A team at University College London are carrying out a cross-syndrome comparison of motor skill learning, physical activity and mental health in autism spectrum disorder, Down syndrome, and Williams syndrome.
This research project seeks to examine the development of motor skills, physical activity, and mental wellbeing in children with special educational needs between the ages of 7 and 16 (specifically autism, Down syndrome, and Williams syndrome) via completion of an online survey containing well validated questionnaires completed by parents and/or caregivers.
By following the link provided (below), parents will be presented with a participant information sheet which outlines in detail what will be included in the questionnaire, how the data will be stored and used, and how to take part. After consenting to take part via the built-in consent form, parents will be presented with a series of questions about their child (e.g., child’s age, school year, diagnosis, type of school attended). Following this, parents will be asked to complete a series of questions which will provide us very valuable information about their child’s motor skill learning, physical activity, and mental health and wellbeing.
Click here to access the information sheet, consent forms and survey.
The results from this project will improve our understanding and will inform future tasks and activities implemented to examine sensorimotor processing in children with special educational needs, with a view to improve quality of life and educational outcomes.
The research team
Child Development and Learning Difficulties lab
Dr Daniel Clowes is a postdoctoral researcher at UCL Institute of Education interested in understanding how children with special educational needs plan and perform movements, and how underlying sensorimotor processes may be utilised to influence learning and educational outcomes.
Email: d.clowes@ucl.ac.uk
Dr Spencer Hayes is an associate professor at UCL, Institute of Education – his research focuses on improving physical and social development, motor skills and educational outcomes for those with special educational needs.
Dr Jo Van Herwegen is an associate professor at UCL Institute of Education and director of the Child Development and Learning Difficulties lab. Her research focuses on improving educational outcomes for those with special educational needs, using evidence from developmental psychology and educational neuroscience.