The possibilities of separate leisure: organising opportunities for children with disabilities

Research has established that children with disabilities face barriers to mainstream leisure. But what happens when leisure is specifically organised for children with disabilities? This article builds on an ethnographic study at a 'separate', i.e. disability-specific, leisure space for young children (3-11 years) with disabilities, such as ADHD and autism. It asks: What is made possible by separate leisure and are there potential limits? The analysis shows that separate leisure plays an important role as a site for leisure outside children's homes. Whereas children with disabilities are typically the exception in mainstream leisure contexts, separate leisure positions their needs and desires as the starting point for designing and organising leisure. Moreover, separate leisure can act as a 'leisure node' and a context for leisure without expectations about children's performances. The study highlights the need to challenge societal perceptions of leisure, particularly the belief that leisure is best enjoyed with others, to better accommodate all children's leisure. It suggests that separate leisure holds potential to advance theory and practice by illustrating how leisure can be understood and practiced in a context where ableist and adult-centred assumptions are not at the forefront.