Parents' Perceptions of the Effects of Adaptive Sports on the Development of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Download or read book Parents' Perceptions of the Effects of Adaptive Sports on the Development of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder written by Dylan J. Sheehan and published by . This book was released on 2017 with total page 74 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ABSTRACT: Children with autism spectrum disorder who participate in specifically designed activities show noticeable benefits from these activities (Magnusson, Cobham, & McLeod, 2012). Perceived differences in motor skills, social skills, and communicative skills in relation to the duration and frequency of participation in adaptive sports were examined among children with autism spectrum disorder. Participants (N = 42) were parents of children with autism spectrum disorder whose child participated in adaptive sports. Parents evaluated motor skills, social skills, and communicative skills and the effect that adaptive sports had on those skills using the Perceptions of Involvement In Adaptive Sports on the Development of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder instrument (Deluca, 2014). A correlational analysis was conducted for duration and frequency of adaptive sports activities and parents' perceptions of the effects on motor skills, social skills and communicative skills. No significant associations (p > .05) were found between frequency and motor skills (r = .18, p > .05), social skills (r = .14, p > .05), or communicative skills (r = .07, p > .05). Additionally, no significant associations were found between duration and motor skills (r = -.03, p > .05), social skills (r = .17, p > .05), or communicative skills (r = .08, p > .05). Between duration times frequency and motor skills (r = .09, p > .05), social skills (r = .15, p > .05), and communicative skills (r = .09, p > .05), no significant associations (p > .05) were found. Overall, parents perceived that the duration and frequency of participation in adaptive sport had no effect on his or her child's motor skills, social skills, and communicative skills. Future research should be conducted to further analyze how adaptive sports can affect the motor skills, social skills, and communicative skills of individuals with autism spectrum disorder.