Abstract
During the global COVID-19 pandemic, access to outdoor recreation is desperately needed for youth; however, children with physical disabilities who regularly experience barriers and constraints to engagement in outdoor physical activity may experience additional challenges. We examined the outdoor recreation experiences of children with physical disabilities (ages 6–10) living in Coastal Virginia during the COVID-19 pandemic by interviewing their parents using a modified Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis. Responses were coded inductively and then deductively using a typology of factors related to physical activity participation among children and adults with physical disabilities. Our findings indicate the barriers experienced by children existed before and were compounded by the pandemic. Parents struggled to find meaningful outdoor experiences for their children with disabilities and attributed most of the barriers to institutional-level factors. We share actionable steps municipalities can take to provide more inclusive access for children in outdoor and nature-based settings.