Title of article :
Facilitators and Barriers of Assistive Technology and Learning Environment for Children with Special Needs
Author/Authors :
Lersilp , Suchitporn Department of Occupational Therapy - Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences - Chiang Mai University, Thailand , Putthinoi , Supawadee Department of Occupational Therapy - Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences - Chiang Mai University, Thailand , Lersilp, Theeratorn Department of Special Education - Faculty of Education - Chiang Mai Rajabhat University, Thailand
Abstract :
Thepurposeofthisresearchwastostudythefacilitatorsandbarriersofassistivetechnology(AT)andthelearningenvironmentfor
childrenwithspecialneedsinspecialeducationschoolsinChiangMai,Thailand.Theinformantswereonehundredandsixteen
childrenwithspecialneeds,whostudiedinnurserytoGrade12,orwiththeircaregivers.Theinstrumentwasaquestionnaire
appliedbytheInternationalClassificationofFunctioning,DisabilityandHealth(ICF)andexaminedforcontentvaliditybyfive
specialists.TheresultsintermsofATshowedthatamajorityofchildrenwithphysicaldisabilityneededitformobilityanduse
ofschoolbuildingsandthosewithhearingdisabilityforcommunication.However,mostofthechildrendidnotneedtouseAT
forculture,recreation,orsports,whilemanyconsidereditasafacilitatorforeducation.Intermsofthelearningenvironment,
mostcharacteristicsofthephysicalenvironmentwerefacilitatorsforchildrenwithspecialneeds,aswerethoseofthesocial
environmentforallgroupsofsuchchildren.TheresultsofthisstudywereusefulinprovidinginformationforATanddesignof
alearningenvironmentrelatingtothevariedcharacteristicsofchildrenwithspecialneedsinspecialeducationschools
Keywords :
Facilitators and Barriers , Assistive Technology , Learning Environment , Children , Special Needs , AT , ICF
Journal title :
Occupational Therapy International
