Disability Sport and Recreation Resources (3rd Ed.)
Michael J. Paciorek & Jeffery A. Jones, Traverse City, MI: Cooper Publishing Group, 2001.

Reviewed by

Diane G. Groff, Ed.D, TRS/CTRS
Assistant Professor,
Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies,
University of North Carolina @ Chapel Hill.

Although the name has changed from Sports and Recreation for the Disabled (2nd Ed.) to Disability Sport and Recreation Resources (3rd Ed.), the authors have once again succeeded in providing a comprehensive resource guide that has value to individuals with disabilities and the professionals who work beside them to provide services. The authors employ a “user friendly”, informative, and motivating style to encourage all individuals with disabilities to participate in sport and recreation as a way to improve overall health and wellness, and engage in activities that contribute to a meaningful and balanced life.

Clearly the third edition to this text continues to serve as the most comprehensive guide to the vast array of sports and recreation activities available to individuals with disabilities. The single greatest asset of the book is its ability to provide up to date information regarding 47 sports and recreation activities. These activities include popular and highly visible sports such as Basketball, Soccer and Tennis, as well as the more obscure such as Showdown, Blowdarts, and Rug Ball. For each sport or activity, the governing body that oversees its implementation is identified, the national governing bodies that officially provide the sport are listed, and the primary disability groups served are identified. Each chapter begins with a general overview of the sport and is followed by its historical development when available. The inclusion of the historical perspective is a new and useful improvement from previous editions, however; the authors note that information is often limited or unknown. Each chapter concludes with a brief discussion of adapted equipment, rules, equipment suppliers and manufacturers, and additional resources. In recognition of the vast amount of information that is available electronically, the authors have included in this edition the web and email addresses for many of the resources listed. Noting the tendency for electronic information to change frequently and the frustration that can be produced when published information turns out to be inaccurate, the authors monitored the stability of the electronic sites over a two year period prior to including the addresses in the text. To the credit of the authors, a random check on the accuracy of email and web sites revealed the vast majority of the information listed to be accurate. Therefore, the inclusion of electronic resources is a very helpful edition to this text.

As an individual who has utilized this text as a recreational therapist as well as an educator, one valuable feature of the book is the pictures and sketches that accompany the written information regarding each sport or activity. Some of the graphics utilized in the text have been updated in this latest edition with pictures and sketches largely focusing on adaptations to equipment. However, as with previous editions of the text, some of the pictures are incapable of conveying the message intended because they are either too small, have poor contrast, or are not focused. For example, most of the pictures highlighting Blowdarts, Hunting, and IceSkating/Sledding are not effective. Although not a significant problem, the authors are encouraged to continue their efforts to improve the quality of the visual images of adapted equipment utilized to facilitate participation.

Apart from its primary purpose of providing an overview of sports and recreation opportunities for individuals with disabilities, the book includes several other useful features. The Preface serves as a general commentary on the declining health of all Americans, including individuals with disabilities. The authors then advocate for the provision of sports and recreation as a way to offset negative influences on overall health. Paciorek and Jones advocate that all people, not just elite athletes, use the general information, resources, and adaptations detailed in this book as a starting point when exploring plausible sport and recreation options. For this reason the book serves as a valuable guide not only to individuals with disabilities, but also to recreational therapists, physical education and adapted physical education teachers, occupational therapists, sports medicine professionals, physicians, other health care providers, and parents. Secondly, the Introduction very briefly touches upon the challenges facing individuals who participate in or provide adapted sports. Albeit brief and lacking in detail, this section provides a realistic overview of concerns facing the provision and growth of adapted sports and recreation. Readers interested in more detail regarding challenges facing adapted sports would need to do additional research to uncover information that portrays the depth of the issues.

The book concludes with six appendices that provide contact information on Sport Organizations and Resources, Sport Wheelchair Suppliers, Sports Offered by Disability Sport Organizations, Special Olympics United States Chapters, USA Deaf Sports Federation National Sports Organizations and International Affiliates, and Wheelchair Sports – USA National Governing Bodies and Regional Sport Organizations. Overall these appendices serve as a valuable and convenient resource for individuals seeking this information. While these lists, as well as the resources listed for each sport in the chapters preceding the appendices are largely comprehensive, the authors recognize that they are not exhaustive. Indeed when reviewing the resources listed under certain areas there were a few occasions where additional resources (e.g., American Association of Adapted Sports Programs, Blaze Sports Clubs, and Shepherd Center) could have been listed but were not. Thus, the authors’ rightfully caution the reader that the resources included, while very extensive, are only a starting point and research may reveal additional sources of information. Finally, a bibliography of written materials referenced in the text is included at the end of each chapter when appropriate. On occasion it has been difficult to relocate the citation used when referring back to the text. Therefore, the addition of a bibliography in the appendices may serve as a more convenient way for readers to relocate references used in the text.

In conclusion, the third edition of Disability and Recreation Resources continues to serve as an exceptional resource for recreational therapists who utilize sport and recreation with their clients with disabilities. This book is a thorough and convenient “first stop”, when shopping for information. Moreover, due to the concise nature of the information provided, it often serves as the only resource one might need.