Leisure education from an ecological perspective: inclusion and advocacy in community leisure

Abstract

ABSTRACT We often think of leisure education as focused on the person, but what about the environments in which people experience leisure? Can leisure education be extended to include the education of organizations that deliver community-based leisure services? Embedding leisure education in a strengths-based, ecological framework and a social model of disability broadens the focus of who is educated and what outcomes may be achieved for people with disabilities to live a full leisure life in community settings. One model developed to operationalize an ecological approach is Inclusion U Online. This study examined changes that community leisure venues made after participating in the model, enabling people with disabilities greater inclusion in leisure choices. It provided a framework for solution-focused dialogue; many of the changes for inclusivity were small, but first steps in creating more welcoming environments for people with disabilities. This study supports the idea that leisure education practices can improve inclusive leisure environments.