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Group exercise and disability: perceptions of instructors toward participation in group exercise for people with
Heather Katz1, Karla Ausderau1,2,3, Hailey Love4
1Kinesiology Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Purpose:
Group exercise provides many benefits, yet adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often excluded from participation. As group exercise instructors play a significant role in GE participation, this study sought to gain a better understanding of their perceptions toward the participation of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities to support the development of more accessible and inclusive community group exercise opportunities.
Methods:
Semi-structured interviews were completed with twenty participants aged 21-62 who were actively teaching group exercise classes. Participants shared their perceptions of intellectual and developmental disability concerning group exercise participation. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic analysis.
Results:
Three themes were derived from the interviews: Beliefs surrounding modifications, perceived instructor roles, and self-efficacy in teaching adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Conclusions:
Instructors emphasized the importance of modifications but expressed mixed self-efficacy in applying these modifications effectively. Further exploration is needed surrounding instructor self-efficacy.
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