Start Date
16-6-2025 10:00 AM
End Date
16-6-2025 11:30 AM
Abstract
Introduction This presentation contributes to the conference theme of ‘Inclusivizing our world,’ by highlighting ways that the outdoors can be made more inclusive through the informed use of mobile technology. There is a longstanding divide between outdoor practitioners who use MT while leading outdoors and those who do not. Bolliger et al. (2021) reported that 90% of US outdoor instructors they surveyed thought that mobile technology should be used as little as possible in the outdoors.
Methodology A scoping review was used to gather evidence from the literature (56 articles) regarding the adoption of MT and it’s use (or disuse) as a critical universal design tool for facilitating access and inclusion in outdoor programming. A thematical analysis was used to elucidate the multiple ways that mobile technology can be used to break down barriers to support the participation of persons who live with disabilities in the outdoor physical activity.
Results The results of this review inform a persuasive argument to outdoor educators who want to eschew the use of MT in the outdoors (Reed, 2023). The results showed that MT supports inclusion in the outdoors in multiple ways such as providing real-time accessibility information, health condition monitoring, and wayfinding applications.
Conclusions Finally, it is critically important to explore some of the implications for practice that arise with mobile technology use in the outdoors such as universal design as a guiding philosophy, usage guidelines, and social media considerations such as representation (Grue, 2016) as we seek to inclusivize the outdoors through the use of MT.
Recommended Citation
Loeffler, TA PhD, "Making the case for using mobile technology to facilitate inclusion in outdoor physical activity for those who live with disabilities" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 9.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day1/9
Making the case for using mobile technology to facilitate inclusion in outdoor physical activity for those who live with disabilities
Introduction This presentation contributes to the conference theme of ‘Inclusivizing our world,’ by highlighting ways that the outdoors can be made more inclusive through the informed use of mobile technology. There is a longstanding divide between outdoor practitioners who use MT while leading outdoors and those who do not. Bolliger et al. (2021) reported that 90% of US outdoor instructors they surveyed thought that mobile technology should be used as little as possible in the outdoors.
Methodology A scoping review was used to gather evidence from the literature (56 articles) regarding the adoption of MT and it’s use (or disuse) as a critical universal design tool for facilitating access and inclusion in outdoor programming. A thematical analysis was used to elucidate the multiple ways that mobile technology can be used to break down barriers to support the participation of persons who live with disabilities in the outdoor physical activity.
Results The results of this review inform a persuasive argument to outdoor educators who want to eschew the use of MT in the outdoors (Reed, 2023). The results showed that MT supports inclusion in the outdoors in multiple ways such as providing real-time accessibility information, health condition monitoring, and wayfinding applications.
Conclusions Finally, it is critically important to explore some of the implications for practice that arise with mobile technology use in the outdoors such as universal design as a guiding philosophy, usage guidelines, and social media considerations such as representation (Grue, 2016) as we seek to inclusivize the outdoors through the use of MT.