Nondisabled Peers Research Articles

Differences in participation between young adults with cerebral palsy and their peers: A cross-sectional multicentre European study

BackgroundChildren and adolescents with disabilities are known to participate less in most areas of life than their non-disabled peers. Objectives(1) To estimate differences in participation between young adults with cerebral palsy (CP) and their non-disabled peers; (2) to test the mediating role of financial difficulties and student status; (3) to test the moderating role of personal factors on participation difference; and (4) to test the moderating role of impairment. MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted in young adults [19–28 years] with CP (n = 228) and non-disabled peers (n = 2861) in France, Germany and Sweden. Participation was assessed using the Questionnaire of Young People's Participation adapted for young adults (QYPP-YA). Differences in five domains of participation were estimated using structural equation modeling with WLSMV method and bias-corrected bootstrap confidence intervals. ResultsYoung adults with CP showed lower participation than others in all domains, with the largest difference in the "intimate relationships" domain (β = 1.71 bcCI95[1.46; 1.95]). Student status mediated the difference in "intimate relationships", "interpersonal relationships" and "independence". Women showed greater differences than men on "independence". Impairments moderated difference in participation. The less severely impaired young adults showed no difference with their non-CP peers in "interpersonal relationships", "social life" and "independence", but made autonomous everyday decisions more often than their peers. ConclusionsYoung adults with CP do not have the same opportunities to attain the participation level of non-CP people of the same age. Continuance of education could help to reduce participation difference in "interpersonal relationships” and "independence”.

The determinants of wages among disabled Americans in non-STEM and STEM occupations

BACKGROUND: More than 1 in 4 adult Americans have a disability limiting their daily functioning to earn living wages. Meanwhile, the shortage of U.S. professionals in STEM fields persists because of underrepresentation of specific groups, such as racial and ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities. OBJECTIVE: The study investigates the determinants of wages among Americans with disabilities in non-STEM and STEM occupations to explore the feasibility of broadening their participation in STEM careers where they may earn higher wages and thereby, close the wage-gap with their non-disabled peers. METHODS: The study used a research design based on Mincer’s earnings regression model to analyze select variables as wage determinants based on data from the 2018 American Community Survey (ACS). RESULTS: While the findings suggest that within the Americans with disabilities group, working in a STEM occupation with a college degree in a STEM field was the best route to attain maximum wages, significant wage disparities exist compared to Americans without disabilities. CONCLUSION: The implications of the findings for Vocational Rehabilitation providers are discussed.

Students With Disabilities: Skills, Strategies, and Dispositions for Success at a Community College

The objective of this study was to investigate experiences that students with disabilities have while attending a two-year commuter college, with a focus on understanding the skills, strategies, and dispositions that contribute to their academic success. A phenomenological research method was utilized for this study. Data collection method for this study involved using qualitative, open-ended, semi-structured interviews. The results of this study illustrate that students with disabilities at the community college level often face a variety of social, emotional, and academic challenges. The findings of this study suggest that students with disabilities on campus benefited from social support, family advocacy, and goal setting. Students with disabilities often have more challenges on campus experiences than their non-disabled peers. The findings of this research add to the limited research focusing on factors of success as it relates to students with disabilities. It is suggested that programs are designed and provided with the intention of supporting the emotional, social, and academic needs of students with disabilities on campus.

The Real Me: Insight into Youths with Physical Disabilities’ TranXition to Adulthood through Digital Images

Aims Youths with physical disabilities experience various obstacles in their transition to adulthood which can contribute to poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes in later life, compared to their non-disabled peers. Transitional care offers these youths the necessary support to overcome such obstacles. The objective of this study was to explore participants’ experiential learning in the development of life skills within the transitional care program TranXition, and their perceived contribution of the program to their goal attainment. Methods Data were collected using photo-elicitation. Five participants were recruited from the TranXition program to audio-visually record (photographs or videos) their meaningful experiences in the program and to reflect on them during interviews. Results Participants felt the TranXition program helped them build their self-awareness and self-efficacy, and to feel more confident and skilled, whether at home, in school or in the community. Moreover, they appreciated the program’s group cohesion which facilitated learning life skills from others in order to achieve their goals. Finally, results suggest that group interventions, while important, may need to be complemented by individual consultations. Conclusions Rehabilitation programs in real-world settings, such as the TranXition program, may be a promising adjunct to traditional transitional care for youths with physical disabilities.

Do institutional or subject referencing style choices create barriers for students with specific learning disability?

Models of information literacy (Coonan et al., 2018; SCONUL, 2011) are explicit: critical thinking and ethical information use are essential skills within higher education (HE). Referencing is key to this, demonstrating how students select and apply information to create knowledge (Buckley, 2015; Angelil-Carter, 1995). Within HE there has been an increased focus on inclusivity and accessibility (Equality Act, 2010; United Nations, 2015; Department for Education and Department for Health, 2015). Growing numbers of students are declaring a disability (Advance HE, 2019) and reports suggest they are increasingly dissatisfied with their courses (Office for Students, 2020). Proportionally, students with disabilities achieve lower grades than students without (Advance HE, 2019), suggesting needs and expectations of students with a disability are not being met within HE provisions. The presentation discussed an ethically approved small-scale mixed-methods study carried out as part of a MA in Special Educational Needs and Inclusion. The research investigated student perceptions of referencing, whether adherence to specific referencing styles is a barrier for students with dyslexia and began investigating the impact of referencing styles on reading comprehension. The largest disability declared within HE is Specific Learning Disability (SpLD) (Advance HE, 2019), which includes dyslexia (American Psychological Association, 2013). Students with SpLD report lower confidence with academic writing than non-SpLD students (Kinder and Elander, 2012). Academic literacy skills are arguably intertwined with a sense of legitimacy and belonging (Gourlay, 2009): it is therefore vital to consider ways of improving inclusion for all students (Office for Students, 2020). The presenter observed that students with SpLD spent more time and energy on referencing than their non-disabled peers. This perception is corroborated by others (Sanders, 2010) and when combined with slower reading speeds (Hendricks and Quinn, 2000; Sanders, 2010; Serry et al., 2018) reduces time students have for critical subject engagement (Wengelin, 2007). Attendees gained an understanding of how students view referencing and whether the choice of referencing system disadvantages students with dyslexia. Attendees also took part in a reading comprehension test giving a taster of the next steps for research which requires collaborative partners.

Parental Report of Signs of Anxiety and Depression in Children and Adolescents with and Without Disability in Middle- and Low-Income Countries: Meta-analysis of 44 Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Surveys.

Population-based studies undertaken in high-income countries have indicated that children and adolescents with disabilities are more likely than their non-disabled peers to experience emotional difficulties such as anxiety and depression. Very little is known about the association between disability and emotional difficulties among children growing up in low and middle-income countries (LMICs). We aimed to estimate the strength of association between disability and two forms of emotional difficulties (anxiety, depression) in a range of LMICs and to determine whether the strength of this relationship was moderated by child age and gender.Secondary analysis of data collected in Round 6 of UNICEF's Multiple Indicator Cluster Surveys undertaken in 44 LMICs (combined n = 349,421). Data were aggregated across countries by both mixed effects multi-level modelling and restricted maximum likelihood meta-analysis.Young people with disabilities, when compared with their non-disabled peers, were approximately two and a half times more likely to be reported by parents to show daily signs of either anxiety or depression. The level of risk among young people with disabilities was highest in upper middle-income countries and lowest in low-income countries. We estimated that approximately 20% of young people with frequent anxiety or depression also had a disability.All approaches to mental health interventions (from primary prevention to clinical interventions) need to make reasonable accommodations to their services to ensure that the young people with emotional difficulties who also have a disability are not 'left behind'.

EDUCATION AND DISABILITY: A STUDY ON ACCESS TO HIGHER EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITY IN JAMMU AND KASHMIR

Access to education is crucial for students with disability as it empowers them, by promoting social inclusion, equal opportunities, personal development, raises awareness and empathy, upholds their fundamental human rights and breaks stereotypes. However, similar to most other societies, students with disability in Kashmir encounter numerous barriers when attempting to access higher education. In this context the primary objective of this study was to gain insights into the educational experiences of disabled students pursuing higher education in Kashmir. The study was based on 26 students with disability who were enrolled at Central University of Kashmir. The data was collected through qualitative methodology by using interviews. The results indicated that disabled individuals face notable challenges when it comes to accessing education. The barriers faced by students with disability encompass various challenges, such as experiencing harassment, being excluded from the university community, lacking sufficient institutional support, inadequate accommodations, limited financial assistance, substandard seminars, and insufficient infrastructure and facilities. These obstacles impede disabled students from achieving equal access to education when compared to their non-disabled peers.

Disabled student experiences of Higher Education

Disabled students remain systematically disadvantaged compared to their non-disabled peers. It is, therefore, essential that educational practitioners and policy makers appreciate the complexity of the disabled student experience. In the present study, we identified 60 online forum posts (and 31 replies to the posts) discussing personal experiences of disability and Higher Education. Online posts (and their replies) were subject to inductive thematic analysis and six themes were extracted from the data. These themes were (i) impact on education, (ii) isolation from peers, (iii) seeking advice and support, (iv) barriers to assistance and accommodations, (v) impact of accommodations, and (vi) providing guidance and support. Recommendations for practice focus on the practical and social support required to ensure that disabled students are neither marginalized nor disadvantaged. Points of interest We identified 60 online forum posts (and 31 replies to those posts) discussing personal experiences of disability and Higher Education. We searched the posts for common themes and six themes were extracted. Themes were (i) impact on education, (ii) isolation from peers, (iii) seeking advice and support, (iv) barriers to assistance and accommodations, (v) impact of accommodations, and (vi) providing guidance and support. Findings demonstrate the value of online forum data. We provide several recommendations for practice (including greater provision of both practical and social support) to ensure that disabled students are not disadvantaged.

Perspectives of College Students With Intellectual Disability on Peer Mentoring Relationships

Abstract This study aimed to understand how students with intellectual disability perceived mentoring relationships with nondisabled peers within an inclusive mentoring course. Data sources included a variety of course-related products created by mentoring partners as well as their reflections on the course and their mentoring relationships. Qualitative analyses proceeded through multiple rounds of deductive coding utilizing a conceptual framework of effective mentoring practice and inductive coding to identify critical themes from the perspectives of students with ID. A central finding related to how particular mentoring course concepts (e.g., person-centered) and structures (e.g., shared goal setting) supported students with ID to view themselves as active agents in their mentoring relationships and experience reciprocity with nondisabled peers. Students valued social coaching but desired connections to a wider range of peers. Consideration is given to situating elements of the course-based approach within campus programs not focused exclusively on students with disabilities and the importance of acknowledging students’ intersectional social identities.

The impact of ageing on adults with cerebral palsy: the results of a national online survey.

Cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common neurological disorders in children and results in lifelong physical impairments. Adults with CP have approximately the same life expectancy as their non-disabled peers, so helping them to stay healthy throughout the life course will have long-term cost benefits via reductions in hospital admissions, long-term care, and unemployment rates. To explore how adults with CP experience ageing. National online survey given to adults with CP in the UK. The participants were adults with CP. Items for the online survey were taken from existing self-report measures, with additional items developed for the survey. Several domains of functioning were assessed including mobility, dexterity, fatigue, pain, speech, mental health, swallowing and health maintenance/self-care as well as healthcare usage. Data were analysed using χ2 to examine the relationships between the demographic variables and the survey responses. The survey was completed by 395 participants, of whom 74.2% were female and approximately 59.3% aged <45 years. Responders reported having problems with mobility, pain, and fatigue with older participants reporting higher levels of pain and more mobility problems, although the correlations were fairly small. Healthcare usage was surprisingly low. The study found that age was associated with a decline in mobility and a higher level of pain, although the relationships were weak. It is possible that the low healthcare usage among the responders is owing to services not being available to respond to their needs.

Suggestions for Successful Inclusive Education of Hearing-Impaired Students through Qualitative Analysis

The purpose of present study was to provide suggestions for successful inclusive education of students with hearing impairments. We conducted focus group interviews involving five adults with congenital hearing loss who had received the inclusive education and five mothers of children with hearing impairments who are currently in the mainstream education setting. The data were explored by using the phenomenological analysis method in terms of three categories: the reasons for choosing mainstream schools, experimences with teachters and classmantes, and future directions for achieving successful inclusive education. Based on the analysis of interview, the choice of mainstream inclusive schools was motivated by the desire to use oral communication and interact with non-disabled peers. The experiences with peers and teachers at the mainstream schools were generally positive. In addition, students with hearing impairments expressed a preference for education that focuses more on understanding their shared disabilities with their friends at school, rather than general information about disabilities. The current results suggest that future studies should investigate peer relationships within the schools and explore educational policies related to the hearing impairment.

Inequities in the physical activity of disabled young people in Aotearoa New Zealand: a stakeholder SWOT analysis of the physical activity sector.

Disabled people, particularly children and adolescents, tend to participate in less physical activity than their non-disabled peers on average. However, disabled children and youth (i.e., young people [YP]) are typically underrepresented in physical activity (PA) research, with little data available in Aotearoa New Zealand to guide policy makers to alter societal factors that contribute to disability inequities. The purpose of this study was to conduct a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the PA sector in Aotearoa New Zealand with respect to PA participation and promotion among disabled YP. Focus group discussions, underpinned by the SWOT framework, were facilitated with stakeholders (n=11) engaged in the Aotearoa New Zealand PA sector. Data were transcribed and analysed using content analysis. Desirable and accessible opportunities were essential enablers of PA in disabled YP. Communication, transport, equipment costs, awareness of activities, and social support were identified as factors that influence PA participation. Schools also have a considerable influence on PA participation among disabled YP, while greater funding for and cohesion/collaboration among PA providers is key to continued growth in PA participation. Communication, accessibility, funding, and collaborative/coordinated multi-level efforts were identified as areas in need of strengthening to provide equitable opportunities for disabled YP in Aotearoa New Zealand to participate in PA.

Remotely Controlled Electronic Goalkeeper: An Example of Improving Social Integration of Persons with and without Disabilities

Social integration is an essential part of the life of every human being, but for people with disabilities, there are many situations in which it is still very low. For instance, in sports and outdoor gaming, there is a barrier between players with and without disabilities. Individuals with disabilities play sports almost exclusively with disabled players, not only during official events such as Paralympic games but also in occasional sports groups, while the mixing of people with and without disabilities in sports activities is a key factor of social inclusion. In order to allow a person with motor-skill impairments to play on the same ground as their non-disabled peers, we developed a novel piece of Assistive Technology that lets a person with motor-skill impairments to control a system acting as a goalkeeper during a non-professional football match, with approximately the same performances as a goalkeeper without motor-skill impairments. This electro-mechanical system is composed of a three-meter-long metal guideline and a human-shaped dummy sliding along it. The system is equipped with a high-torque battery-powered direct-current motor and it is controlled by means of electronic boards and sensors to ensure safety and good usability also for players with severe mobility impairments. The results of a pilot testing demonstrated the robustness and high degree of usability of the system, enabling people with motor-skill impairments to competitively participate in matches with non-disabled peers.

Cardiovascular risk profiles clusters among children and adolescents with disabilities

BackgroundCardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a precursor for disabilities and death worldwide. Being overweight or obese in combination with physical inactivity and smoking habits may increase the risk for CVD and other health problems such as lower limb osteoarthritis, diabetes, stroke, and various cancer types among children and adolescents. The literature emphasizes the need to follow such groups and evaluate the risk of individuals developing CVD diseases. Therefore, the current study explores the variety of cardiovascular risks in children and adolescents’ profiles clusters with and without disabilities.MethodsData from 42 countries including Israel, was collected with the support of the world health organization (WHO, Europe) through a questionnaire from 11–19 years old school-aged.ResultsThe study finding shows that children and adolescents with disabilities demonstrated a higher prevalence of overweight than those who completed the HBSC youth behavior survey. Moreover, the prevalence of tobacco smoking and alcohol use was statisticaly significantly higher among the disabled group than the non-disabled group. In addition, socioeconomic status of responders who presented a very high CVD risk was found as significantly lower than those from the first and second low risk groups.ConclusionThis led to the conclusion that children and adolescents with disability were at a higher risk of developing CVDs than their non-disabled peers. In addition, intervention programs tailored to the needs of adolescents with disability should consider lifestyle habit change and promoting healthy living thus improving their quality of life as well as reducing their risk of being exposed to severe CVD diseases.

Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing as a treatment for PTSD, trauma, and trauma related symptoms in children with intellectual disabilities: a general review

PurposeThis paper aims to discuss the utility of eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) therapy as a treatment for children with intellectual disabilities (ID) who have experienced trauma.Design/methodology/approachRelevant National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance and literature were reviewed to provide support for the use of EMDR as a treatment for trauma in children with ID.FindingsThere is a growing body of evidence which demonstrates that EMDR therapy is successful for the treatment of trauma in adults and children. However, for children with ID, the research is limited despite those with ID being more likely than non-disabled peers to experience trauma such as abuse or neglect.Practical implicationsEMDR can only be facilitated by trained mental health nurses, psychiatrists, psychologists (clinical, forensic, counselling or educational) or occupational therapists or social workers with additional training. Finally, general practitioners who are experienced in psychotherapy or psychological trauma and have accreditation. Therefore, this highlights that there may be a lack of trained staff to facilitate this intervention and that those who are generally working with the client closely and long term such as learning disability nurses are not able to conduct this intervention.Originality/valueThis paper presents an account of NICE guidance and evidence of the efficacy of EMDR as a treatment for adults, children and those with ID.

Research Should Focus on Improving Mathematics Proficiency for Students With Disabilities

Students with disabilities experience differential levels of achievement in mathematics when compared with their nondisabled peers. Identifying and implementing evidence-based practices (EBPs) is essential to increase their mathematics achievement. However, an argument is re-emerging that calls into question the effectiveness of well-known EBPs, such as explicit/direct instruction. This argument is based on opinion and conjecture, rather than student outcome measures. In this commentary, we use research on explicit and direct instruction with mathematics to (a) highlight the confusion over theoretical implications, (b) call for researchers to reduce personal bias within research, and (c) emphasize the need for improving outcomes of students with disabilities that affect mathematics learning.

Promoting Physical Activity in a Primary Care Practice in People Living with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers.

People living with dementia (PLWD) and their family caregivers report higher rates of having a sedentary lifestyle than their non-disabled peers do. This study analyzed the effectiveness of an intervention designed to increase physical activity among PLWD and their family caregivers in primary health care settings. A cluster-randomized multicenter clinical trial was conducted. Participants from four health centers were randomly assigned to the intervention group (IG) or the control group (CG) in a 1:1 ratio using Epidat software. After a seven-day period with a digital pedometer (Omron Hj-321 lay-UPS), participants were asked to complete the International Physical Activity Questionnaire Short Form (IPAQ-SF). PLWD and caregivers allocated to the IG were given brief advice, educational materials and an additional 15 min appointment to prescribe an individualized physical activity plan. Seventy PLWD and 80 caregivers were assigned to the CG and 70 PLWD and 96 caregivers were assigned to the IG. Results of the pedometer assessment show that in PLWD, the IG's activity increased by 52.89 aerobic steps at 6 months and the CG's activity decreased by 615.93 aerobic steps, showing a net increase in the IG of 668.82 (95% CI: -444.27 to 1781.91; p = 0.227). For caregivers in the IG, activity increased by 356.91 aerobic steps and in the CG it decreased by 12.95 aerobic steps, showing a net increase in favor of the IG of 369.86 (95%CI: -659.33 to 1399.05; p = 0.476). The effectiveness of interventions to increase physical activity in this group of people with dementia and their caregivers did not achieved positive results overall but may have provided suggestions for family physicians and physical therapists to improve physical activity among people with dementia and their families.

Disability and violence: Urgent call for data to achieve equity

Disability and violence: Urgent call for data to achieve equity

Mixed methods implementation evaluation of virtual interview training for transition-age autistic youth in pre-employment transition services.

Autistic transition-age youth are employed at rates far lower than their non-disabled peers as well as youth with other disabilities. Meanwhile, very few studies have evaluated the implementation of job interviewing practices within pre-employment transition services. We conducted an initial implementation evaluation as part of a Type I hybrid randomized controlled effectiveness-implementation trial where we trained teachers to deliver Virtual Interview Training for Transition-Age Youth (VIT-TAY) within five pre-employment transition services programs. We used mixed methods to evaluate leader (n=5), teacher (n=15) and autistic transition age youth (n=48) perceptions of VIT-TAY. We used descriptive statistics and thematic network analysis to evaluate survey data. Mixed methods integration was then performed to make comparisons between quantitative and qualitative results. Quantitative survey data revealed that leaders and teachers found VIT-TAY to be highly acceptable and appropriate for pre-employment transition services; findings which were confirmed via thematic network analysis of qualitative interview data. Autistic students reported via quantitative surveys that VIT-TAY was acceptable and usable, which was confirmed via thematic network analysis of open-ended survey data. This initial implementation evaluation can be used to inform a larger scale implementation evaluation of VIT-TAY in schools.

Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Out-of-Home Care: A Scoping Review

Children with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often over-represented in child protection and out-of-home care services. Despite this fact, little is known or understood about their experiences with these services. This scoping review seeks to identify the published literature about children with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are engaged with child protection and out-of-home care services. Findings from the 18 studies included in this review show that these children are at increased risk of entering the child protection and out-of-home care system, with outcomes that do not fare as favourably as their nondisabled peers. This is largely due to a lack of support, training, and resources for the children, their families, and carers. Placement failure was a common theme with residential care more likely for children with greater complexity and support needs. These children are understudied, with more research needed to better understand the factors that contribute to their experiences. Greater insights into how a child protection and out-of-home care pathway can be avoided, via the provision of adequate services and supports, are also urgently needed so that fewer children are placed at risk in a system where poor outcomes are common.