Meaning of Sport to Adults with Physical Disabilities: A Disability Sport Camp Experience

Abstract

This study investigated the experiences of nine men and six women with physical disabilities who participated in an adult disability sport camp. Using in-depth semistructured interviewing, camp participants were asked to reflect on their lived experiences and the significance of participating in sport at the camp. Themes and subthemes were developed from the interviews and transcripts using constant comparison. Analysis was guided by a Foucauldian framework and informed by the work of poststructural feminists. Three themes emerged from the data: surveillance, resistance and empowerment, which described the experiences of these individuals with sport prior to, during, and after camp. The implications of this study for future research and practice are discussed.