The Effect of Integrating Children with Autism Into a Physical Activity and Recreation Setting
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Stuart J. Schleien, Professor & Chair (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
Abstract: The purpose of this exploratory study was to investigate behavior patterns of severely handicapped autistic children integrated into a physical activity and recreational milieu and to determine if there were significant changes in the subjects' social, leisure, and adaptive behavior skills from pre to post physical activity program treatment. Attitude toward the severely handicapped subjects by their nonhandicapped peers was also assessed. The subjects were two severely handicapped autistic children, ages 8 years, 5 months and 11 years, 2 months who measured 124 and 151 respectively in the Topeka Association for Retarded Citizens assessment system. Each subject was observed by a trained observer using the Social Interaction Observation System. This system assessed the subjects' social skills, orientation toward peers and objects, as well as appropriate and inappropriate play behavior and target behavior patterns. The results of the study revealed that there were some positive and significant increases in the amount of appropriate behavior and significant decreases in inappropriate behavior pre-post physical activity treatment. Attitude toward the subjects with autism by their nonhandicapped peers revealed positive, but insignificant improvement.
The Effect of Integrating Children with Autism Into a Physical Activity and Recreation Setting
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Created on 8/12/2011
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Additional Information
- Publication
- Therapeutic Recreation Journal
- Language: English
- Date: 1987
- Keywords
- Autism, Fitness, Integration, Leisure Skills, Physical Activity, Severely Handicapped, Sport, Therapeutic Recreation