The Meaning of Play for Young People with Physical Disabilities

Abstract

As a primary area of occupation, play is central to the lives of children. Emerging views of play reflect the complexity of the area, and focus on the relationship between the person and the environment during play. This paper reports the results of a qualitative study of twenty adolescents with and without physical disabilities. The participants were interviewed about their perceptions and personal experiences of play. Through a textual analysis of the data, significant themes related to the nature of play, environmental barriers and supports, and personal influences on play were identified. Clinical implications are discussed in relation to these themes.