Stuart J. Schleien

Patterns of Family Recreation in Families that Include Children with a Developmental Disability

Grounded in the naturalistic paradigm, the present exploratory study employed survey ( n = 65) and interview (n = 16) methods to examine patterns of family recreation in families including children with developmental disabilities. Statistical analyses were conducted on the quantitative data, while a key theme and constant comparative method was used to analyze the qualitative data. Three patterns (all family, sub-unit, and equal combination) were identified as characteristic of the family recreation of the families included in this study. The sub-unit pattern predominated and typically involved mothers in activities with their children with a developmental disability or all of their children. Furthermore, family recreation was family-initiated, informal, and occurred with equal frequency in home and community settings. Variations in patterns of family recreation associated with child (e.g., age, birth order) and family (e.g., income, employment status) specific characteristics were also presented.

Improving Integration Outcomes for Children with and Without Severe Disabilities Through Cooperatively Structured Recreation Activities: A Synthesis of Research

The use of cooperative learning strategies within integrated recreational activities has proven to be a powerful combination in facilitating the inclusion of children with and without disabilities. This article offers a synthesis of research in this area, addressing five interrelated questions with experimental findings that should assist program leaders to plan, direct, and sustain successful inclusionary recreation programs.

Developing Independent Cooking Skills in a Profoundly Retarded Woman

This article outlines the instruction, acquisition, and generalization of three cooking skills by a severely handicapped woman. Instruction took place at a community adult developmental center for 15 minutes per skill, five days per week. Systematic instruction using applied behavioral analysis and a series of special material and procedural adaptations were implemented. A multiple baseline design across three cooking skills was employed. Within 36, 46, and 23 sessions, boiling an egg, broiling an english muffin and cheese, and baking a TV dinner were acquired, respectively. Generalization probes were carried out in different environments and across materials. These probes exhibited a significant increase of task analysis steps performed independently, and they suggested the acquisition of functional stove uses that could be utilized for a number of other recipes.

Adult Leisure Education for the Independent Use of a Community Recreation Center

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate a leisure education training program designed to teach the complete and functional use of a community recreation center to two adults with severe mental retardation. Since these individuals resided in a group home in close proximity to the recreation center, this recreation program was deemed socially valid by group home and park board staff. Community recreation center use by nonhandicapped citizens of the neighborhood was utilized in this program as the training standard. Within a multiple baseline design across three recreational activities involving the recreation center, the participants acquired the skills necessary to access and use the recreational facility without the presence of the care provider. Results demonstrated that individuals with severe mental retardation could (a) acquire age-appropriate leisure skills to independently use a neighborhood center; (b) access a neighborhood recreation center in the absence of the residential care provider; and (c) partially, but effectively, interact with agency staff concerning personal preferences of recreational activities.

Using Photovoice to listen to adults with intellectual disabilities on being part of the community

Imagine if you were offered a glance through the lens of a very unique photographer: a member of your community who has an intellectual or developmental disability (ID/DD). A community-based participatory research method, Photovoice, was used to enable seven individuals with ID/DD the opportunity to document their lives through the use of photography and discuss their interests, hopes and dreams. Specifically, this methodology provided them with opportunities to share their concerns about their community access and communicate with the larger community using photographs and the collective ideas of the group. Common themes were revealed among the participants, including their hidden talents, community membership and sense of belonging, consumerism and making choices, desired independence, limited connections to the community and a desire to be treated as adults. Two themes – community membership and desire for independence – are expounded upon, as they appeared to be the most relevant to improving ones quality of life and greater self-determination.

Diffusion of Innovation: A Roadmap for Inclusive Community Recreation Services

Inclusive community recreation is an optimal environment for the development of recreation and sports skills and social relationships between people with and without disabilities. Although we know much about best practices for inclusion, little systemic change in recreation agencies has transpired. Diffusion of Innovation Theory is proposed as a framework for understanding what must occur for inclusive recreation practices to become more systemic throughout community recreation agencies. The theory rests on the premise that aspects such as how quickly an innovation is adopted, by whom, and when are subject to predictable variables based on attributes of the innovation and characteristics of the individual or group of adopters. The theory proposes that once agencies falling into one of the first three groups have adopted an innovation, a “tipping point” is reached. The tipping point is the point after which further diffusion of the innovation becomes self-sustaining. In this case, inclusive recreation would spread quickly until it became standard operating procedure. A thorough understanding of this theory, especially as it relates to characteristics of adopter groups, could potentially provide a roadmap for change agents regarding the roles that they could play to ensure that the tipping point, where people of all abilities have ongoing access to the community, is reached.

Teaming Up for Inclusive Volunteering: A Case Study of a Volunteer Program for Youth with and without Disabilities

Abstract Volunteerism is a recreational activity that may hold the key to greater social inclusion for individuals with disabilities into our communities. Facilitating inclusive volunteering opportunities for youth with and without disabilities has a potential scope of impact that must not be ignored, including benefits to the youth and our communities. A case study of an inclusive youth volunteer program is described. Outcomes for participants included increased knowledge of volunteerism, increased social interaction, and psychosocial outcomes such as increased belief in self and increased sense of responsibility. The feasibility and sustainability of inclusive volunteer programs, as well as future programming and research needs are also discussed.