Validity of Public Parks for Children with Disabilities – Parents’ Perspective*

Mohammed ali Alkahtani

Abstract


Childhood is an important development phase for any person and there are many studies performed which have shown how important the outdoor play and related activities can be during this stage. However, having a disability is yet another major issue that affects both children and adults. Due to the social concept of disability which sees the person suffering from a particular disability as a deviation from being normal, it results in exclusion of the individual from society. In children, particularly those suffering from disabilities, public playgrounds can provide multiple opportunities for physical development, mental growth as well as for becoming a more inclusive part of the society. However, for this to happen, it is necessary that the playground facilities that are available are so designed that they can be enjoyed by the children with disabilities as well.  The report is intended to provide an overview of the advantages of public parks for children with disabilities from the perspective of parents. 

https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.17.1.3


Keywords


Public Parks, Children with Disability, Parents’ Perspective, Quality of life.

Full Text:

PDF

References


Aitchison, C. (2003). From leisure and disability to disability leisure: Developing data, definitions and discourses. Disability & Society, 18(7), 955-969. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/0968759032000127353

Alnahdi, G. H. (2014). Special Education programs for students with Intellectual Disability in Saudi Arabia: Issues and recommendations. Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 15(1).

Association, A. P. (2003). How cities use parks to help children learn. Paper presented at the City Parks Forum Briefing Papers.

Blanck, H. M., Allen, D., Bashir, Z., Gordon, N., Goodman, A., Merriam, D., & Rutt, C. (2012). Let’s go to the park today: The role of parks in obesity prevention and improving the public’s health. Childhood Obesity (Formerly Obesity and Weight Management), 8(5), 423-428. doi: https://doi.org/10.1089/chi.2012.0085.blan

Carlon, S. L., Taylor, N. F., Dodd, K. J., & Shields, N. (2013). Differences in habitual physical activity levels of young people with cerebral palsy and their typically developing peers: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation, 35(8), 647-655. doi: https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2012.715721

Columna, L., Rocco Dillon, S., Norris, M. L., Dolphin, M., & McCabe, L. (2017). Parents’ perceptions of physical activity experiences for their families and children with visual impairments. British Journal of Visual Impairment, 35(2), 88-102.

Damiano, D. L. (2006). Activity, activity, activity: rethinking our physical therapy approach to cerebral palsy. Physical therapy, 86(11), 1534-1540. doi: https://doi.org/10.2522/ptj.20050397

Frey, G. C., Stanish, H. I., & Temple, V. A. (2008). Physical activity of youth with intellectual disability: review and research agenda. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 25(2), 95-117. doi: https://doi.org/10.1123/apaq.25.2.95

Gubbels, J. S., Kremers, S. P., Droomers, M., Hoefnagels, C., Stronks, K., Hosman, C., & de Vries, S. (2016). The impact of greenery on physical activity and mental health of adolescent and adult residents of deprived neighborhoods: A longitudinal study. Health & place, 40, 153-160.

Heah, T., Case, T., McGuire, B., & Law, M. (2007). Successful participation: The lived experience among children with disabilities. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(1), 38-47. doi: https://doi.org/10.2182/cjot.06.010

Hood, C. D., & Carruthers, C. (2007). Enhancing leisure experience and developing resources: The leisure and well-being model, part II. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 41(4), 298. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/10261133.1994.9673931

Horvat, M., Pitetti, K. H., & Croce, R. (1997). Isokinetic torque, average power, and flexion/extension ratios in nondisabled adults and adults with mental retardation. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy, 25(6), 395-399. doi: https://doi.org/10.2519/jospt.1997.25.6.395

Joachim, G. L., & Acorn, S. (2016). Living with chronic illness: The interface of stigma and normalization. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research Archive, 32(3).

Jobling, A. (2001). Life be in it: lifestyle choices for active leisure. Down Syndrome Research and Practice, 6(3), 117-122. doi: https://doi.org/10.3104/perspectives.102

LeMura, L. M., & Maziekas, M. T. (2002). Factors that alter body fat, body mass, and fat-free mass in pediatric obesity. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 34(3), 487-496. doi: https://doi.org/10.1097/00005768-200203000-00016

Ludvigsen, A., & Mills, H. (2005). Let's play together: Play and inclusion. Evaluation of better play round three. Barkingside: Barnardo's.

Maller, C. J. (2009). Promoting children's mental, emotional and social health through contact with nature: a model. Health Education, 109(6), 522-543. doi: https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280911001185

McCurdy, L. E., Winterbottom, K. E., Mehta, S. S., & Roberts, J. R. (2010). Using nature and outdoor activity to improve children's health. Current problems in pediatric and adolescent health care, 40(5), 102-117. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cppeds.2010.02.003

Mowen, A. J., & Baker, B. L. (2009). Park, recreation, fitness, and sport sector recommendations for a more physically active America: a white paper for the United States national physical activity plan. Journal of physical activity and health. doi: https://doi.org/10.1123/jpah.6.s2.s236

Newacheck, P. W., & Kim, S. E. (2005). A national profile of health care utilization and expenditures for children with special health care needs. Archives of pediatrics & adolescent medicine, 159(1), 10-17. doi: https://doi.org/10.1001/archpedi.159.4.318

Poppen, M., Sinclair, J., Hirano, K., Lindstrom, L., & Unruh, D. (2016). Perceptions of mental health concerns for secondary students with disabilities during transition to adulthood. Education and Treatment of Children, 39(2), 221-246.

Segal, R., Mandich, A., Polatajko, H., & Cook, J. V. (2002). Stigma and its management: A pilot study of parental perceptions of the experiences of children with developmental coordination disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 56(4), 422-428. doi: https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.56.4.422

Sherer, P. M. (2003). Why America needs more city parks and open space. The Trust for Public Land. http://www.tpl.org (Accessed March 10, 2017)

Shields, N., & Synnot, A. (2016). Perceived barriers and facilitators to participation in physical activity for children with disability: a qualitative study. BMC pediatrics, 16(1), 9.

Shields, N., Synnot, A. J., & Barr, M. (2011). Perceived barriers and facilitators to physical activity for children with disability: a systematic review. British Journal of Sports Medicine, bjsports-2011-090236. doi: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-016-0544-7

Soltani, S. H. K., Abbas, M. Y., & Awang, M. B. (2012). Disabled children in public playgrounds: A pilot study. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 36, 670-676. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.03.073

Stanišić, Z., Kocić, M., Aleksandrović, M., Stanković, N., & Radovanović, D. (2012). The effects of an adapted basketball training program on the physical fitness of adolescents with mental retardation: a pilot study. Serbian Journal of Experimental and Clinical Research, 13(3), 103-107. doi: https://doi.org/10.5937/sjecr13-2328

Talay, L., Akpinar, N., & Belkayali, N. (2010). Barriers to playground use for children with disabilities: A case from Ankara, Turkey. African Journal of Agricultural Research, 5(9), 848-855.

Thompson Coon, J., Boddy, K., Stein, K., Whear, R., Barton, J., & Depledge, M. H. (2011). Does participating in physical activity in outdoor natural environments have a greater effect on physical and mental wellbeing than physical activity indoors? A systematic review. Environmental science & technology, 45(5), 1761-1772. doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/jech.2011.143586.85

Trost, S. (2005). Discussion paper for the development of recommendations for children's and youth's participation in health promoting physical activity.

Tucker, P., Gilliland, J., & Irwin, J. D. (2007). Splashpads, swings, and shade: Parents' preferences for neighbourhood parks. Canadian Journal of Public Health/Revue Canadienne de Sante'e Publique, 198-202.

WHO. (2011). World report on disability. In WHO (Ed.). Malta.

Wilkinson, P. (1983). Disabled children and integrated play environments. Recreation Research Review, 10(1), 20-28.

Zoerink, D.A. (2002) Benefits of Using Outdoor Areas: Perspectives of Parents with Children Who Have Disabilities. Abstracts from the Tenth Canadian Congress on Leisure Research. P. 362-354.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.


e-ISSN: 1694-2116

p-ISSN: 1694-2493