On the 25th Anniversary of the ADA: How Inclusive Are Campus Recreation Programs?

On the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is well known that postsecondary institutions' programs, including campus recreation, must be accessible to people with disabilities. This study critiqued the inclusiveness, and specifically, the welcoming environment of campus recreation programs in the Big Ten by conducting a content analysis of those institutions' websites. Campus recreation programs were targeted because their purpose is to serve the recreational sport needs of all students, faculty, and staff in the campus community. The content analysis used enumerative techniques for determining frequencies as well as qualitative coding techniques of manifest and latent coding. Enumerative results indicated the majority of schools offered minimal programming and equipment for people with disabilities while four themes emerged from the qualitative analysis. The results are discussed along with recommendations for campus recreation programs in creating a welcoming environment and a more inclusive culture for students with disabilities.