Sport and Recreation: Help for Intellectually Disabled Offenders (From Intellectually Disabled Offenders, P 113-128, 1987, Dennis Challinger, ed. -- See NCJ-109708)

• NCJ Number: 109718
• Author(s): M Little
• Date Published: 1987
• Length: 16 pages
• Sale Source: Australian Institute of Criminology; National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description
• Language: English
• Country: Australia
• Note: For microfiche, see NCJ-109708.

Annotation

This paper discusses how recreational activities, including sports, can help meet the emotional and developmental needs of intellectually disabled (ID) offenders and describes how Australian recreational programming has met the needs of ID persons.

Abstract

Although ID persons have limited conceptual and linguistic abilities, they need to be accepted, to be understood, and to belong. Recreational activities and sports geared to the abilities of ID persons can help bolster self-esteem, develop latent abilities, and provide a social network. Recreational activities can be particularly important in modifying the antisocial and criminal behavior of ID persons. The Australian Sport and Recreation Association for People With an Intellectual Disability was formed in 1986 to encourage the participation of all ID persons in sports and recreation in all States. A central feature of the effort is parallel programming, whereby ID persons are included in the activities of recreation organizations. The activities and competition are scaled to the abilities of the participants. Activities for ID persons include netball, basketball, cricket, tenpin bowling, indoor soccer, athletics, the performing arts, indoor cricket, and ice skating. Four case studies are presented to show how recreational activities contributed to the rehabilitation of ID offenders. 5 references.