Constraints to Outdoor Recreation: Exploring the Effects of Disabilities on Perceptions and Participation‪.‬

Introduction As of 2002, the Census Bureau estimated that the U.S. population of 288 million includes over 63 million persons with a disability, or about 22% of the total population (US Census, 2002). The Census Bureau also reported that 33 million people are over the age of 65, and of those, 14 million (42%) reported a disability. Participation in outdoor recreation activities by the US population is remarkably high, with nearly all Americans reporting that they participate in some form of outdoor activity (Cordell et al., 1999). But to what extent do all segments of the population share in outdoor recreation activities? In particular, do certain segments of society, such as persons with disabilities and those who care for them, participate at the same rate as others and, if not, what are the factors that limit their recreation participation?