Page 154 - Petelin, Ana, et al. 2019. Eds. Zdravje otrok in mladostnikov / Health of Children and Adolescents. Proceedings. Koper: University of Primorska Press
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avje otrok in mladostnikov | health of children and adolescents 152 participation restrictions. Over a billion people are estimated to live with some
form of disability. Disability is extremely diverse. While some health condi-
tions associated with disability result in poor health and extensive health care
needs, others do not (WHO - World health organization, 2018). Child with a
disability is every evaluated child who is having mental retardation, a hearing
impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual
impairment (including blindness), a serious emotional disturbance, an ortho-
pedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, a
specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities, and who,
by reason thereof, needs special education and related services (Idea Partner-
ship, 2004). Disability can severely impact upon the lives of children or youth,
especially on their physical and psychosocial development. In addition, these
young people are often faced with functional disabilities and social difficul-
ties. Because of that they need special skills to cope with the physical and men-
tal challenges associated with their disabilities. Therapeutic camps can offer an
opportunity to build these skills (Kornhaber et al., 2019) and are designed for
children and youth with different learning disabilities, psychosocial problems,
chronic illness, autism, traumatic loss, depression, anxiety and other health-re-
lated problems (Harper, 2017). The purpose of these camps is to provide an en-
vironment for children and youth with disabilities to meet with their peers, de-
velop self-confidence and a sense of identity, increase independence, grow new
friendships and improve their support networks. Consequently, these benefits
may potentially foster the adjustment on the disability and improve the quali-
ty of life (Kornhabler et al., 2019). The purpose of this paper is to present posi-
tive effects of attending therapeutic camps for children and youth with disabil-
ity and also for their parents or caregivers.
Methods
A descriptive research method with a critical review of Slovene and English
professional and scientific literature was used. We searched through biblio-
graphic databases CINAHL, Medline and ScienceDirect and conducted a me-
ta-synthesis. Inclusion criteria were studies published between 2009 and 2019
(except one article was published 2004), Slovene or English language and cor-
respondingly content (focus on the actual effects of therapeutic camps). Key-
words in Slovene were: terapevtski tabori, motnje v razvoju, otroci, mladost-
niki and psihosocialni razvoj. Keywords in English were: therapeutic camps,
disabilities, children, youth and psychosocial development. We used operator
AND. According to keywords we found 11 scientific articles, 4 of them were ex-
cluded because they did not match our inclusion criteria. The literature search
took place from April to June 2019.
Results
Seven studies were obtained that show the effect of therapeutic camps for
children and youth, their parents or caregivers (Table 1).
form of disability. Disability is extremely diverse. While some health condi-
tions associated with disability result in poor health and extensive health care
needs, others do not (WHO - World health organization, 2018). Child with a
disability is every evaluated child who is having mental retardation, a hearing
impairment (including deafness), a speech or language impairment, a visual
impairment (including blindness), a serious emotional disturbance, an ortho-
pedic impairment, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairment, a
specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities, and who,
by reason thereof, needs special education and related services (Idea Partner-
ship, 2004). Disability can severely impact upon the lives of children or youth,
especially on their physical and psychosocial development. In addition, these
young people are often faced with functional disabilities and social difficul-
ties. Because of that they need special skills to cope with the physical and men-
tal challenges associated with their disabilities. Therapeutic camps can offer an
opportunity to build these skills (Kornhaber et al., 2019) and are designed for
children and youth with different learning disabilities, psychosocial problems,
chronic illness, autism, traumatic loss, depression, anxiety and other health-re-
lated problems (Harper, 2017). The purpose of these camps is to provide an en-
vironment for children and youth with disabilities to meet with their peers, de-
velop self-confidence and a sense of identity, increase independence, grow new
friendships and improve their support networks. Consequently, these benefits
may potentially foster the adjustment on the disability and improve the quali-
ty of life (Kornhabler et al., 2019). The purpose of this paper is to present posi-
tive effects of attending therapeutic camps for children and youth with disabil-
ity and also for their parents or caregivers.
Methods
A descriptive research method with a critical review of Slovene and English
professional and scientific literature was used. We searched through biblio-
graphic databases CINAHL, Medline and ScienceDirect and conducted a me-
ta-synthesis. Inclusion criteria were studies published between 2009 and 2019
(except one article was published 2004), Slovene or English language and cor-
respondingly content (focus on the actual effects of therapeutic camps). Key-
words in Slovene were: terapevtski tabori, motnje v razvoju, otroci, mladost-
niki and psihosocialni razvoj. Keywords in English were: therapeutic camps,
disabilities, children, youth and psychosocial development. We used operator
AND. According to keywords we found 11 scientific articles, 4 of them were ex-
cluded because they did not match our inclusion criteria. The literature search
took place from April to June 2019.
Results
Seven studies were obtained that show the effect of therapeutic camps for
children and youth, their parents or caregivers (Table 1).
