PLAY LONG: The Effect of Sports and Recreation Participation for Young chiLdren With physicAl disabilitY

PLAY LONG: The Effect of Sports and Recreation Participation for Young chiLdren With physicAl disabilitY - Longitudinal Study

Ten year longitudinal survey following children with disabilities who have participated in Sports and Recreation from a young age (5 to 10), and the parents of children who have participated in Sports and Recreation at a young age (5 to 10). These children will be followed for 10 years with surveys every 6 months, whether they are currently participating in sports and recreation activities or not.

The purpose of this longitudinal study is to examine the effects of early participation in organized sports and recreation activities (S&R) on self-reported health and health-related quality of life of children and youth (C&Y) with disabilities and their parent-reported social participation. This project will examine child and parent reported differences between:

1. C&Y with disabilities who participate in S&R and those who have discontinued participation in S&R programs
2. C&Y with disabilities who participate in sports vs. those who participate in recreation, and
3. C&Y with disabilities who participate in S&R and normative data on C&Y with disabilities and those without disabilities.

Inclusion Criteria:

• At the time of enrollment, the child must be between the ages of 5 and 10 and be participating in an adapted sports and recreation program.
• At the time of enrollment, the parent must have a child between the ages of 5 and 10, who is participating in an adapted sports and recreation program.
• Children and parents who are enrolled in the study will continue to participate in the study for 10 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Children who are younger than 5 or older than 10 will not be entered into the study, nor will parents whose children are younger than 5 or older than 10 be entered into the study. .
• Individuals who do not read and write in English will be excluded from the study.
• Children who are wards of the state, or in foster care will be excluded from the study.