Journal of Intellectual Disability - Diagnosis and Treatment

Number 10/2, 2022

70-77
A Study of Lifelong Education for Persons with Intellectual Disabilities at the University Level

Authors: Kazuaki Maebara, Yoshihiro Fujii, Kazunori Tanimura, Toru Suzuki, Atsushi Takeda

Abstract

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Background: In recent years, there has been growing interest in developing lifelong education for persons with disabilities at universities and other institutions of higher learning. However, there is still a lack of practical research on people with intellectual disabilities who participate in lifelong education. Objective: This study analyzes the experiences of participants with intellectual disabilities obtained from the practice of the Lifelong Education Program for Persons with Disabilities (AULEPP). It discusses perspectives for the future development of lifelong education. Methods: Eleven persons with intellectual disabilities who participated in the AULEPP from October 2021 to February 2022 were included in the study. Three surveys were administered to these participants before and after the AULEPPand for each lecture.Results: The average number of participants in each lecture was 5.2, and four participants attended more than eight lectures. Qualitative analysis of the survey results revealed that participants acquired new knowledge, expressed the need for continuous learning, and proposed new questions. The lectures helped them recognize changes in their perspectives on daily life and society. Most of the lectures were conducted online, but there were no negative comments about this modality.Conclusions: The study revealed the need to create opportunities for participants to find meaning in lectures, the effectiveness of online media, and the role of lifelong college education in the community. It is necessary to investigate the transferability of these results to urban areas and explore outcome measures and program content to build an evidence-based lifelong learning program.

78-86
Let’s Take A Walk: Exploring the Impact of an Inclusive Walking Program on the Physical and Mental Health of Adults with Intellectual Disability

Authors: Jennifer L. Jones, Kami L. Gallus, Sam R. Emerson, Christina M. Sciarrillo, Tia C. Waldrop

Abstract

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Background: People with intellectual disabilities experience health disparities and poorer health outcomes than people without disabilities. Increased physical activity has been found to reduce the impact of chronic health conditions among people with intellectual disabilities. Method: The current study explored the impact of an inclusive walking program on the physical and mental health of adults with intellectual disabilities. Let’s Take A Walk paired adults with intellectual disabilities, hereafter referred to as Community Walkers (n = 27), with college students to walk around a college campus twice a week for 45 minutes across 10 weeks. Data on mental health outcomes, specifically depression and anxiety, were collected from 24 Community Walkers across four-time points (pre-, mid-, post-, and 3-months following intervention), and data on physical health outcomes were collected across two-time points (pre- and post-intervention). Results: Community Walkers reported significant decreases in both depression and anxiety from pre to post-implementation. Particularly promising was clinically significant decreases in anxiety symptoms over the 10-week program. No differences were noted on Community Walkers’ measures of physical health. Conclusion: Inclusive walking programs are a valuable and promising mechanism for building social connections and inclusion and improving mental health for adults with intellectual disabilities.

87-94
Service Quality Gap Model as a Predictor of Customer Satisfaction among People with Disabilities in Vocational Rehabilitation Centers

Authors: Hawazin Mohammed Ahmed Natto

Abstract

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The purpose of this study was to investigate the Service Quality Gap Model as a predictor of customer satisfaction among people with disabilities in Vocational rehabilitation centers. A quantitative survey research method was employed for this study. The independent variable is Service Quality Gap Model, while the dependent variable is customer satisfaction. The data were analyzed with Pearson correlation and multiple regression. Multiple regression was used. Participants were 150 individuals with disabilities (females, n= 10, 6.66%, and males 140, 93.33%). Findings show significant correlations between service quality gap model subscales and customer satisfaction. When put together, the independent variables (tangibility, reliability, responsiveness, assurance, and empathy) yielded a coefficient of multiple regression (R) of 0.664 and a multiple correlation square of 0.621.Each of the five independent variables made significant individual contributions to the prediction of customer satisfaction

95-107
Medical Staff Social Practice and Attitude towards People with Mental Disorders

Authors: Stadnik Oksana, Sliushchinskiy Bohdan, Varha Nataliia, Khodus Olena, Polovaia Nataliia

Abstract

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Background: Considering the social vulnerability of the people with mental disorders and a certain dualism of treatment practice within this social category of people and beginning from socializing process to isolation in Ukrainian society, it becomes relevant to prevent the formation of antisocial and stigmatizing consequences toward the patients with mental disorders in society. Objective: The article's aim involves the social practice of studying and attitude toward patients with mental disorders. They are based on the results of sociological questionnaires. Methods: The questionnaire is based on psychiatrists and psychiatric hospitals’ medical staff surveys. It covers 505 medical workers of the Regional Clinical Psychiatric Hospital in the Zaporizskiy region of Ukraine. Results: The result points to the domination of neutral attitude toward the mentally disabled people among the respondents-experts (medical and junior medical staff including), which in turn causes several negative consequences as follows: lack of understanding of treatment differences concerning the mentally healthy and mentally ill; a latent reluctance for changing the social treatment practice towards the mentally ill in a more humane way; distancing from the mentally ill; a change of verbally-behavioral practice to antisocial, hostile ones. etc. Conclusions: Despite the globalization of the modern world, the local composition of verbal-behavioral social practice toward people with mental disorders is influenced by socio-cultural, economic, and political determinants.

108-113
Development of Boccia Throw Test Instrument for Athletes with Cerebral Palsy

Authors: Rumi Iqbal Doewes, Islahuzzaman Nuryadin, Singgih Hendarto, Sapta Kunta Purnama

Abstract

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Background: Boccia is an accuracy game for athletes with cerebral palsy. In a Boccia game, the players throw a red- or blue-colored leather ball towards a white-colored target ball called the jack. Points are awarded to the colored balls with the closest distance to the jack. Aims: This development research aims to design a Boccia throw test instrument for novice athletes with cerebral palsy and test the instrument's validity and reliability. Methods: We use research and development with a 6-step instrument development method by Gall, Gall, and Borg. The subject of this research was 20 novice Boccia athletes who completed six trials to test the validity and reliability of the test instrument. Analysis was conducted through corrected item-total correlation and Cronbach’s Alpha using SPSS. Results: This research has produced a boccia throwing test instrument for cerebral palsy athletes with a throwing target in the form of a circle diameter of 25 cm, which is placed 5 meters from the ball throwing area. This instrument has proven its validity and reliability based on the validity value on the corrected item-total correlation > 0.05 and the reliability value on Cronbach's alpha > 0.80. Conclusion: The resulting test instrument is valid and reliable to assess the Boccia throwing accuracy skill in novice players.

114-121
Cumulative Rehearsal and Auditory Verbal Memory of Persons with Down Syndrome

Authors: Oluseyi Akintunde Dada, Anulika Chinyere Okpara, Owoade Philip Adeleke, Maureen Okang Okon, Anne Merimekwu, Effa German Anagbogbu, Janet Petters, Grace Onya Edu, Asuquo Eno, Levi Udochukwu Akah, Martin Afen Olufu

Abstract

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One of the characteristics of persons with Down syndrome is poor memory, especially the Auditory-Verbal Memory (AVM). Lack of verbal memory among persons with Down syndrome is one major factor that inhibits learning. This is why the effort towards enhancing AVM of persons with Down syndrome is evolving. This study, therefore, investigated the efficacy of cumulative rehearsal on auditory verbal memory of persons with Down syndrome with speech production and gender as moderator variables. A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial matrix of pretest-posttest control group experimental design was used in the study. A sample of thirty participants was drawn from a population of 44 persons with Down syndrome and randomly assigned to control and experimental groups in two special schools; National Orthopaedic Special School, Igbobi, and Modupe Cole Memorial Childcare and Treatment Home/School, Akoka. Data was collected using a validated self-developed instrument, Auditory Verbal Memory Assessment Scale (AVMAS) (r-0.86). Two hypotheses were tested using ANCOVA. Findings from the study revealed that: cumulative rehearsal therapy significantly impacted the auditory-verbal memory of persons with Down syndrome, with significant improvement observed. There was no significant interaction effect of speech level and gender with the therapy. It was thus concluded that cumulative rehearsal therapy is effective in enhancing auditory-verbal memory and so recommended for the improvement of AVM of persons with Down syndrome