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Description

Adaptive sports and recreation (ASR) refers to recreational and competitive physical activities modified to be inclusive and accessible for persons with disabilities (PWD), adjusting equipment, rules, instruction, and environmental setup to support participation across a wide range of physical, cognitive, and sensory abilities. PWD often report feeling disempowered due to social stigma, inaccessible environments, and limited opportunities to make meaningful choices about leisure and community life. A lack of diverse and consistent ASR opportunities within communities collectively hinders participation and negatively impacts overall well-being. Utilizing the Person Environment Occupation Performance (PEOP) theoretical framework, this capstone project developed a 10-week swimming adaptive and sports recreation program that leverages community strengths and mitigates environmental barriers, with the goal of providing diverse and consistent opportunities for individuals to engage in meaningful adaptive sports and recreation activities. This AquaAbility Waves of Empowerment program implementation manual is an educational resource designed to guide occupational therapy (OT) practitioners, recreation programs, and community organizations through the process of establishing and operating an adaptive inclusive aquatics program. The program is a comprehensive, evidence-based approach to adaptive aquatics and recreation for PWD. Once implemented, this program aims to yield several positive outcomes, including improved physical health markers, greater social inclusion, increased confidence, enhanced quality of life, fostered sense of empowerment, and expanded attitudinal shift and inspiration.

Publication Date

Fall 12-2025

Publisher

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences

Keywords

Occupational Therapy, Quality of Life, Social Inclusion, Social Stigma, Community Participation, Sports for Persons with Disabilities, Recreation, Swimming, Disabled Persons, Occupations, Cognition, Disempowered, inaccessible, PEOP, Aquatics, Program Development

Medical Subject Headings

Occupational Therapy, Quality of Life, Social Inclusion, Social Stigma, Community Participation, Sports for Persons with Disabilities, Recreation, Swimming, Disabled Persons, Occupations, Cognition, Disempowered, inaccessible, PEOP, Aquatics, Program Development

Disciplines

Accessibility | Interprofessional Education | Occupational Therapy | Other Rehabilitation and Therapy

Comments

Poster presented at the OTD Capstone Symposium held at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences on December 18, 2025.

Empowerment Through Creating an Adaptive Sports and Recreation Program for Persons with Disabilities

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