Adult Leisure Education for the Independent Use of a Community Recreation Center

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to implement and evaluate a leisure education training program designed to teach the complete and functional use of a community recreation center to two adults with severe mental retardation. Since these individuals resided in a group home in close proximity to the recreation center, this recreation program was deemed socially valid by group home and park board staff. Community recreation center use by nonhandicapped citizens of the neighborhood was utilized in this program as the training standard.

Within a multiple baseline design across three recreational activities involving the recreation center, the participants acquired the skills necessary to access and use the recreational facility without the presence of the care provider. Results demonstrated that individuals with severe mental retardation could (a) acquire age-appropriate leisure skills to independently use a neighborhood center; (b) access a neighborhood recreation center in the absence of the residential care provider; and (c) partially, but effectively, interact with agency staff concerning personal preferences of recreational activities.