Barriers to Campus-Based Physical Activity Among Students Who Experience Disability: A Preliminary Study

This study examined barriers to accessing physical activity in campus recreation centers (CRC) among university students who experience disability (USWED). Despite the previous evidence showing USWED being less active than their nondisabled peers, research on their access to campus-based physical activity settings remains limited. Seventy-four participants (sensory [23.8%], physical [32.5%], learning or developmental [.3%], and multiple impairments [33.8%]) enrolled in public universities in the United States, responded to a survey asking them to identify perceived barriers to physical activity and CRC use. The findings showed that USWED faced diverse barriers, regardless of impairment types. Individuals with physical and multiple impairments perceived higher health-related barriers compared to those with sensory impairments. Additionally, older USWED reported more difficulties related to environmental factors than their younger participants. This study improves our understanding of the challenges encountered by USWED, and it is crucial for developing strategies to improve physical activity opportunities and CRC accessibility.