Toward An Engagement in Social Support: A Key to Community Integration in Rehabilitation

Creating Opportunities and Ensuring Access to Leisure and Recreation Services though Inclusion in the Global Community

“…As argued by Lee et al (2001), "Community integration is one of the most important as well as most frequently identified goals of rehabilitation and habilitation for people with disabilities" (p. 29). Therefore, inclusion refers to a philosophy that extends well beyond non-discrimination and seeks to take a proactive approach to including all people in programs of their choosing (Montgomery, 2002).…”

“…Historically, these issues have been marginalized by government funding to priorities such as military enhancement, policing, health care, education, and other social services. While few economic studies are available to chronicle the impact or outputs derived from full inclusion, these aspects of everyday life are considered essential by many in achieving quality in one's life (Compton & Iso-Ahola, 1994;Lee et al, 2001;Mahon et al, 2000). Likewise, it is essential to create understanding of the importance of access, inclusion, integration, and mainstream engagement of all people to systems that currently deliver services in communities-as many continue to dispense segregated, or exclusive programs, services, activities, or facilities.…”

The Experience of Posttraumatic Growth for People With Spinal Cord Injury

“…Kelly (1983) stated that people can experience social bonding with family and friends through engagement in leisure activities. Lee, McCormick, and Austin (2001) also noted that people can build meaningful social relationships through engagement in leisure activities because such engagement allows participants to experience commonality of experience and it facilitates enjoyable interactions with peers who have similar interest in an activity. In the same way, the findings in this study indicate that meaningful engagement provides opportunities to rebuild social relationships whereas traumatic experiences assist in strengthening family relationships.…”

Efficacy of leisure intervention groups in rehabilitation of people with an acquired brain injury

“…Some describe community integration as more than just a physical presence and the resumption of social roles. They believe it should also ideally include ongoing meaningful relationships of mutuality and reciprocity (Duck, 1994) that are formed through the development of shared phenomena (Lee, McCormick, & Austin, 2001).…”

“…Through continued interaction, the two people may reach another level where they begin to recognise equivalence of evaluation that is shared around the common experience that, finally, may then expand beyond a single common experience to other unrelated domains leading to a sharing of meaning (Duck, 1994). Lee, McCormick and Austin (2001) argue that most leisure activities have the potential for social interaction, and, with joint participation in an activity, there is often the opportunity for two individuals to create mutual interests that may trigger a relationship.…”