Social Interaction in an Integrated Day Camp Setting

Authors

  • Dawn Edwards
  • Ralph Smith

Keywords:

Mainstreaming, integration, children with disabilities, community recreation, day camping

Abstract

This study examined the extent to which attendance at an integrated summer day camp program increased the number of appropriate social interactions and decreased the number of inappropriate social interactions between children with disabilities and their peers who did not have disabilities. Subjects (N = 8) were from six to eight years of age; in addition, a separate sample of children without disabilities (N = 8) was selected for an ex post facto analysis. A total of 96 observations per week was made per subject. The mean number of appropriate social interactions between campers with disabilities and their peers without disabilities increased significantly from week one (M = 28.4) to week two (M = 32.3). The mean number of inappropriate interactions did not decrease significantly. The difference between the mean increase (week one to week two) in appropriate interactions for campers with disabilities (M = 3.9) and campers without disabilities (M = 2.3) approached significance (p = .07). The results support the use of an integrated day camp program to increase appropriate social interactions.

Published

1989-07-01

Issue

Section

Research Papers