Segregated vs. Integrative Service Design in Disability Sport Culture: A Case Study on Recreational Sport Services in Higher Education

This research aims to investigate the existing service design of athletic services offered at a higher education facility to a) develop insight on how such services may be related to concepts of segregated and integrative recreational physical activity and b) to help us understand how these services may be impacting persons with disabilities. A multi-method qualitative approach was used to develop an understanding of the perspectives and experiences of participants. The results of the methods show that, overall, segregation seemed to have a negative connotation while integration had positive associations for participants. In this case study, the services were available for all and hence, did not illustrate segregation; however, service aspects involved did play a role in favoring concepts of segregated participation. The information from the study, specifically the individual voices of participants may inform future studies related to designing fitness services for people with disabilities.