Investigating Strategies Used to Foster Quality Participation in Recreational Sport Programs for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Their Perceived Importance.

Quality experiences in sport programming for children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can promote physical and psychosocial benefits and long-term quality participation (QP). Unfortunately, children with ASD often experience sport participation barriers and, consequently, participate less in sport compared with children without disabilities. This study investigated QP priorities and strategies that could foster QP for children with ASD. Caregivers (n = 13), volunteers (n = 26), and staff (n = 14) involved in sport programming for children with ASD rated experiential elements of QP using the Measure of Experiential Aspects of Participation. In addition , a two-round Delphi survey with staff (Round 1: n = 11; Round 2: n = 13) generated 22 strategies for promoting QP-each rated highly with regard to importance (5.69-6.85 on a 7-point scale). Strategies were substantiated with published research evidence. Findings informed the development of a QP tool designed to help instructors implement identified strategies in hopes of improving sport experiences for children with ASD.

Exploring experiential elements, strategies and outcomes of quality participation for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A systematic scoping review.

OBJECTIVE: Quality participation, defined as satisfying and enjoyable involvement, is one of the most valued life outcomes for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. To broaden understandings of quality participation, our review explored participation experiences of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities. METHOD: Utilising an established systematic scoping review methodology, data were collected using three search tools (peer-reviewed databases, grey literature databases and Google). Inclusion criteria required that children with intellectual and developmental disabilities and/or their proxies provided descriptions of quality participation experiences in any life domain. RESULTS: A total of 35 articles met the inclusion criteria. Quality participation strategies (30 total) and outcomes (8 total) were categorised according to six experiential elements (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery and meaning). CONCLUSION: Findings provide novel insight for building quality experiences across current and future participation initiatives.

Quality of Participation Experiences in Special Olympics Sports Programs.

This cross-sectional study examined experiential elements facilitating quality sport experiences for youth (ages 12-24 years) in Special Olympics, and the associated influences of sport program and sociodemographic characteristics. A total of 451 athletes involved in the 2019 Special Olympics Youth Games completed a survey assessing elements of quality participation (autonomy, belongingness, challenge, engagement, mastery, and meaning). The t tests investigated whether athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities rated elements differently across Traditional and Unified Sport programs. Regression analyses explored whether sport program and sociodemographic characteristics were predictors of these elements. Youth reported high mean scores across the elements, with no significant differences between athletes with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Traditional or Unified Sport. Athletes with no reported disability rated higher autonomy than those who reported disability (p = .01). Women tended to report greater engagement in sport than men (p = .07). Findings provide theoretical and practical insights into quality sport participation among youth in Special Olympics.

Distribution of CdSe quantum dots within swollen polystyrene microgel particles using confocal microscopy.

CdSe quantum dots (QDs) are semiconducting nanoparticles that fluoresce when stimulated by visible light. This property has been exploited in their use as tracer particles in biomedical applications. In this study, confocal microscopy has been used to determine the distribution of QDs within polystyrene microgel particles, dispersed in an organic solvent. It was found that the extent of microgel swelling affected the penetration of the QDs into the particles. Only when the microgel particles were swollen to their maximum extent were the QDs able to penetrate into the central core region of the particles.