A modified version of the Rockport Fitness Walking Test (RFWT) has been determined to be reliable for persons with mental retardation. Previous investigations have used one pacer for each participant. While this protocol may be reliable, it is not likely feasible in most school or community-based settings. Therefore, the purpose of this study is twofold: first to evaluate the reliability of a modified version of the RFWT using one pacer per five participants; second, to determine the agreement among the one to one protocol and the proposed five to one protocol. This study compared the end completion times and mean peak heart rates of three different one-mile walking sessions of 35 participants with mild mental retardation. Eighteen females (21.1 �� 2.7 yr.) and 17 males (19.7 �� 2.8 yr.) participated in each testing session. Each participant randomly completed two sessions of walking with one pacer per five participants and one session of one pacer per participant on an indoor surface 1/9th of a mile long. Results from ANOVA indicated end completion times and mean peak heart rates did not differ based on gender (p=0.798), sessions (p=0.053), and gender x sessions (p=0.855). To determine agreement, intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were calculated for end completion times for the first five to one and the one to one (R=0.83) and the second five to one and the one to one (R=0.85). ICC's were calculated for mean peak heart rates for the first five to one and the one to one (R=0.95) and for the second five to one and the one to one (R=0.93). The results support that the five to one modified walking protocol produces results similar to the results using the one to one testing. / Graduation date: 1998

This retrospective study investigated the incidence, characteristics, and risk factors of bone fracture among a group of 518 adults with severe mental retardation between 25 and 75 years old. Data were collected from a large state developmental center in the Western United States between April 1, 1991 and March 31, 1996. Ninety-six of 271 males and 133 of 247 females experienced 291 fractures during the study period. Relative risk of fracture for all males was .658 compared to 1.540 for females. Menopausal status did not significantly influence the risk of fractures among females. Risk of fracture by self-feeding ability ranged from 1.675 for individuals who were tube fed to .343 for those requiring no assistance during meals. As a group, individuals with a body mass index (BMI) less than 20 were at the greatest risk of fracture (RR=2.416). Males with BMI values between 20-25 (RR=.560) and greater than 25 (RR=.373) had a decreased risk of fracture. Ambulatory males and females had a significantly decreased risk of fracture (RR=.356 and .559 respectively). Rib, femur, vertebrae, and radial fractures accounted for nearly 60% of all fractures. The etiology of the 41% of fractures was of unknown origin. Transfers by developmental training personnel (10.3%), falls to the ground (15.8%), and accidents (32.6%) were also frequently related to fracture cause. Logistic regression analysis revealed the occurrence of any fracture was significantly associated with ambulation, calcium intake, body weight, self-feeding ability, and body mass index. / Graduation date: 1997

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of back and seat rest inclination on the kinematics of manual hand-rim wheelchair propulsion in subjects with spastic type cerebral palsy. Subjects ranged in age from nine to twenty-one and were classified as USCPAA Class III or IV functional ability. Subjects were required to propel a standardized wheelchair at six seat positions from combinations of back rest angles of 0, 3 and -5 degrees from vertical and thigh angles of 0 and 5 degrees from horizontal. Combinations of thigh/seat rest angles were 0/-5, 5/-5, 5/0, 5/3, 0/3, 0/0 constituting the six different conditions. Subjects were filmed while wheeling in each seat position. Wheeling was performed at two and three kilometers per hour on a low friction roller system. It was hypothesized that since individuals with spastic type cerebral palsy have improved functional upper extremity performance as the body center of mass is positioned over the ischial tuberocities and hip flexion angle is maintained at 90 degrees (0/0), that similar results would be found in wheelchair propulsion. Based on the results of kinematic data analyzed in this study there was no indication that the 0/0 seat position was superior for subjects with cerebral palsy under the conditions of this study. Larger elbow flexion/extension range of motion (p = .06) exhibited by the 5/3 and 5/0 seat orientations suggests that these positions provide a more effective wheelchair propulsion orientation for subjects in this study. / Graduation date: 1996

Balance is the ability to establish an equilibrium between the body and its environment. Balance is a key component which is associated with a variety of movements and postural control. Children with cerebral palsy (CP) have difficulties with movement and postural control due to physical and neurological limitations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a static and dynamic balance training program on the balance of boys and girls aged 7-11 years (N=4) who have mild to moderate cerebral palsy. A single-subject multiple baseline design was used for this study. Subjects were assessed on four valid field test measures (two static; two dynamic balances). Testing sessions were videotaped to ensure accuracy and reliability of the test measures. The interobserver agreement ranged from 80% to 87% on all four field tests. Baseline was established when subjects established at least three consistent measures, (within a 25% range on 3 of the 4 measures), or following the second week of baseline collection, which ever occurred first. Subjects were tested three times daily with mean scores plotted. Initially, two subjects were paired to begin the intervention period. The remaining two subjects continued in baseline period for one week, with the treatment intervention delayed. During training, subjects received training with a 1:1 teacher-student ratio. Training consisted of 45 minute balance training sessions, 4 times per week for a total of 4 weeks. Each subject was tested daily on one field test daily. Lesson plans were developed to address one of the four subsystems of balance. Post data was collected on all four field tests at one week intervals for a total of 3. Through visual analysis of the data, results indicate that some improvements occurred as a result of the implemented balance training program. Dynamic balance tests showed greater positive changes than the static balance tests. This may be due to the fact that since children like to use a variety of locomotor movements, and thus practice dynamic balance more than static balance. Anecdotal information from the parents seemed to support improvements in balance abilities. There is very little research that focuses on the balance of children with cerebral palsy. More studies are needed to further investigate balance training for persons with CP. / Graduation date: 1995

Sammanfattning Syftet med vår uppsats är att med en komparativ ansats studera hur integrerings- och normaliseringsmål uppnås för personer med intellektuella funktionsnedsättningar inom den dagliga verksamheten i Polen. Vi vill även se hur personalen upplever att de uppnår dessa mål. Huvudmetoden för studien var kvalitativ intervju. I vår analys har vi valt att använda oss av KASAM-teorin som kan förklara hur personalen på den dagliga verksamheten upplever att integrerings- och normaliseringsmålen uppnås. Vi använder oss av begrepp som empowerment, normalisering och integration. Vad som framkommer är att personalen upplever att deras integrerings- och normaliseringsmål i verksamheten uppnås, men att det finns brister som gör att man inte når ända fram. För att uppnå målen behövs mera resurser och en annan syn på människor med intellektuella funktionsnedsättningar.

Special Olympics International, an organization committed to providing sport opportunities for children and adults with mental retardation, has been a major advocate in promoting competitive experiences for the mentally retarded. Few studies have focused on the effects of participation in competitive athletics on individuals who are mentally retarded. The purpose of this study was to investigate the self-concept of winners, non-winners, and losers after participation in a Special Olympics competitive meet. The study also examined the attitude of mentally retarded participants toward competition and the perceived importance of competing in the event. The subjects for this investigation were participants from the Texas Special Olympics State Swimming Meet. The study included 95 males and 56 females. Comparisons were made among athletes placing first, second, and last in races at the swim meet. Following competition, subjects were administered a sub-scale of the Piers Harris Self Concept Scale (PHSCS) and asked questions relative to attitudes toward competition. A followup interview was conducted eight to twelve weeks following the swimming meet to determine the importance of having competed in the Special Olympics State Swimming Meet. No significant differences in self-concept levels existed among winners, non-winners, and losers immediately following competition. While all three groups expressed positive feelings toward participation in Special Olympics, the last place finishers were slightly more negative about swimming in the race when interviewed immediately following their participation. Also, immediately following the race, more second place finishers preferred to swim when racing other people than did winners and last place finishers. In a followup interview eight to twelve weeks after participation, no significant differences were found among groups regarding their attitude toward competing in the Special Olympics Swim Meet. Also, the perceived importance of the Texas Special Olympics State Swim Meet was not significantly different for winners, non-winners, and losers, as measured by responses to the followup interview. / Graduation date: 1991

The purpose of this study was to identify competencies which are perceived as important by Thai adapted physical educators, to determine the differences that exist in the way physical education professors and adapted physical educators judge the level of each competency, and to recommend a set of competencies for adapted physical educators in Thailand. The questionnaire, Competencies for an Adapted Physical Educator in Thailand containing 59 competencies based on 6- point Likert type scales, was used in this study. The fifty-nine competencies were translated from the Competencies for an Adapted Physical Education Specialist, modified by Dempsey (1986) from the 1981 AAHPERD Guidelines for Adapted Physical Education. The meaning equivalence of the competencies was validated by using the Delphi method along with the back translation technique. The computed reliability coefficients of the questionnaire, using the Hoyt-Stunkard's technique was .9577. The study's population consisted of 31 College and university professors who have taught adapted physical education courses to college/university students and 40 adapted physical educators who have conducted physical activities for people with disabilities in schools and institutions for the disabled in Thailand. Data collection was completed in an eight-week period. Means, standard deviations, a t-test and the Bonferroni Method of Multiple Comparisons were used to treat these data. The results showed that 1) the competencies were perceived as extremely important by professors and adapted physical educators in Thailand, 2) the perceptions of professors and physical educators on the competency statements individually and overall were similar since the null hypotheses were not rejected, and 3) the relationship of both groups on the importance of each competency and competency category was high with a Spearman rank correlation of .7842, and .8857 respectively. Based upon the findings of this study, it was recommended that this set of competencies should be used as guidelines for the preparation of adapted physical educators in Thailand. / Graduation date: 1992

The purpose of this study was to determine if certain identified educational strategies would have an effect on the success of at-risk students at the secondary level. Specifically, would school involvement and a mentor program have an effect on students' attendance, grade point average, and self-esteem. An examination of related literature indicated no one factor or specific combination of factors clearly determined which student would be at-risk. The literature further indicated that most researchers agree on a general list of educational factors that can effect student success. The study group of ninth grade at-risk students was determined by the following criteria: 1) a grade point average of 2.0 or lower, 2) 15 days or more absences during their eighth grade year, 3) a California Aptitude Test score between 30 and 50 percentile in Math, and 4) a California Aptitude Test score between 30 and 50 percentile in Reading. This study's results determined that certain educational strategies did effect at-risk students' success. Analysis of the individual student results, showed improvement, in at least, one of the identified areas. In the area of attendance, four of the subjects showed marked improvement. Four subjects showed progress in grade point averages; six of the subjects showed a positive change towards school and concerning the subjects' attitudes towards home; five students made a positive transformation. However, inspite of some individual improvement, there was no statistical improvement in the group in toto. / Graduation date: 1993

Thesis (M.L.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves.

This work analyses social activity of parents raising mentally handicapped children and it influencing forces. The work introduces education documents regulating of handicapped children and possibilities of their parents to receive a social security ensuring parents‘professional and creative self-expression and full-fledged social and cultural life. Here is analyzed research which aims to measure factors influencing social activity of parents nurturing handicapped children. 222 respondents participated in research: 104 parents nurturing handicapped child of 7-12 years and 118 parents nurturing sane child of the same age. To meet an aim following tasks were set: 1. Familiarize with literature and legal base regulating education of mentally handicapped children and social security of these families as well as to estimate how altered nurturing model influences parents‘social activity. 2. Carry out survey of parents nurturing handicapped children as well as parents nurturing sane children and compare their social activity. 3. Offer suggestions on how to increase social activity of parents nurturing mentally handicapped children. Methods used in research to execute a purpose: 1. Analysis of documents and sources of literature. 2. Questionnaire. 3. SPSS statistical package used for data processing. The object of research – mentally handicapped children nurturing parents’ social activity. The research determined that parents‘social activity decreases when born... [to full text]