Utilising Paralympic skill lab in higher education: exploring the student experience

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this exploratory study was to understand the impact of Paralympic Skill Lab (PSL) including how students experienced the skill lab, feelings about the experience, and the manner in which the skill lab informed perceptions of, or actions toward, inclusion and disability sport. A convenience sample of 77 undergraduate students enrolled in a general education lifetime fitness and wellness kinesiology course (M_age=19.64; 50.65% male, 79.22% Caucasian) completed a short questionnaire. After data collection was complete, long-format responses were compiled into a spreadsheet and open-coded by the first and second authors, independently. In total, participants’ responses were coded into 134, 105, 92, and 57 codes for the four long-format questions, respectively. The most common response categories were fun, challenging, would do again, eye-opening, and negative assumptions about disability. Paralympic sport education experiences executed with contact theory as the theoretical foundation offer an avenue for enlightenment toward disability and inclusion.

KEYWORDS:

• Perceptions
• disability sport
• university
• inclusion

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Cathy McKay

Cathy McKay, Ed.D., CAPE, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Kinesiology at James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA). Her research is focused on social inclusion, contact theory, and parasport education and awareness. McKay is a Research Fellow with the Research Council of SHAPE America, and is Vice President of the International Federation of Adapted Physical Activity (IFAPA).

Jenna McMahon

Jenna McMahon, M.A.T., in a Middle School Teacher in Henrico County Public Schools (Henrico, VA), and a graduate of James Madison University. Her research is focused on adapted and parasport education, and peer attitudes. McMahon is Vice President of the General Division of the Virginia Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

Justin Haegele

Justin Haegele, Ph.D., CAPE, is an associate professor in the Department of Human Movement Sciences at Old Dominion University (Norfolk, VA). His research focuses on the interdisciplinary field of adapted physical activity, with a primary interest in examining how individuals with disabilities experience physical activity participation. Haegele is a Research Fellow with the Research Council of SHAPE America and Associate Editor for Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly and Quest.

Jana Walters

Jana Walters, M.S., is an Instructor in the Department of Kinesiology at James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA). She enjoys research related to fitness, wellness, and parasport education and awareness. Walters is the coordinator of the Lifetime Fitness and Wellness program at James Madison University.