Facilitating Active Learner Participation

The environments of most young children present many opportunities for learning. However, preschoolers who have severe motor disabilities frequently are unable to explore the world around them. Project Participate addressed the limitations that severe motor disabilities place on the activities of preschoolers by developing a model for making decisions about interventions that enhance a child's ability to actively participate in educational programs. This decision process is an approach to examining the reasons for limited participation and results in an intervention plan that facilitates the child's active involvement. The effectiveness of these interventions in increasing child participation in play with preschool materials, communication, social interaction, and mobility is documented. The results of the evaluation of Project Participate are presented. © 1992, SAGE Publications. All rights reserved.