 | The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
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| The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA |
Donna Bainbridge, PT, EdD, ATC, Meg Ann Traci, PhD, Sarah Geurts, BS, and Megan Gordon, BA. Rural Institute, University of Montana, 52 Corbin Hall, Missoula, MT 59812, 406 243-5741, dbridge@selway.umt.edu
A set of Special Olympics (SO) items were included in the Life Quality and Health Survey sent to adults with developmental disabilities (DD) in semi-independent and supported living arrangements. Two hundred fifty surveys (~78%), completed with a knowledgeable personal assistant, were returned for analysis.
Eighty-two percent of respondents reported full awareness of SO sports programming. Of these respondents, 50% currently participate in SO programs. Another 14% stated that they did not know about SO opportunities. Essentially equal numbers of respondents with mild DD were in participation and non-participation groups; however, respondents with moderate DD were more likely to participate, while respondents with severe DD were significantly less likely to participate. An approximately equal number of group home and supported living residents were in participation and non-participation groups, but of 19 respondents in independent living arrangements, only two participated.
Average length of participation in SO for this sample was 10 years with a wide range of reported participation years (1 to 50). Average age of participants was 41 years (range 20 to 73 years). For respondents who did not participate, 62% reported no interest in participation. The remaining respondents didn’t participate secondary to health problems (18%) or other reasons (10%), such as physical limitations, supervision, age and cost.
Significant differences were noted between participants and non-participants in the experience of limitation from secondary conditions. Participated reported less limitation from physical fitness and conditioning problems, problems with mobility, respiratory problems, and balance problems/dizziness. BMIs of participants and non-participants did not differ significantly.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Health Promotion, Disability Studies
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.