The provision of recreation opportunities for people with disabilities: A tale of two cities.

V A Dowsing

Lincoln University, Christchurch.

dowsinv2@lincoln.ac.nz

This research examines the ways in which two local authorities – Manukau City Council and Christchurch City Council – provide recreation opportunities for people with disabilities and how these local authorities implement national legislation, policies and strategies which bear upon the provision of recreation services for the disabled. To achieve these aims, a comparative method which uses primary (interview) and secondary (documentary) data, is adopted. Central government develops legislation, strategies and policies that guide the provision of recreation services for people with disabilities at a local level. The results of this research indicate that Manukau and Christchurch Cities consult the disabled community and it’s representatives and address the specific needs of this community. Both local authorities have policies which outline how disability issues will be addressed; a disability-specific position which acts as an “internal advocate” for the disabled community; and a reference group made up of members of the disabled community. In the case of Christchurch City Council, the “KiwiAble” programme, “KiwiAble Recreation Network”, “KiwiAble Leisure Card” and Inclusive Communities Coordinator are all disability-specific mechanisms that focus on the recreational needs of the disabled community. However, only one policy in these two cities – the Manukau City Council Disability Policy and Action Plan – draws explicit links to a national strategy. On the basis of these results, a number of recommendations are made for future research and local authority action.

Keywords:

local government, people with disabilities, physical activity, planning, policy, recreation

Case study

Canterbury

Recreation

1260

November 14, 2011

December 12, 2011