Promoting Initiation of Community Leisure Participation for Adults with Mental Retardation

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of two initiation techniques on community leisure participation during free time for adults with mild to moderate mental retardation. Using an alternating treatment design, a comparison of two interventions, calendar and telephone prompts, was made to determine which technique would assist individuals best in initiating participation in community leisure activities, with the ultimate intent to enhance their self-determination. Results indicated a positive relationship between both interventions and the initiation of community leisure activities. Each participant consistently initiated more community leisure activities during the comparison, optimal intervention, and follow-up conditions than during baseline. Results indicated that each prompting technique was more effective than no prompts, with some participants responding more positively to telephone prompts, while others responded more positively to the use of the calendar prompt. These results are discussed relative to their implications for practice.