Are we our own enemies? Leisure constraints of physically and visually disabled people in Ghana

Abstract

Knowledge on leisure constraints is important in advancing the discourse on leisure participation particularly amongst marginalized populations such as disabled people. Research on leisure constraints of disabled people in the contexts of developing African countries is minimal despite their different socio-cultural, economic and political environments. The concepts of both disability and leisure have socio-cultural inclinations and thus define and shape the nature and type of constraints encountered by disabled people. Using the symbolic interactionist perspective, this paper discusses the leisure constraints of visually and physically disabled people in Ghana in relation to their socio cultural milieu. Data for the study were obtained from visually and physically impaired individuals through focus group discussions. It was revealed that inaccessible physical environment, negative attitude of non-disabled members of society towards disabled people, inadequate support from family and friends and exclusion in social and national programmes were the leisure constraints encountered by the disabled people. The implications for ensuring inclusion and minimizing the effects of these constraints on leisure participation are discussed