Date of Award
2023
Document Type
Scholarly Project
Degree Name
Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD)
Department
Occupational Therapy
First Advisor
Cherie Graves
Abstract
Children and adolescents with disabilities face barriers and are often excluded from engaging in daily activities such as physical activity and social participation (Bundy & Du Toit, 2019; Hocking, 2019). Activities such as physical activity and social participation not only increase children's and adolescents' sense of belonging, mental health, and quality of life but also impact the development of skills needed to fully engage in society (Bundy & Du Toit, 2019). Opportunities for children and adolescents with disabilities to engage in physical activity and social participation are commonly seen in the form of programs supported by nonprofit organizations. These programs emphasize the benefits physical activity, and social interaction has on quality of life, mental health, academic performance, and more for children and adolescents with disabilities (te Velde et al., 2018). Furthermore, an important aspect of effective and successful programs is the prevalence of high fidelity. Fostering skill development and positive outcomes heavily relies on the structure of the program and the effectiveness of its implementation (Fisher et al., 2014).
Recommended Citation
Smith, Abbigail Mackenzie, "Program Structure for Children and Adolescents with Disabilities to Increase Participation in Physical Activity" (2023). Occupational Therapy Capstones. 587.
https://commons.und.edu/ot-grad/587