Keywords

Disability, out-of-school time, caregiver, extracurricular, diverse, youth

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to understand the lived experiences of parents, family members, and caregivers of youth with disabilities from diverse backgrounds who participate in out-of-school time (OST) activities. This study acknowledged the low employment rate for people with disabilities and the potential for OST activities that utilize positive youth development (PYD) frameworks to increase life skill development to increase employment opportunities. Qualitative hermeneutic phenomenology and photo-elicitation methods were used to engage six caregivers in a series of one to three interviews. These results were analyzed with three major themes and nine sub-themes identified. The identified themes and sub-themes led to recommended strategies to increase the participation of diverse youth with disabilities in OST activities. The recommended strategies include increasing knowledge, fostering a sense of belonging, and building a growing awareness in OST activities, community, and society.

Completion Date

2024

Semester

Fall

Committee Chair

Little, Mary

Degree

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

College

College of Community Innovation and Education

Department

Department of Curriculum and Instruction-Exceptional Student Education

Format

PDF

Identifier

DP0029039

Language

English

Release Date

12-15-2024

Access Status

Dissertation

Campus Location

Orlando (Main) Campus

Accessibility Status

PDF accessibility verified using Adobe Acrobat Pro Accessibility Checker

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