CHAPTER 5Barriers to Recreation Participation

BARRIER VS. CONSTRAINTS

Stop or inhibit participation

Move to concept of constraints over last couple of decades

MOST COMMON CONSTRAINTS??

What constraints do you experience in your leisure participation?

2 most often cited by general population??

HIERARCHICAL TYPOLOGY OF CONSTRAINTS (CRAWFORD AND GODBEY)

Intrapersonal (within person: fear, lack of confidence, lack of energy, etc.)

Interpersonal (between people: time schedules, different interests, lack of someone with whom to participate, etc.)

Structural (outside of person: lack of accessibility, attitude, etc.)

Must solve intrapersonal, interpersonal, and then structural (order)

CONSTRAINTS NEGOTIATION (JACKSON, CRAWFORD, AND GODBEY, 1993)

People negotiate constraints—participation is not necessarily stopped or inhibited

Constraint Negotiation Strategies: behavioral (approx 90 – 95 percent) cognitive (approx 5 – 10 percent) combination of both strategies

CONSTRAINTS AND PWD

PWD experience same/similar constraints as do persons without disabilities; however, pwd may experience these constraints in an intensified manner and may have additional constraints specifically related to disability

TYPES OF BARRIERS

Intrinsic Barriers are constraints that result from an individual’s own physical, emotional, or cognitive limitations.

Environmental Barriers are composed of many external forces that are imposed on the individual by societal or natural conditions.

INTRINSIC BARRIERS

Lack of Knowledge Individuals are unable to recognize their

maximum level of leisure functioning because they lack essential knowledge of programs, facilities, and other recreation/leisure resources.

Why/How does this happen?

Solutions?

INTRINSIC BARRIERS

Social Ineffectiveness Individuals display ineffective social skills and

inappropriate behavior in social situations due to parental overprotection, segregation from peers without disabilities, and inadequate feedback on social situations.

Results in a depression/isolation/depression cycle

Solutions?

INTRINSIC BARRIERS

Health Problems Some types of disabilities present recurring

health problems which can make participation in certain activities very limited.

Does every person with a disability have health-related problems?

Contraindications Solutions?

INTRINSIC BARRIERS Physical and Psychological Dependency

Occurs when persons with disabilities do not achieve independent functioning, not due to the actual impact of their disability, but to “learning” to be dependent by being overprotected and/or over assisted by others

Physical dependence occurs when someone does “too” much for persons with disabilities—tasks the he or she could do for him/herself

Psychological dependence becomes “internalized oppression” and does not foster initiative, creative thought, risk-taking, and perseverance in action

Learned helplessness results Can be specific or global

INTRINSIC BARRIERS

Skill/Challenge Gap Occurs when the challenge presented by an

activity does not match the skills of the participant

If challenge is high and skill is low: anxiety occurs

If challenge is low and skills are high: boredom occurs 

Why/How does this occur specific to persons with disabilities?

Solutions?

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS

Attitudinal Barriers Behaviors, which may be exhibited by family,

friends, or strangers, are broken down into three categories:

1) Negative behaviors inform the individual that he or she has less value than a person who does not have a disability.

2) Paternalistic behaviors occur when people treat adolescents/adults with a disability like they are children.

3) Apathetic behaviors take place when people without a disability do not portray feelings of sympathy, understanding, or caring toward people who have a disability.

Which behaviors can be changed?

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS

Architectural Barriers Structures such as buildings and walkways that

present an obstacle for people with disabilities. Solution?

Ecological Barriers Physical obstacles, such as hills, trees, sand, and

rain, that occur in the natural environment. Solutions?

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS

Transportation Barriers The lack of usable/affordable transportation for

individuals with a disability can prevent individuals from participating in community resources.

Solutions?  Economic Barriers

Financial restrictions caused by limited job opportunities, low-paying positions, and high cost for special transportation and assistance for people with disabilities.

Solutions?

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS

Rules and Regulations Barrier When existing rules and regulations of an agency

inhibit or stop recreation participation by persons with disabilities

Examples in text Solutions?

ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS

Barriers of Omission Failure of society to provide for the needs of

individuals who have disabilities. Failure to provide accessible facilities, failure

to advertise programs, failure to make accommodations, etc. 

Solutions?