The extent, context and experience of participation in out-of-school activities among children with disability

Background: A growing literature describes the participation of children with disability, but less is known about the effect of disability type, severity and environmental factors on participation. Aim: To investigate the extent, context, experience and preferences for participation in out-of-school activities among children with disability in Victoria, Australia. Methods and procedures: Two-hundred and eighty-six children (177 boys, 109 girls; mean age 11.5 years) with physical (n=77), intellectual (n=67), multiple (n=93), and other disabilities (n=49) took part. Data were collected using the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) and Preferences for Activities of Children (PAC) questionnaires. Outcomes and results: Children with disability participated in 28 out of 55 activities (SD 6 activities), 2-3 times per month, on average. Preference was the most important predictor of participation diversity for all activity types. Disability type was a predictor of participation diversity in active-physical activities only. Severity was a predictor of participation diversity overall, and of participation in formal and informal activities. Age, severity and preference accounted for almost 50% of the variance of diversity of recreational activities. Conclusions and implications: These results underscore the importance of taking a child's activity preferences into account when implementing interventions to increase participation in out-of-school activities.