The extent, context and experience of participation in out-of-school activities among children with disability

• Participants did proportionally fewer active-physical and skill-based activities.
• Preference was a predictor of participation diversity for all activity types.
• Personal factors contributed more strongly to predicting participation.

BackgroundA growing literature describes the participation of children with disability, but less is known about the effect of disability type, severity and environmental factors on participation.AimTo investigate the extent, context, experience and preferences for participation in out-of-school activities among children with disability in Victoria, Australia.Methods and proceduresTwo-hundred and eighty-six children (177 boys, 109 girls; mean age 11.5 years) with physical (n = 77), intellectual (n = 67), multiple (n = 93), and other disabilities (n = 49) took part. Data were collected using the Children's Assessment of Participation and Enjoyment (CAPE) and Preferences for Activities of Children (PAC) questionnaires.Outcomes and resultsChildren with disability participated in 28 out of 55 activities (SD 6 activities), 2–3 times per month, on average. Preference was the most important predictor of participation diversity for all activity types. Disability type was a predictor of participation diversity in active-physical activities only. Severity was a predictor of participation diversity overall, and of participation in formal and informal activities. Age, severity and preference accounted for almost 50% of the variance of diversity of recreational activities.Conclusions and implicationsThese results underscore the importance of taking a child's activity preferences into account when implementing interventions to increase participation in out-of-school activities.