Current status of intramural and recreational sports programming for students with physical disabilities attending selected postsecondary institutions

The purposes of this investigation were (1) to determine the extent to which postsecondary recreational sports directors were providing recreational sports programs for students with physical disabilities, and (2) to examine the nature of recreational sports programs regarding specific characteristics.;The method used in selecting the study population was through random sampling. Five hundred and thirty-five recreational sports directors from the senior institutions of the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) were selected.;The instrument used in the study was a questionnaire. It was eight pages in length and could be completed in 45 minutes. It was comprised of five major sections, background information; program coordination; programmed activities; categories of participation; and facility and area accessibility.;The procedure utilized for data collection consisted of mail distribution of the questionnaire. The respondents were asked to complete the survey and then to return it in the self-addressed stamped envelope. A period of four weeks was established for the return deadline date. One week prior to the deadline date all non-respondents were mailed a follow-up letter. This research process yielded a 37.7% return rate.;The major conclusions of the study, based on the four research questions, were that there was a significant relationship with respect to the participation level in recreational sports programs of students with physical disabilities enrolled in public postsecondary institutions as compared to students with physical disabilities enrolled in private postsecondary institutions (p =.0061). There was a significant relationship with respect to the participation level in recreational sports programs of students with physicals disabilities attending a residential campus as compared to students with physical disabilities attending a commuter campus (p =.0001). There was a significant relationship with respect to the participation level in recreational sports programs of residential students with physical disabilities as compared to commuter students with physical disabilities (p =.0030). There is no significant relationship with respect to the participation level in recreational sports programs of students with physical disabilities attending institutions that had a degree program in adapted physical education, therapeutic recreation, or special education as compared to the participation level of students with physical disabilities attending institutions which did not provide such degree programs.