Adult Leisure Education for the Independent Use of a Community Recreation Center

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate a leisure education training program designed to teach the complete andfunctional use of a community recreation center to two adults with severe mental retar dation. Since these individuals resided in a group home in close proximity to the recreation center, this recrea tion program was deemed socially valid by group home and park board staff. Community recreation center use by nonhandicapped citizens of the neighborhood was utilized in this program as the training standard.Within a multiple baseline design across three recre ational activities involving the recreation center, the participants acquired the skills necessary to access and use the recreational facility without the presence of the care provider. Results demonstrated that individuals with severe mental retardation could (a) acquire ageappropriate leisure skills to independently use a neigh borhood center; (b) access a neighborhood recreation center in the absence of the residential care provider; and (c) partially, but effectively, interact with agency staff concerning personal preferences of recreational ac tivities.

A Review of Self-Determination Interventions with Individuals with Severe Disabilities

“…All of the studies that taught choice making used systematic instruction (N ‫ס‬ 10, 100%) with one study (N ‫ס‬ 1, 10%) using systematic instruction in combination with social stories (Barry & Burlew, 2004). Systematic instruction included the use of systematic prompting procedures, including time delay (Browder, Cooper, & Lim, 1998;Kennedy & Haring, 1993;Singh, Lancioni, O'Reilly, Molina, Adkins, & Oliva, 2003) and least-to-most prompting (Barry & Burlew, 2004;Schleien & Larson, 1986;Sigafoos, Roberts, Couzens, & Kerr, 1993). Also, in all of the choicemaking studies, systematic delivery of reinforcement used the choice items as the reinforcers.…”

“…Although the total body of literature on selfdetermination intervention research now shows a greater focus on meeting the needs of individuals with mild and moderate disabilities (Algozzine, Browder, Karvonen, Test, & Wood, 2001), some of the earliest intervention research was conducted by researchers interested in increasing self-determination component skills of individuals with severe to profound disabilities. From the Algozzine et al meta-analysis of the eight earliest studies conducted between 1978 and 1987, five were focused on developing choice-making skills and/or determining preferences of individuals with severe disabilities (Dattilo & Rusch, 1985;Mithaug & Hanawalt, 1978;Mithaug & Mar, 1980;Nietupski et al, 1986;Schleien & Larson, 1986). Around the same time, Shevin and Klein (1984) published their seminal article on the importance of choice-making skills in the lives of individuals with severe disabilities.…”

Recreation and Leisure Likes/Dislikes of Senior Citizens with Mental Retardation

“…Many recreation programs are still segregated; particularly those serving individuals with severe disabilities (Schleien & Larson, 1986). Segregation patterns range from occasional and incidental to major and total isolation (Schoultz & Jessing, 1986).…”

Design and evaluation of a coalition-led obesity initiative to promote healthy eating and physical activity in low-income, ethnically diverse communities: the Go! Austin/Vamos! Austin initiative

“…About 42% of individuals, however, did report using the public recreation center at least once a week, indicating that this resource could be a good location for the implementation of future physical activity programming or for other community programs, such as food stands or food delivery. Other studies indicate the use of recreation centers as hubs for other healthy living activities, such as adult education training programs that include the learning of time management skills and that provide a sense of belonging [37].…”