Multicultural issues with special populations in recreation settings: An exploratory study

This study examined characteristics of multicultural modalities with special populations in recreation programs at various Florida based settings. These included public schools, community programs, veterans hospitals and public hospitals. Qualitative research methodology including questionnaires, interviews, and a case study was used to determine program administrators' and front-line, professional practitioners' perceptions of ideal multicultural components and strategies for their programs and common obstacles faced by program leaders and practitioners as they attempt to develop and incorporate multicultural variables in their programs. Multicultural variables examined included the learning styles of African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American and Native-American populations and the preferred recreational choices of African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic-American and Native-American populations.;Interviews focused upon gaining a clearer understanding of the multicultural complexities present in each program. Surveys were distributed to 168 practitioners. Responses were received from 113 practitioners. This constituted a return rate of 66.⅔%. Questionnaire data and interview responses were analyzed to investigate the appropriateness and applicability of multicultural learning styles and recreational choices in these programs as well as to reveal barriers to the implementation of various multicultural practices in these programs. Obstacles to implementation of multicultural, recreational best program practices identified by program managers included scheduling difficulties, the existence of practitioners unfamiliar with multicultural learning styles and recreational choices, dominant culture influences, and programming limitations stemming from these deficits and/or minimal levels of financial support. A case study was incorporated into the dissertation that documented the efforts of one hospital-based, therapeutic recreation program to incorporate multicultural learning variables and multicultural recreation choices in their program and the challenges faced by practitioners there mirrored many of the barriers described by program managers and practitioners throughout the interviews.;Findings organized in a research taxonomy led to a series of recommendations that focused on the central role of the professional practitioners in multicultural program change initiatives. Recommendations included increasing shared decision making among recreation program stakeholders, offering development training in multicultural variables to all staff members and expanding implementation of interdisciplinary efforts to incorporate bilingual strategies with Limited English-Proficient participants. These results support the advocation of improved utilization of multicultural networks and increased development of partnerships with programs that traverse the life span for special populations in order to share best professional practices and common program concerns.