Implementation and Organisation of Leisure Activities for Children with Disabilities: Coping with Difficulties

ABSTRACT

The participation of children with disabilities in leisure activities is more limited than that of their peers without disabilities, despite the recognised social and emotional benefits derived from leisure activities. The aim of this study was to understand the difficulties encountered by organisational staff responsible for such activities and their ways of coping with such difficulties. The difficulties reported by organisational staff members were similar to those reported by parents, according to the professional literature. Their ways of coping with the difficulties encountered are proposed as guidelines for developing and managing successful activities for children with disabilities. The discussion reveals the need to address environmental factors, as a measure for ensuring successful leisure activities for children with disabilities.

KEYWORDS:

• Children with disabilities
• leisure
• participation
• policy
• quality of life

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.