Chair, Social Work & Sociology, MSW Program Director, and Associate Professor Daemen University
This poster explores how sports can serve not only as catalysts for physical well-being but as a space for disability joy among young people with disabilities. Drawing on key findings, an evidence-informed framework is offered to social work educators committed to promoting accessibility, inclusion, equity, and belonging through community partnership.
Learning Objectives:
At the end of this session, attendees should be able to:
Describe the benefits of inclusive recreational programs in enhancing physical, social, and emotional well-being as well as interaction for individuals with disabilities.
Explain the concept of "disability joy" and its role in shifting societal narratives about disability from deficit-based to identity-affirming and celebratory.
Identify strategies for social work educators and practitioners to create and sustain inclusive recreational spaces that foster self-determination, solidarity, creativity, and disability joy for individuals with disabilities.
