Therapeutic Recreation and Disability Studies: Seeking an Alliance

Authors

  • Charles Sylvester Western Washington University

Keywords:

therapeutic recreation, disability studies, social model of disability, recreation inclusion, bio-psycho-social

Abstract

The disciplines of therapeutic recreation and disability studies are committed to studying and acting on the effects of disability in the lives of people. Ironically, there is little intersection between the two disciplines, which is the result of their fundamentally different approaches to disability. This analysis examines the detachment between therapeutic recreation and disability studies. After an introduction to its origin, principles, and main themes, the status of disability studies in therapeutic recreation is assessed by a selective review of literature. Key implications from the framework of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health are then addressed, followed by recommendations. An alliance with disability studies would enable therapeutic recreation to better understand and serve disabled people while bringing therapeutic recreation into the body of disability studies.

Author Biography

Charles Sylvester, Western Washington University

Charles Sylvester is a professor in the Department of Physical Education, Health, and Recreation at Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA. He can be reached at Charles.Sylvester@wwu.edu

Published

2013-11-14

Issue

Section

Regular Papers