Introduction We live in a world that is changing in many ways, and one of these evolving characteristics is that humans tend to live longer now. In Ireland we can expect to live into our mid-seventies on average. This can be attributed to scientific and technological developments and our own changing attitudes. Dunning (1993) describes this using Elias's theory of the civilizing process when he explains that society has somewhat leveled out with economic growth and the growing power of the lower social strata over the last century or so. Dunning goes on to explain that as a result of With the prevalence of democratic, stable governments and the growth of the division of labor, it is true that in today's most civilized societies people are taught and expected to exercise more regular, uniform, stable control and comprehensive about one's behavior and feelings. This trend is evident in many aspects of society, including recent advances in the treatment, perceptions, and rights of people with disabilities. If we look back just one hundred years, to the early 20th century, we find evidence of how people with disabilities were treated as inferior and institutionalized for most, if not all, of their usually short lives. This was especially true for those who suffered from congenital disabilities such as cerebral palsy or Down syndrome. It was only after World War II that people with disabilities became more prominent. This was partly due to the many soldiers who returned with disabilities due to traumatic wounds suffered during combat. This led to the creation of the Stoke Mandeville Center in England, where international wheelchair sports competitions were held for the first time in 1944 (Sherrill, 1998). This... half of the paper... is for people with disabilities. Madison, USA: Brown & Benchmark Publishers. McGuire, F., & Goodwin, L. (1991). Cardiac rehabilitation. A Austin, D. and Crawford, M. (p320). Therapeutic recreation: an introduction. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.Montoye, H., Christian, J., Nagle, F., & Levin, S. (1988). Living fit. In Austin, D., & Crawford, M. (1991). Therapeutic Recreation: An Introduction (p.321). New Jersey: Prentice-Hall.Sherrill, C. (1998). Adapted physical activity, recreation and sport. United States: McGraw-Hill.Stopford, V. (1987). Understanding disability. London: Edward ArnoldWilson, P., Edgett, J., & Porter, G. (1986). Rehabilitation of cardiac patients: organization of the program. A Austin, D. and Crawford, M. (p323). Therapeutic recreation: an introduction. New Jersey: Prentice-Hall. Websiteswww.irishhealth.comwww.cso.iewww.who.int/en/