title: The leisure activity settings and experiences of youth with severe disabilities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to describe the leisure activity settings of youth with severe disabilities, the environmental qualities of these settings, and youths' experiences.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen youth using augmentative and alternative communication and 11 with complex continuing care needs took part in 54 leisure activity settings of their own choosing. Following their participation, they completed the Self-Reported Experiences of Activity Settings questionnaire and trained observers completed the Measure of Environmental Qualities of Activity Settings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Youths' selected activity settings provided relatively high opportunities for choice, interaction with adults, and social activities, and youth experienced relatively high levels of psychological engagement, social belonging, and control and choice. Youth primarily took part in activity settings that provided opportunities for competency/relatedness and involved others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implications for future research and clinical practice include the importance of valuing passive recreational activities for the opportunities for challenge, choice, and social interaction they provide.
authors.affiliation: Bloorview Research Institute , Toronto, Ontario , Canada .
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: King
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batorowicz
authors.forename: Patty
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rigby
authors.forename: Madhu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pinto
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thompson
authors.forename: Freda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Goh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002755:Choice Behavior; D019988:Children with Disabilities / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D011998:Recreation; D057566:Self Report; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment; D058992:Social Participation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Activity setting; disability; experience; participation; severe disability; youth