Occupation-focused wheelchair training interventions to support the activity participation of children with mobility limitations: a rapid review of literature.

New types of wheelchairs are being introduced in the market to maximize opportunities for children to participate in meaningful occupations. However, interventions to support the inclusion of children with mobility limitations by using mobility support are desirable as these children continue to experience barriers to community and school participation, happiness, and inclusion. Little is known about the training programs and interventions designed to effectively integrate wheelchair use into the occupations of children with mobility limitations. This rapid review identified 10 studies addressing programs and interventions to equip children with mobility limitations with wheelchair-related skills and competencies. Three overarching themes, including (1) technology-mediated simulation, (2) custom-made wheelchairs, and (3) skills training and exercises, based on the type of intervention were identified. The development, safety, and playfulness of children with mobility limitations are crucial factors when providing wheelchair-related interventions.

Usability of Public Play Spaces for Children with Disabilities.

Purpose: To investigate the usability of public play spaces for children with disabilities by exploring their experiences in accessing and using these spaces and to further discuss recommendations for designing such spaces that are usable for these children. Methods: A hermeneutic phenomenological approach was employed to explore the experience of children with disabilities regarding the public play spaces. Seven children and their caregivers from two inclusive elementary schools in Central Java Province, Indonesia, participated in the study. Online semistructured interviews with the children were held using Zoom, followed by telephonic interviews with their parents. In addition, video recordings of the observation of the children's participation in the play spaces were gathered. The interview and video observation data were analyzed using van Manen's hermeneutic phenomenology thematic analysis method. Results: Five themes arose regarding the experiences of children with disabilities of accessing and using the public play spaces: (1) where time appeared to speed up, (2) "I like the tall one … I like extreme," (3) fostering connectedness, (4) the need for a safe space, and (5) how a play space should be. Conclusion: The public play spaces have meaningful values for the children with disabilities and their family, as they offered the opportunities to play, explore, interact with friends and families, enjoy nature, interact with animals, and learn. However, it is essential to provide a safe space in which children are free from physical and emotional harm, so that they can fully participate with confidence and a sense of autonomy. Nevertheless, it was also found that children, regardless of their abilities, craved risky and challenging play opportunities. This study also highlights the necessity of awareness-raising intervention programs to foster the inclusion of children with disabilities in public play space settings.

Promoting Sports Engagement during the COVID-19 Pandemic via Virtual Reality Games.

OBJECTIVE: To examine sports engagement and health changes of young adults when utilizing a VR sports game and investigate the relationship between sports engagement and health. METHOD: This study used a single-group design with 20 participants, aged 19-29 years, with no preexisting health conditions. The VR game "Sports Scramble" was used thrice within a span of one week. Outcomes sought include sports engagement and health, measured through the Sports Engagement Scale (SES) and Short Form 36 (SF-36), respectively. RESULTS: A significant difference (p < 0.001) was found between the pre-posttest scores of the SES. Moreover, a positive trend was observed in terms of health with a significant difference (p < 0.05) between pre-posttest scores of the SF-36's vitality dimension. There were positive correlations among the dedication and vigor subscales of the SES with the dimensions of health. CONCLUSION: This study showed the potential of VR sports games in positively influencing sports engagement and health among participants with the vigor and dedication positively influencing health. Future studies may involve the exploration of the effectiveness of VR to promote engagement and health through a randomized controlled trial with a longer timeframe and across various populations.