Practical Ways to Develop Self-Determination Skills in Recreational Sports for Adolescents with Disabilities

Forstudents with disabilities, participation in recreational sports could provide opportunities for them to be physically active while practicing self-determination skills. Although research has linked self-determination to improved quality of life for individuals with disabilities, limited research exists exploring the intersection of recreational sports and self-determination. The purpose of this paper is to provide practical ways to improve self-determination through recreational sports for adolescent students with disabilities. This paper highlights how adults can support adolescents in developing self-determination skills through strategies such as (a) setting goals, (b) helping them develop an action plan, (c) self-monitoring their progress, (d) adjusting their goals, and (e) advocating for themselves. Examples are provided for each of these self-determination strategies, and additional selfdetermination resources are provided. Keywords: Adolescents, self-determination, recreational sports
Daniel, a fifth grade student with a mild intellectual disability, enjoyed playing basketball but had never enrolled in a recreational sport. Daniel's physical education teacher, Mr. Lee, felt it would [...]