The Meaning of Summer Camp Experiences to Youths with Disabilities

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to capture the meaning of segregated summer camp experiences to youths with disabilities. The experiences of nine youths with physical, sensory, or behavioral disabilities between the ages of 14 and 19 were captured using the phenomenological methods of semistructured interviews, document review, and field notes. Mothers’ perceptions were also gathered. The thematic analysis revealed three themes: not alone, independence, and a chance to discover. Camp experiences provided a reprieve from perceptions of disability isolation often felt in their home communities. The campers experienced increased self-reliance, independence, and new understandings of their physical potential. The findings are discussed within the context of identity development and therapeutic landscapes.

Peers as Resources for Learning: A Situated Learning Approach to Adapted Physical Activity in Rehabilitation

“…The results presented above support the findings of several recent studies that have pointed to the value of segregated settings (cf., Ashton-Shaeffer et al, 2001;Goodwin et al, 2006;Goodwin & Staples, 2005;Groff & Kleiber, 2001). In this study, it is the resources for learning in such settings that are highlighted.…”

“…In adapted physical activity, there has been a growing interest in the advantages of participation in disability-specific settings, for example for meaningful interaction (Castañeda & Sherrill, 1999;Goodwin, Fitzpatrick, Thurmeier, & Hall, 2006) and development of identity among youths (Goodwin & Staples, 2005;Groff & Kleiber, 2001). Staples (2005) used Gesler's (1992) notion of therapeutic landscape to study the meanings and experiences for youths with disabilities participating in a summer camp.…”

Considering values in the sport experiences of wheelchair basketball players

“…this knowledge helped the players identify barriers as they emerged and, then, attempt to overcome them. Also, sport boosted their motivation and resolve to persevere in their actions and ventures [2,9,10,17,21,22].…”

“…the resumption of such practices was also encouraged by the players' perseverance and good physical capability, developed through sport. this outcome was not undercut even by a greater risk of injury, trauma, or damage to health, to which the wheelchair basketball players were susceptible [2,7,17,21,22,[32][33][34].…”

“…-cognitive function -through sport, individuals gain self-knowledge and define their status in the society [8,21,22]; -motivational function -through sport, individuals are motivated to act as well as to select methods and techniques for goal achievement and need satisfaction [2]; -educational function -through sport, individuals develop particular pro-social attitudes, e.g. fairness, responsibility [10,17]; -expressive function -through sport, individuals manifest their emotional states [2,8];…”