Exploring Disability Identity Development for Youth with Physical Disabilities Attending a Medical Specialty Camp"To Be Yourself and Not Your Condition"

Youth with physical disabilities physically and socially negotiate their disability identities in largely able-bodied spaces (Forber-Pratt & Zape, 2017). Medical specialty camps are places where they can negotiate their disability identity as part of the majority (Knapp et al., 2018). The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how youth with physical disabilities develop their disability identities in a residential medical specialty camp, utilizing semi-structured interviews. Qualitative analysis yielded three categories with associated themes: 1) impactful elements of camp, 2) mechanisms of change, and 3) camper outcomes. Our findings support the need for inclusive spaces with adaptive activities and supportive staff for youth with disabilities where they can be around similar others. These impactful elements were said to lead to change as participants experienced being part of a diagnostic affinity group, social connectedness, and stress reduction. These mechanisms led to reported long-term benefits of increased independence and happiness due to camp attendance. Practice recommendations and research directions are proposed.