Disability Sport and Recreation

Catalog description

The purpose of this course is to provide students with an understanding of disability sports and recreation. Throughout the course students will explore the process for developing and implementing a disability sports program such as, but not limited to, identifying community need, determining budget and funding sources, assessing resources needed, and gaining experience in teaching a sport or recreation for individuals with disabilities. While exploring the development of disability sports students will gain an understanding of key historical, sociocultural, and biomedical issues that are unique to individuals with disabilities. Historical issues such as the treatment of individuals with disabilities within society and sport, and the impact that sport has had on acceptance of individuals with disabilities will be examined. Students will also compare and contrast the major international sports organizations as well as United States sport organizations that are specific to individuals with disabilities. Students will gain an understanding of cognitive, mental, and physical disabilities, and the interaction between disability type and other identities such as gender. These concepts will be emphasized with a variety of hands on experience with disability sports and sport equipment. In addition, students will utilize theory based learning to review key concepts of accessible recreation and sport programs for individuals with disabilities in the United States. Students will also gain an understanding of unique characteristics of individuals with disability, and appropriate adaptations for sport and recreational success. By the completion of the course students will be able to identify major resources and concepts for disability sport and recreation related to coaching, sport management, sports medicine, and program development in the United States. Throughout the course an emphasis will be placed on acquiring knowledge of and concern for inclusion of individuals with disabilities through sport.