Start Date
17-6-2025 12:30 PM
End Date
17-6-2025 2:00 PM
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine typical students’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in physical education (PE) classes. The participants were between 10 – 16 years of age, and their grade level was from fifth grade to ninth grade in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The participants were 614 typical students in elementary and middle schools. Participants responded to Children’s Attitudes Toward Integrated Physical Education-Revised (CAIPE-R). The findings of this study indicated that female students had more positive attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in PE classes than male students, as well as students who had a family member or a close friend with a disability had more positive attitudes toward inclusion than students who did not. Moreover, very competitive students had less favorable attitudes toward inclusion than non-competitive students did, and very competitive students who had students with disabilities in their schools had more positive attitudes toward inclusion than very competitive students who did not have students with disabilities in their schools. In conclusion, the significant findings of this study support the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular PE classes. Thus, the inclusion will be successful if students gain more awareness about students with disabilities and if PE teachers are provided appropriate support by making modifications to rules and equipment in physical education classes to ensure that students with and without disabilities can effectively participate in regular physical education.
Recommended Citation
Al Salim, Zuhair Abdaladeem, "Attitudes of Saudi Students toward the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Physical Education Classes" (2025). International Symposium of Adapted Physical Activity and International Symposium on Physical Activity and Visual Impairment and Deafblindness. 35.
https://sword.mtu.ie/isapa/2025/day2/35
Attitudes of Saudi Students toward the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities in Physical Education Classes
The purpose of this study was to examine typical students’ attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in physical education (PE) classes. The participants were between 10 – 16 years of age, and their grade level was from fifth grade to ninth grade in the Eastern province of Saudi Arabia. The participants were 614 typical students in elementary and middle schools. Participants responded to Children’s Attitudes Toward Integrated Physical Education-Revised (CAIPE-R). The findings of this study indicated that female students had more positive attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in PE classes than male students, as well as students who had a family member or a close friend with a disability had more positive attitudes toward inclusion than students who did not. Moreover, very competitive students had less favorable attitudes toward inclusion than non-competitive students did, and very competitive students who had students with disabilities in their schools had more positive attitudes toward inclusion than very competitive students who did not have students with disabilities in their schools. In conclusion, the significant findings of this study support the inclusion of students with disabilities in regular PE classes. Thus, the inclusion will be successful if students gain more awareness about students with disabilities and if PE teachers are provided appropriate support by making modifications to rules and equipment in physical education classes to ensure that students with and without disabilities can effectively participate in regular physical education.