Program

Special Education M.A.

Year Approved

2017

First Advisor

Larson, Susan

Abstract

Today a majority of adolescents do not participate in the recommended daily level of physical activity. Students with disabilities, including students on the Autism Spectrum scale, especially lack participation in physical activity. The benefits of regular physical activity include better physical health, improved cognition, and increased social skills. However, a significant number of barriers prevent students from participating in physical activity. Lack of physical activity has severe consequences for adolescents. Students may be more susceptible to illness, develop poorer motor skills, have reduced focus ability, focus resulting in emotional hardships and fewer opportunities to socialize with peers. Educators, family, friends, and community members need to work together to combat barriers that exist for students. Interventions, training, increased funding, more appropriate facilities and equipment, and more physical activity opportunities, are only a few of the ways to increase physical activity levels. Researchers should continue to study which strategies are most beneficial for increasing physical activity levels among adolescents.

Degree Name

Special Education M.A.

Document Type

Masterʼs thesis

Terms of Use and License Information

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 International License.

Share

COinS