The following master’s thesis explores the problem of lack of exercise among children with Down syndrome, and offers different ways and approaches to motivate them to participate in climbing activities.
I used different methods of service design, with numerous iterations, to test different ways and approaches to try and enhance children’s motivation for climbing, as well as achieve greater group homogeneity when executing climbing lessons.
I observed the problem from three points of view:
The importance of social inclusion of special needs children in those sports activities, which are mostly aimed at children with a regular development,
The importance, involvement and role of service design as a tool in design practice when planning a service for most vulnerable social groups,
Exploration of specific characteristics of sport climbing as a potentially good rehabilitation tool for children with Down syndrome.
Through a four-stage process of researching, defining, developing and implementation, I devised a prudent plan of climbing activities, carefully constructed so as to meet the needs of children with regular development, as well as children with Down syndrome. Therefore, the main focus of my thesis is the inclusion of children with Down syndrome in climbing activities, which are ordinarily meant for children with typical development.
With the research presented in this thesis, I confirmed my assumption that a suitably
designed climbing activity with certain adjustments is appropriate for children with Down syndrome and can serve as a very effective rehabilitation method.
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