Adapted Physical Activity Midterm Study Guide

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering the key concepts, paradigms of disability, theoretical perspectives of ableism, barriers, and principles of inclusive physical activity from the midterm study guide.

Equality

A principle where everyone is provided with the exact same thing, resources, or treatment.

Equity

A principle where individuals are given what they specifically need so that outcomes are fair.

Disability Construction

The concept that ideas and prejudices regarding disability are formed by society and norms, persist across generations in policies and plans, and can be both resisted and used by disabled individuals to advocate and shape their lives.

Health Disparity

The phenomenon where individuals with disabilities, compared to those without, experience higher rates of poor health, serious psychological distress, and co-morbid conditions, alongside lower income, education, social participation, and recommended health behaviors.

Ableism

A system of beliefs, practices, institutions, and social relationships that presumes able-bodiedness, marginalizes people with disabilities, and assigns value based on socially constructed standards of normalcy, productivity, desirability, and fitness.

Stigma

A social process where differences are identified and labeled, associated with negative stereotypes, structured into an "us vs. them" separation, and result in status loss and discrimination.

Microaggression

Disability-related discrimination that manifests in subtle verbal, nonverbal, or environmental forms.

International Classification of Functioning (ICF)

A disability framework that examines the dynamic interaction among the person, task, and context or environment to identify personal and contextual physical activity solutions.

Inclusive Physical Activity

Accessible physical activity provided to all individuals across the lifespan in diverse settings, offering equal opportunity, choice, meaningful participation, success, and empowerment.

Inclusive Model of Ability in Physical Activity

A model that views capability and ability as dynamic rather than fixed, emphasizing adjustments to the person, task, or environment to facilitate participation.

Capability Shifting

The recognition that a person's ability is not fixed and can change depending on modifications made to the person's qualities, the task, or the context.

Person-Related Barriers

Internal obstacles to inclusive physical activity that originate from the individual, such as knowledge, self-efficacy, motivation, perceived risks or fear of worsening conditions, and physical activity habits.

Context-Related Barriers

External obstacles surrounding an activity, including practitioner and peer attitudes, lack of professional competency or training, lack of collaboration, accessibility barriers, and administrative support.

Medical Model of Disability

A paradigm that defines disability as an individual defect, pathology, or being "less than," focusing on medical care, cure, and requiring formal medical documentation to qualify for services.

Social Minority Model of Disability

A paradigm that views individuals with disabilities as a minority group facing discrimination and unequal opportunities, focusing on civil rights and legal protections such as the ADA.

Social Construction Model of Disability

A paradigm asserting that disability is created by societal definitions of normalcy and environmental barriers, such as a building having stairs without an accessible ramp.

Just World Theory

A theoretical perspective explaining ableism that asserts people get what they deserve, which leads to blaming individuals for having a disability.

Theory of Mourning

A theoretical perspective explaining ableism based on the belief that disabled individuals must mourn the life they could have had, leading to pity.

Suffering & Meaning

A theoretical perspective explaining ableism that assumes disability inherently involves suffering or exists as a lesson, requiring individuals to use disability for psychological growth, value, and purpose.

Fundamental Negative Bias

A theoretical perspective underpinning ableism founded on the assumption that having a disability is inherently bad.

Mainstreaming

The practice of placing individuals with disabilities directly into general education or social environments, which can lead to functional exclusion.

Integration

The practice of placing individuals with and without disabilities in the same physical environment while expecting the individual with a disability to adapt, characterized as being together but separate.

Inclusion

A philosophy asserting that all individuals, regardless of ability, participate in the same or similar environment while receiving the individualized support and attention required for meaningful participation.

Resource Redundancy

A rationale for inclusive physical activity stating that facilities, staff, and equipment should be shared across all participants rather than duplicating separate, segregated programs.

Instructional Individualization

A rationale for inclusive physical activity stating that instructional methods and resources should be adapted and tailored to satisfy each participant's individual needs.

Breadth of Benefits

A rationale for inclusive physical activity emphasizing that all participants should experience the physical, psychological, social, and quality-of-life benefits of exercise.

Person-First Language

A linguistic style that places the individual before the disability (e.g., "person who is blind") to separate diagnosis from identity and reduce stigma.

Identity-First Language

A linguistic style that treats disability as an integral component of a person's identity (e.g., "blind person") to promote autonomy, express disability pride, and reclaim terminology.

Disability Simulations

Brief simulation exercises that frequently produce negative effects on attitudes, causing participants to view individuals with disabilities as less competent and reinforcing negative stereotypes.