This research uses contact theory to examine the impact of a service learning class on college students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Students were involved in both lecture material and working directly with people with disabilities in a therapeutic camp environment. Eighty-four students responded to the questionnaires at three time periods over the course of the semester. One-way repeated measures ANOVA and mixed-model ANOVA were performed to study the changes in students’ attitudes. The results indicate that there was a change in attitudes after 12 weeks of course instruction and between the beginning of class and after the camp experience. Also, gender and academic major were found to have had little impact on students’ attitudes toward people with disabilities. Implications and limitations of this research are discussed and thoughts for future research are addressed.
This study examined factors surrounding the development and advancement of campus intramural programming for college students with physical disabilities. Campus recreation staff from 164 universities completed a survey examining campus programming for students with and without physical disabilities, marketing, modifications, barriers, needs, and strategies for developing adapted and inclusive intramural sports programming. Weight training, cardiovascular training, and personal training were among the most reported programming designed to include students with physical disabilities. Wheelchair basketball is among the longest-running intramural programs with sitting volleyball, goalball, and beep baseball increasing in popularity. Environmental and equipment accessibility was a predominant strategy and accommodation to facilitate inclusive programming, with the primary reason for not including adapted or inclusive intramural programming attributed to lack of request or too few students with physical disabilities on campus. Additional results and discussion address best practices and recommendations to initiate and improve programming for students with physical disabilities.
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