Participation of children and youth with neurodevelopmental disorders in after-school activities

Aim: The aim of this study was to compare the level of participation in social, leisure and recreational activities in a group with intellectual disability, a group with autistic spectrum disorders, and a typically developing group.

Method: The sample included 157 children of both genders, between 7 and 16?years of age (M?=?11.03, SD =2.59). The Activities Questionnaire, which consists of: social, leisure, recreational activities, and friendship, was used in the research.

Results: Participants with intellectual disability participated in a significantly larger number of all assessed activities than their peers with autistic spectrum disorders. There were no statistically significant differences in the frequency of participation in observed activities among the three groups of participants. Participants with intellectual disability were more independent than participants with autistic spectrum disorders in social and leisure activities, and needed less parental support in leisure activities. Participants with intellectual disability and autistic spectrum disorders had friendly relationships mainly with peers with disabilities. The influence of gender was detected in certain activities in all three groups of participants.

Conclusions: Participants with disability participate in social, leisure and recreational activities less than their typically developing peers. The activities in which they participate are mainly stereotypical, highly structured, and take place in the presence of parents.

• IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• Forming a richer network of support services which would be oriented towards organizing social, leisure and recreational activities of persons with disabilities in the community.

• It is necessary to improve support programs which would focus on strengthening the competencies and resources of parents.

• The improvement of formal and informal support should provide a wider network, and better and more frequent social relationships between persons with and without disabilities.