics.



History of the RPG Mobile Accessible Fleet, Founding & Progression.

(details pending)



The seeds leading to the research.

(details pending)


The challenges with Game stores

(details pending)



The challenges with Libraries

(details pending)


The challenges with Schools

(details pending)


The challenges with Community Centers

(details pending)



The challenges with hospitals

(details pending)



The challenges with rehabilitation centers

(details pending)



The challenges with the VA

(details pending)



The challenges at long-term care and senior care centers

(details pending)




The challenges specifically at Saint Luke's Rehabilitation Center

This was the location that finally lead to the creation of the Wheelchair Accessible RPG Bus and RPG Trailers.

(details pending)



The challenges with being on the road (expensive) (hotels)

(details pending)



Raising Awareness through very visible physical symbol

(details pending)


The Solution: Accessible Mobile Facilities

(details pending)






The challenges with RVs

(details pending)


The challenges with car haulers

(details pending)



The challenges with mobile office/contractor units

(details pending)



The challenges with lifts (versus ramps)

(details pending)



The challenges with ramps (but best option for groups)

(details pending)



The Solution: Customized Toy Hauler RV Trailer

(details pending)



The Search

(details pending)



The WA state challenge with perfect custom-built Trailer (donate!)

(details pending)




Early design diagrams, mockups, and computer models

(details pending)



















The first RPG Trailer - destroyed by thieves/vandals



Superlite 2007 - Was asking $30,000 but owner, due to purpose I was buying for, sold to me at just $13,000!

Unfortunately while it was on the lot getting cleaned up and prepared (they needed about 2 weeks for it to be ready for me), someone came on to the Clickit RV lot and stole the wiring and metal out of the trailer, ruining it. Clickit refunded all my money, but it meant after 2+ years of searching I had to start over searching for the right match. It would be 4 years before I would find another like it!


































The second RPG Trailer - Expensive, but learned significant learning benefits from the process.

After several months of searching, and realizing the custom build option was going to lead to 1 to 2 years of delay due to Washington state bureaucratic red tape, I made the mistake of settling on a newer trailer that was very expensive, around $50,000 USD.  The up side is I began to learn the whole RV trailer life and all of the additional improvements that need to be made for a more ideal trailer. The down side is that 4 years later I am only halfway finished paying it down (still owe about $24,000 as of 2020).















The RPG Bus - Pros and Cons of Bus versus Trailer

Limited space (width)

Lift is much slower than ramp

Too tall for ramp

We have found out the hard way that most insurance companies won't insure the bus at all, and the few that will charge an exhorbitant premium that is 10-20 times more expensive than trailer (over $3,000 USD per year just for liability (not full coverage)!

Can run into drivers license issues if not careful

After a couple of years of use, now know that better to have an SUV or pickup truck pulling a trailer than to have a bus or RV camper vehicles due to insurance and other challenges. Trailer model is most affordable model.



The RPG Bus - Accessible, inclusive, friendly, comfortable, mobile music and gaming facility, for recreation, therapy, entertainment or education programs.



The RPG Bus is an accessible, friendly, comfortable mobile facility helping provide therapeutic recreation, music, and role-playing games programs, also to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusiveness, the potential for therapeutic recreation, music, and role-playing games to improve lives, & a fund raiser for the 501(c)3 non-profit RPG Research.


The RPG Tour's purpose was to raise awareness about accessibility and inclusiveness, the potential for music and role-playing games to improve the lives, & a fundraiser for the non-profit RPG Research. Donate today!


RPG Tour 2018 finished!


The RPG Tour September 19 - October 14, 2018


Follow tour updates on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rpgtour


Instagram: www.instagram.com/rpgresearch.


More information about the RPG Tour route, schedule, and to request a visit: www.rpgtour.com


Donate to 501(c)3 non-profit RPG Research: http://www.rpgresearch.com/donate


Phone: (509) 481-5437


 
 

















RPG Bus interior:

RPG Bus Interior










































































The third RPG Trailer - Almost There!


2008 Octane

In wonderful condition. Bought on consignment. Clickit RV sold to me for just a little over $11,000 USD!

After 4 years of searching finally found another trailer that was closer to ideal. Lower ride height for less steep ramp, larger and flatter garage area for the activity space. Comes with built in quiet run generator, etc.

The only things that would make it closer to the ideal trailer (see donation options) are:

  • Slideouts on each side to make wider to allow more people in wheelchairs.

  • Hydraulic lift system to lower and raise the ride height as needed to make ramp even less steep, but raise up on the road, and even higher when in offroad/dirtroad locations to prevent dragging on the ground and runing stabilizers

  • Automated stabilizers

  • Automated levels

  • Automated tongue jack

  • Wheelchair accessible bathroom doorway

  • Wheelchair accessible roll-in shower.

The rest of the checklist this trailer meets though, so it is the closest we have come without the custom built trailer.  We still hope some day to have the funding to build the ideal perfect trailer with all of the features to make it the most comfortable, accessible, and welcoming mobile facilities ever!













Building the Ideal "Perfect" Accessible RPG Trailer (Donate to help build!)

(details pending)

Donate https://gofundme.com/rpgtrailer



A mobile, wheelchair-friendly facility expanding the reach of RPG Therapeutics, providing Recreation Therapy and Music services to un-served and under-served populations throughout North America.

     

  

The RPG Trailer extends the reach of free Recreation Therapy based services to people with disabilities in rural locations, furthers the goals of The RPG Research Project (http://www.rpgresearch.com) through more geographically dispersed research capabilities, facilitates training and therapeutic services offered by RPG Therapeutics LLC (http://www.rpgtherapeutics.com).

  




Additional News Coverage of The RPG Trailer

Local man opens unique mobile therapy unit to help people with disabilities.

Local man opens up unique mobile therapy unit

Kaitlin Loukides , KREM 10:25 AM. PDT October 10, 2016

download OP 2 CP 1476120112333 6474128 ver1.0

SPOKANE, Wash. – One local man said Monday he is on a mission to help people with physical disabilities by using one unique method – RPGs, or role playing games.

Hawke Robinson first thought of the idea two years ago. He is offering mobile therapy called “RPG Research” which brings a therapy trailer right to the patient’s doorstep.

As a recreation therapist for the Washington State Department of Health, Robinson has been studying ways to help people recovering from traumatic brain injuries, ADD and ADHD, and Cerebral Palsy, through different methods.

What Robinson found was a bit unconventional. He purchased a wheelchair-friendly trailer he was able to customize and turn into a mobile therapy unit. Inside, it has up to 50 different musical instruments for patients to use during the healing process, along with his primary focus – tabletop role playing games such as Dungeons and Dragons.

Robinson said he has taken extensive neuroscience research and used it to understand how beneficial RPGs are in the therapy process for these patients.

Robinson paid for everything out of his own pocket and said he does not charge patients. He does have a GoFundMe account set up for people wanting to help him continue to serve and expand the service to more people across the region.

To learn more about his project, visit the RPG Research Project website.

 

download OP 1 CP 1476119080593 6474040 ver1.0

Mobile therapy unit

 

More from KREM2 News / NWCN

Video #2 from Segment ("Hit") #1 broadcast live at 5:34 am, October 10th, 2016. Donate to the RPG Trailer Today!

Original URL: http://www.krem.com/news/local/spokane-county/local-man-opens-up-mobile-therapy-unit/333209401


More from KREM2 News / NWCN

Video #2 from Segment ("Hit") #1 broadcast live at 5:34 am, October 10th, 2016. Donate to the RPG Trailer Today!

Original URL: http://www.krem.com/news/local/spokane-county/local-man-opens-up-mobile-therapy-unit/333209401

 

 

Video #3, from KREM 2 News Live Facebook Broadcast around 9:00 am, October 10th, 2016. Donate to the trailer today!

I couldn't get embed code to work for the FB video, so here is a youtube version of the same video

 

Original Facebook URL: https://www.facebook.com/KREM2/videos/10153881882091301/

 

 

Video #4, Noon News Remix from Segment 3 with photos added. Donate to the RPG Research Project today!

Teaser at 0:15 to 00:24, main segment at 03:06 to 05:56







The Two Bards Podcast (Andy Dopieralski & Scott C. Brown) + Brian Lewis:  Support the RPG Trailer today !

 
 

 

NSFW: The Two Bards, off-color comedy, support The Wheelchair Friendly RPG Trailer, donate today!

 
 





Additional Notes, Links, etc.

The links mentioned in the videos:
Recreation Therapy & music based activities, especially role-playing games.
The RPG Trailer: http://www.rpgtrailer.com
The Patreon Page: http://patreon.com/rpgresearch
The RPG Research Project: http://www.rpgresearch.com
The RPG Training through RPG Therapeutics LLC: http://www.rpgtherapy.com
Note that the 2016 prototype trailer (it can hold 2-3 people in wheelchairs), the Gofundme is for building the more ideal trailer that can hold more people in wheelchairs (6-8 people).
Other notes and additional links:
And as mentioned in video: the fuzzy d20 dice were a gift I received while on tour the previous weekend, from Adam Johns and Adam Davis of Wheelhouse Workshop - http://www.wheelhouseworkshop
The green bard hat thanks to Andy Dopieralski and Scott C. Brown of The Gamers http://www.watchthegamers.com and the Two Bards Podcast http://www.twobards.com
For my music as mentioned, "Synthetic Zen" you can listen and buy albums at http://www.indieairradio.com/product-category/music/hawke-robinson/ or check out live performances at http://youtube.com/thesyntheticzen and my website http://www.syntheticzen.com any money I receive for my music goes toward the RPG Trailer fund.
Additional Disclaimers & Notes:
At this stage I have been unable to get access to the other clips, they stated their lawyers do not allow them to release the archives to the public. I am still trying to find a means to get access to the rest of the clips that were more complete.
Since those missing clips included more details and some of my disclaimers, and they trimmed the online videos for the sake of brevity, here is more information about Hawke Robinson (me): http://www.rpgresearch.com/about/staff/hawke-robinson
Short summary: I am registered with the Washington State Department of Health as a Recreational Therapist, but still working toward getting the national certification from NCTRC, the Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS). I am nearing completion of an interdisciplinary degree in Recreation Therapy, Music Therapy, Neuroscience, & Research Psychology at Eastern Washington University.

 

Clarifications, Corrections, & Disclaimers

Some clarifications and corrections that didn't make it into the clips or need clarification in the article.

I am registered with the Washington State Department of Health, I do not work for them.

I am working on an interdisciplinary undergraduate degree in Recreation Therapy, Music Therapy, Neuroscience, and Research Psychology through Eastern Washington University.

I am still working toward getting the national Therapeutic Recreation (TR) certification as a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS) through NCTRC. I have completed the required TR courses (and most of my other degree requirements), and I am now chiseling away at finishing my last few research psychology courses. I also have 2 internships to complete, one is a 16 week (40 hours/week) TR internship required to sit for the CTRS test, and a 10 week research psychology internship. Hopefully I will have all my degree requirements, the internships, and the CTRS requirements completed by the end of 2017, but no later than end of 2018.

I am an active member in good standing since 2014 for: American Therapeutic Recreation Association (ATRA) - http://www.atra-online.com, Washington State Therapeutic Recreation Association (WSTRA) - http://www.wstra.org, Pacific Northwest American Therapeutic Recreation Association (PNWATRA) - http://www.pnwatra.org (since January 2016), and I am Mental Health USA First Aid Certified - MHFAC.

More information about Hawke Robinson here: http://www.rpgresearch.com/about/staff/hawke-robinson