Research on Rec Participation of Children with Physical Disabilities

The latest issue of the journal Children's Health Care (Summer 2006, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 209 - 234) contains a research article titled, "Predictors of Leisure and Recreation Participation of Children with Physical Disabilities." The article is authored by a group from Canada.

The findings should prove informative to RTs working with children with physical disabilities. The authors concluded: "Service providers can play an important role in helping children and families to recognize the multiple factors influencing (recreation and leisure) participation. Service providers may find it beneficial to formally assess children's functional abilities and activity preferences, family engagement in social and recreational activities, and family activity preferences and to discuss these aspects with families, because these are the major factors influencing participation" (p. 229).

It is good to see research related to recreation being conducted by those from outside of our field. To me, this reflects that others are beginning to understand the importance of recreation and leisure.