Constraints to outdoor recreation: Exploring the effects of disabilities on perceptions and participation

Understanding the constraints of persons with disabilities has long been a concern of natural resource managers, particularly since the inception of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This study examines National Forest visitation and perceived constraints of recreationists in relation to the presence of a person with a disability in one's household. Data were collected through telephone surveys of the general population in three western states. The respondents were segmented into groups based on disability status (personal or within household) and whether the disability hampers their recreation in National Forests. Results showed that 40% of respondents living in a household that included a person with a disability were not constrained by the presence of a person with a disability regarding their National Forest visitation. Being constrained from National Forest use was largely a function of the importance attached to key disability-related constraints. Regression analysis showed that the presence of a disability, age, and other demographic factors influenced these constraints. The existence of a personal disability was a much greater constraint to outdoor recreation visitation than the presence of a person with a disability in one's household.