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Description

Despite the large number of children with disabilities, there is no research focused on the experience that families with a child who has a disability have while at theme parks. Utilizing surveys and semi-structured interviews, this mixed-methods study explored the experiences of these families, specifically looking at accessibility and participation within the theme park environment. Thirty-seven parents/guardians completed the online survey, while ten individuals also elected to participate in the semi-structured interviews. Results of the study revealed that families are driven to visit theme parks by a want for connectedness. The positives of theme parks include the staff/cast members and changing technology. There are areas for improvement, such as: physical design and current accessibility resources.

Publication Date

Spring 4-15-2024

Publisher

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Keywords

Accessibility, Environmental accessibility, Theme parks, Children with disabilities, Occupational participation

Medical Subject Headings

Child, Disabled Children, Parents, Technology, Occupational Therapy, Participation

Disciplines

Environmental Design | Occupational Therapy

Comments

Poster presented at the Virtual OTD Capstone Symposium, held online at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences on April 10-17, 2024.

Theme Park Experiences of Families with a Child who has a Disability Regarding Accessibility and Participation - A mixed methods study

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