Aims: To assess the effectiveness of iPad use on the attention span of a child with Smith Magenis Syndrome (n = 1), compared to attention span while working on the same tasks manually. Methods: An AB design with a baseline and an intervention phase was used. Three manual tasks were chosen for the baseline, which matched the participant's…

Handwriting is a key occupation for school-aged children and one of the common reasons for referral to a school-based occupational therapist. There are many interventions offered by school-based occupational therapists and this scoping review aimed to examine specific intervention approaches and compare their mode of service delivery (i.e., direct…

This study examined whether exergames could improve physical, functional, and cognitive functions in people with Down syndrome. Twelve adults with DS, aged over 35 (M = 50.35, SD = 7.45), were randomly assigned to a Wii-based program (n = 6) or a control group (n = 6), and completed physical (Chair Stand Test, 6-Minute Walk Test), functional (TUG,…

This study investigated the effect of a skating unit on cardiovascular fitness, eyes-closed static balance, explosive power, and agility in fifth graders. During a 6-week skating unit (12 lessons), 71 students (M[subscript age] = 10.34 years, range: 10-12 years) participated during regularly scheduled physical education classes. Three classes were…

PlayWisely is a novel approach to early learning designed to target the positive development of a wide range of cognitive and physical/motor abilities by stimulating the rapidly developing brain of very young children (from 4 months to 3 years of age). The current pilot study represents a first step toward providing an evidence base for the…

The Integrated Therapy Model is a practice framework designed to promote multi-disciplinary collaboration to accommodate the holistic needs of children with special education needs. This study evaluated the effectiveness of the model adopted in a pilot preschool in China on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A single-case, ABAB reversal…

Studies show that executive functions and motor development are associated with each other and with learning ability. A more technological lifestyle combined with digital culture should be considered a viable alternative to stimulate children's development. Therefore, this study aimed to present a systematic mapping of the literature involving…

A high rate of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) have impaired psychomotor development. To date, these children have had few opportunities to participate in extracurricular Physical Education programs. However, nowadays a number of intervention programs are arising with the aim of improving their motor performance. The objectives of…

Handwriting is still critical to student success in the classroom; however, schools have been de-emphasizing formal handwriting instruction. This study evaluated the effect of the "Size Matters Handwriting Program" on handwriting legibility and visual-motor skills among kindergarten students in general education classrooms. A two-group…

With this study we aimed to investigate the impact of a 12-week manipulative skills exercise programme on the motor proficiency of young individuals with intellectual disabilities. A total of 32 learners diagnosed with mild intellectual disabilities, with an average age of 17.81 ± 1.44 years, were divided into 2 equal-sized groups: a control group…

This study aimed to examine the outcomes and feasibility of a hybrid group-based intervention combining physical activity and an individual goal-oriented approach for children with developmental disabilities. We employed a single-arm pre-test/post-test repeated-measures design. Outcome measures were based on participants' achievement of individual…

Learners with autism are affected by different challenges during learning. There is a growing focus on education to facilitate learners to become more self-resilient by involving animals in learning spaces. This qualitative study explored the impact of animal involvement on the learning experiences of learners with autism. Twenty diaries, 32…

We investigated the impact of a subsidized, needs-based preschool program (Study 1; N = 1,894) and California's universal but age-restricted transitional kindergarten (TK) program (Study 2; N = 1,093) on school readiness. We applied Mahalanobis matching--a quasi-experimental data analysis method used to create equivalent groups--to data from three…

Aims: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of Virtual reality training on dynamic balance of children with spastic hemiplegic cerebral palsy (SHCP). Methods: 20 girls with SHCP (mean age = 9.4; SD =1.48) were selected from special schools and divided into the experimental and control groups. Commercially available Kinect dance…

We describe the development of an evidence-based motor intervention and an implementation pilot study in ten primary schools, involving 515 children (4-11 years). 'Helping Handwriting SHINE' (HHS) is a novel, school-led, group-based handwriting intervention. Teaching staff delivered HHS and provided feedback through a questionnaire, reporting…