Profiles of Inclusion in Recreational Settings: A Case Study of Youth Programs in a Small Midwestern Community

The increasing presence of students with disabilities in regular school classrooms during the past decade has received a great deal of attention from researchers, parents, and practitioners. The participation of children with special needs in recreational and youth development arenas, such as sports teams, scouting, and drop-in recreation centers has not been discussed or researched to nearly the same extent. But the lives of youngsters with disabilities do not end when they exit their classrooms. This study brings to the recreation and youth development arenas the same heightened scrutiny that has attended classroom participation by those who once would have been excluded. The study uses methods of qualitative inquiry, including interviews, observations, and the review of documents. It is an in-depth case study of the youth activities in one community, a town of 14,000. The voices of children, parents, volunteer leaders and recreational staff are blended with the author's observations and interpretations.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Fink, Dale Borman

Contributors dc:contributor

• Fowler, Susan A.

• Sociology, Public and Social Welfare

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI9737102

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/80168