An Exploration of the Influence of Educational Placement on the Community Recreation and Leisure Patterns of Children with Developmental Disabilities

Abstract

This study explored the recreation and leisure patterns of children with moderate to severe developmental disabilities. 28 parents of children labeled “trainable mentally handicapped” were questioned about the type of sport, exercise, and social activities their children participated in as well as about the opportunities for social inclusion with nondisabled peers that these activities afforded their children. Analyses indicated that most of the children participated in segregated recreation and leisure activities. However, after adjusting for age, an analysis of covariance showed that children placed in more socially integrated educational settings participated in significantly more inclusive recreational activities than children who were served in segregated educational settings.