
Communication, Sport and Disability
The Case of Power Soccer
Michael S. Jeffress(Author)
Routledge (Publisher)
1st Edition
Published on 28. May 2015
Book
Hardback
208 pages
978-1-4724-4820-0 (ISBN)
Description
Sports are ubiquitous in American society, and given their prominence in the culture, it is easy to understand how most youth in the United States face pressure to participate in organized sports. But what does this mean for the hundreds of thousands of Americans who live with one or more physical disabilities and, in particular, those in powered wheelchairs? Located at the intersection of sports and disability, this book tells the story of power soccer - the first competitive team sport specifically designed for electric wheelchair users. Beginning in France in the 1970s, today, over sixty teams compete within the United States Power Soccer Association (USPSA) and the sport is actively played in over thirty countries. Using ethnographic research conducted while attending practices, games, and social functions of teams from across the nation, Jeffress builds a strong case that electric wheelchair users deserve more opportunity to play sports. They deserve it because they need the same physical and psychosocial benefits from participation as their peers, who have full use of their arms and legs. It challenges the social constructions and barriers that currently stand in the way. Most importantly, this book tells the story of some amazing power soccer athletes. It is a moving, first-hand account of what power soccer means to them and the implications this has for society.
Reviews / Votes
'Jeffress provides a masterful integration of how specific communicative practices can offer an affirming atmosphere and a sense of belonging and normalcy to people participating in sports despite great physical limitations.' William J. Brown, Regent University, USA 'In his book, Jeffress focuses on the many opportunities through participation in sport that can be enjoyed by electric wheelchair users. This book fine-tunes the journey to independence through sport. The able-bodied reader also comes away with a better understanding of how important our own empathy and support can be in improving the quality of life for those with disabilities and thus society at large.' Jeanne Murphy, Nicholls State University, USA and Chef de Mission, 2004 US Paralympic Team, Athens "I recommend Communication, Sport and Disability for disability scholars as well as anyone interested in the development of disability sport in America. Jeffress has written a book that is very clear and readable which touches on a unique subject matter from a perspective - that of power wheelchair athletes - not often represented in the disability sport literature." - Shauna Cappe, Disability and Sport, Vol 31, Issue 7, 2016More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
485 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-4724-4820-0 (9781472448200)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Book
03/2017
1st Edition
Routledge
€69.50
Shipment within 10-20 days

E-Book
12/2016
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download

E-Book
12/2016
Routledge
€63.49
Available for download
Person
Michael S. Jeffress
(Ph.D., Regent University) is a Lecturer in Communication Studies in the Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies at The University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad. He has been involved in disability advocacy work since the mid-1990s, after his son Ryan was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In 2014, he received the Top Paper Award from the Disability Issues Caucus of the National Communication Association. His previous title in the Interdisciplinary Disability Studies series is Communication, Sport and Disability: The Case of Power Soccer.
(Ph.D., Regent University) is a Lecturer in Communication Studies in the Department of Literary, Cultural and Communication Studies at The University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad. He has been involved in disability advocacy work since the mid-1990s, after his son Ryan was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. In 2014, he received the Top Paper Award from the Disability Issues Caucus of the National Communication Association. His previous title in the Interdisciplinary Disability Studies series is Communication, Sport and Disability: The Case of Power Soccer.
Content
Chapter 1 A Life-Altering Discovery; Chapter 2 Snapshots of Changed Lives; Chapter 3 From the Sidelines to Center Court; Chapter 4 Power Soccer and Physical Health; Chapter 5 Power Soccer and Psychosocial Health; Chapter 6 Power Soccer and Relating to People; Chapter 7 Power Soccer and Self-Efficacy Beliefs; Chapter 8 Generating Social Capital within Power Soccer; Chapter 9 Utilizing Social Capital to Promote the Cause; Chapter 10 What Power Soccer Athletes Want You to Know;