Mary Ann Devine

Come on in, but not too far: social capital in an inclusive leisure setting.

The purpose of this research was to explore the nature of relationships that develop in an inclusive youth camp context using the framework of social capital. Inclusive recreation contexts are designed to promote awareness and minimize differences among participants with and without disabilities. Eight campers including four with disabilities and four without disabilities ranging in age from 12-16 were interviewed. Three conceptual categories were constructed related to social capital: reciprocity and investment, inclusion as camouflage, and roles played in mediating social capital. Findings indicate that social relationships among the campers were mixed in their facilitation of social capital. The assertion that social structures are hierarchical and reflect relative positions of status, power, and prestige was evident in this context.

Constraining and freeing: the meaning of inclusive leisure experiences for individuals with disabilities.

Abstract Meanings are ascribed to behaviours, objects, and language through a process of social interaction. It has been noted that meaning is experience creating in that the ways in which behaviours, objects, and language are defined creates the experience (Buchanan, Christensen, & Burdge, 1981). The meaning of leisure experiences are important as it aids in understanding and explaining human behaviour (Mobily, 1989). The purpose of this study was to examine the meaning of inclusive leisure by individuals with disabilities on the recreation experience. Findings revealed that the meaning of inclusive leisure ranged from constraining to freeing, with context and the role of the social group emerging as pivotal factors in creating those meanings. This study expands the understanding of inclusive leisure environments by giving voice to individuals with disabilities, with focus on context and the role of the social group.

Examining Perceptions of Social Acceptance and Quality of Life of Pediatric Campers with Physical Disabilities

The purpose of this study was to examine perceptions of social acceptance (SA) and quality of life (QOL) amongst youth with disabilities who participated in a weeklong residential camp experience with similar peers. Findings demonstrated moderate quantitative correlational results between the constructs of SA and QOL. Strong qualitative outcomes three months post camp demonstrate the powerful social impact of the camp experience. These findings related to the theme of a supportive community that is consistent with other findings on the therapeutic value of community at specialty camps for children with disabilities. Despite favorable social support memories, qualitative analysis revealed a general negative feeling from campers of the lack of transference of these positive social experiences to their local communities. This new finding, although preliminary in nature, begins to paint a picture of the possible need for the development of follow-on programming post social treatment at camp.

Who Should Inhabit Leisure? Disability, Embodiment, and Access to Leisure

This chapter explores who should inhabit or have access to leisure? The purpose of the chapter is to expose the discourses surrounding access of people with disabilities to leisure experiences. From this frame, we discuss ways in which access to leisure is shaped around discourses of the body, how discourses of the body are a response (e.g., political, cultural, historical, and theoretical) to difference, and ways in which leisure can be understood based on the various discourses surrounding embodiment of people with disabilities. One point of discussion is the social context of embodiment and disability. Specifically, we discuss how context shapes discourses around embodiment and disability. Lastly, the chapter considers the ways the discourses around disability shape the leisure discussion with a focus on how some differences are valued and others are not.