Perceived benefits, constraints, and patterns of physical recreation of hispanic families with children with disabilities

Participation in physical recreation activities is beneficial for individuals with and without disabilities. The rights of participation of individuals with disabilities are protected to ensure equal participation in community activities like recreation. However, there is lack of understanding and lack of research regarding barriers that limit families of children with disabilities participation in physical recreational activities. Research on patterns of recreation has been conducted primarily with white, middle class families with few participants of other ethnic groups with most of the research focused on individual benefits. There is limited research examining the benefits of participation in physical recreational activities for the family as a whole. In addition, there is a lack of research on Hispanic families regarding their recreational patterns especially on those families with children with disabilities. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to: a) identifY the benefits of physical recreation; (b) identifY the patterns of physical recreation; and (c) to identifY barriers, if any, to participation in physical recreation activities among Hispanic families with children with disabilities living in the United States. Ten interviews were conducted with Hispanic parents with children with disabilities. Three themes emerged from the interviews. These themes were: (a) Psychological Benefits for the Child; (b) Comfortable, Manageable, and Informal Children-Driven Activities; and (c) Internal and External Constraints. These themes were supported by subthemes. The results of this study demonstrated Hispanic families with a child with a disability tend to participate in a wide variety of informal recreational activities, and they highly value the psychological benefits that arise from being active. These families may face constraints that impact their physical recreation choices, but they manage to engage in activity whenever possible. Even though they try to do the very best for their children with disabilities, they voiced their desire to receive help from specialists in regard to community programs and activities the whole family can practice.