Peer-reviewed article
"A lifeline to belonging": exploring caregiver's perspectives on quality participation in Easter Seals' adapted physical activity and parasport programs.
So SJ, Locke M, Ghazzawi R, Higgins A, Bowman H et al. ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explored how caregivers view their children's participation in Easter Seals adapted physical activity and parasport programs for children with disabilities. Caregivers reported that their children experienced positive physical and psychosocial benefits and felt a sense of belonging through meaningful participation and skill development. The research identified five key themes: caregiver support, meaningful participation, skill mastery, peer relationships, and future aspirations. The findings emphasize that well-designed inclusive programs can significantly support the well-being of children with disabilities and their families.
Key points
- Caregivers perceived positive impacts on participants' physical and psychosocial well-being
- Children experienced meaningful participation and mastery of skills in adapted programs
- Peer relationships and thriving alongside other children were important outcomes
- Caregiver support and dedication were critical enabling factors
- Thoughtfully designed programs focused on quality participation support children with disabilities and their families
Limitations
The study reports caregiver perspectives rather than direct child outcomes or independent measures of well-being. The document does not specify the comparison group, sample size, or generalizability of findings beyond Easter Seals programs.
Abstract
Background Inclusive adapted physical activity and parasport programs support physical and psychosocial well-being of children experiencing disability. Easter Seals offers opportunities for children of all abilities to engage in physical activity through introductory parasports. Purpose Our evaluation aimed to understand caregiver's perspectives on quality participation in Easter Seals programs. Methods We collected quantitative and qualitative data through surveys followed by semi-structured interviews to further explore survey data findings. Survey data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and interviews using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Surveys highlighted caregiver-perceived participant satisfaction and a caregiver-perceived positive impact of programs on participants' physical and psychosocial well-being. Five themes were generated: (1) caregiver support and dedication, (2) meaningful participation, (3) mastery of skills, (4) thriving alongside peers, and (5) hopes for the future. Conclusion Findings illustrate the importance of thoughtfully designed programs, focused on quality participation, for children experiencing disability and their families.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Easter Seals adapted physical activity and parasport programs designed to provide inclusive opportunities for children of all abilities
- Population
- Children with disabilities and their caregivers participating in Easter Seals programs
Key finding
Caregivers reported high satisfaction with participant engagement
SJ et al. · Europe PMC · 26 Jun 2026