roya ghasemzadeh

Integrated education is a movement towards educational justice and integration of the education program for all, the implementation of which is still facing challenges. The present study aimed to explain the challenges of implementing the integration plan for students with borderline mental functioning in the ordinary schools of Ahvaz City, Iran. 

The present study was conducted using a qualitative approach in primary schools in Ahvaz City using conventional content analysis based on the approach of Lundman and Graneheim from December 2020 to August 2021. Data were collected through field notes and 17 in-depth semi-structured interviews with 12 individuals, including 7 teachers, 2 principals and 3 assistants. Data coding and analysis were performed using MAXQDA software, version 18.

Data analysis led to the emergence of 28 codes, including 3 categories of educational system challenges (with two subcategories of lack of planning and poor system of appraising borderline students), teachers’ challenges (with 5 subcategories of annoyance and objection of ordinary students, not following educational calendar program, high workload in integration classes, crowding and confusion of integration classes, and the teacher’s emotional reaction to not learning of the borderline students), and the attitude and response to integration plan (with 3 subcategories of reaction of ordinary students’ parents toward the integration plan, negative attitude of educational staff toward integration plan, and teachers’ objection toward integration plan).

 The results showed that the administrators have a negative attitude toward implementing the integration plan and are against it. The successful implementation of the integration plan depends on solving the challenges in the path of this plan. It seems that the results of the present study can help education managers and policymakers design suitable and desirable programs to solve the challenges and facilitate the integration of students with borderline mental functioning in ordinary schools.

The spread of various pandemics and other outbreaks is inevitable, and rehabilitation specialists are the most exposed groups due to working with disabled patients. This study evaluates the correlation between COVID-19 anxiety, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), social participation, and coping styles during the pandemic with demographic information of Iranian rehabilitation specialists.

In this cross-sectional study in 2022, 300 Iranian rehabilitation specialists were selected randomly. They responded to the COVID-19 Anxiety Scale (CAS), OCD Assessment Tool, Social Participation Questionnaire (SPQ), Coping Styles Questionnaire (CSQ), and the demographic checklist. The data were analyzed using the descriptive statistics, ANOVA test, and SPSS 22.

The mean scores for anxiety (18.70) and OCD (86.47) were in the moderate range, and that of social participation (34.12) was in the severe range. For coping styles, the greatest (15.1) and least (12.15) mean scores were found for problem-solving and confrontative coping styles. There were significant correlations when comparing the main variables with the demographic variables.

Rehabilitation specialists experienced substantial anxiety and OCD during the COVID-19 pandemic. Likewise, their social participation, which needs to be at a top level, was severely restricted. In addition, some significant relationships in demographic variables imply that some people are more susceptible in society. This finding is of paramount importance in adopting strategies to deal with crises.

Having a child with cerebral palsy (CP) is a stressful experience for the family specially mothers. Caring of this children take a lots of time and energy from family. The balance of life may be decreased by the influence of factors related to the child or mother. Therefore, the present study intended to investigate the predictive factors affecting the life balance of mothers with CP.

This study was a cross sectional descriptive-analytical research that conducted in Ahvaz in 2021. A total of 135 mothers (mean age= 33.37(7.93)) with at least one children under the age of ten CP participated in this research. Data were collected using life balance index, general health questionnaire, time management quality, and demographic information checklists. GMFCS E&R and MACS were used to determine the level of gross motor and manual ability function. To investigate the effect of predictor variables on the quantity of life balance, generalized univariate linear models were used.

Life Balance of mothers of children with CP was very unbalanced (45.2%) or unbalanced (35.6%). Based on regression coefficient of each variable, it was determined that MACS (B = 0.192), comorbidity in the children with CP (B= 0.187), gross motor function (B= 0.137), general health (B= 0.024) and maternal age (beta = 0.01), respectively, contributed the most in the prediction of life balance variances.

Life balance is a serious affected domain in mothers caring CP children. Child-related factors had a more effective role in predicting the life balance of mothers of CP children than mother-related factors.

Difficult life experiences in adulthood, such as caregiving of an individual with traumatic spinal cord injury (TSCI), constitute a challenge to the self and identity.

This study aimed to explore self-perception from the viewpoints of informal caregivers of individuals with TSCI.

Twelve informal caregivers of individuals with TSCI participated in this qualitative study. The researchers purposively selected the participants and conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews for data collection. They recorded the interviews and transcribed them verbatim. The researchers analyzed the data according to the qualitative content analysis method.

The findings included “the self-being” as the main category and “self-essence” and “self-possession” as higher-level subcategories and their 25 related lower-level subcategories.

The participants might perceive themselves as an eternal and granted “self-essence” or may perceive it as perishable and unstable “self-possessions.” Depending on self-perception, self-confidence and self-worth were maintained under any circumstances or fluctuated according to defects or lack of self-possessions.

Professional ethics in Rehabilitation Sciences is necessary for achieving therapeutic goals. Considering the importance of professional ethics training for rehabilitation students, we aimed to investigate the effects of a professional ethics workshop on improving the students’ ethical knowledge at Ahvaz Faculty of Rehabilitation Sciences, Ahvaz City, Iran.

This quasi-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted on all third- and fourth-year students in Audiology, Physiotherapy, Occupational therapy, and Speech therapy and the postgraduate students of the faculty. The two-day workshop was held for 16 hours. The students completed an ethical knowledge assessment test designed by the faculty members before and after the workshop.

The data of 206 students (26% male and 74% female), with a mean age of 25.68 years, were analyzed in this study. The Mean±SD scores of the ethical knowledge test before and after the workshop were 4.71±1.84 and 7.02±1.42, respectively. Based on the results, the ethical knowledge of the students increased significantly after the workshop (P<0.001). Improvement of ethical knowledge scores was significantly different between educational levels (P=0.033). Also, the improvement of ethical knowledge score was significantly different among various study fields (P=0.007).

Considering the promotion of students’ ethical knowledge through participation in this workshop, it is suggested that an ethical workshop be held upon the entry of all rehabilitation students into the clinical field.

 Chronic Multiple Sclerosis (MS) often occurs in middle-aged people, who are supposed to take their most important roles in the family and community and thus affect their self-advocacy. This study aimed to identify the barriers to self-advocacy in women with MS.

This study was conducted using a qualitative content analysis method. The participants were 10 female members of the MS Association of Khuzestan Province of Iran aged 30-40 years with different educational levels, marital status, and occupations. They were selected using a purposive sampling method. The study data were collected through semi-structured interviews and continued until data saturation from June to November 2019. The content analysis was performed using Lundman and Graneheim’s qualitative content analysis method with an inductive approach conducted continuously and simultaneously with data collection. To evaluate the validity and reliability of qualitative data, we used Lincoln and Guba criteria (credibility, dependability, conformability, and transferability).

 The data analysis revealed 900 codes, 21 subcategories, and 6 themes of family barriers, medical barriers, job-related barriers, environmental barriers, sociocultural barriers, and psychological barriers.

 Women with MS face a variety of barriers to self-advocacy; most of them are related to family, environment, and society, in addition to personal barriers. Social support and the availability of sufficient and appropriate information about MS can play an important role in confronting these women with mentioned barriers and realizing their self-advocacy.

Braces are common non-surgical treatments for the management of spinal deformities in adolescents. There are factors that may determine the success of non-surgical treatments of spinal deformities. Hence the aim of current study was to investigate the relationship between the amount of time for brace wear and its psychological effects and the level of social participation of adolescents with spinal deformity.

we examined adolescents undergoing brace treatment for spinal deformity attending to Ahvaz Technical Orthopedic Centers. Among them, 30 adolescents including 3 males and 27 females (mean age: 14.7 (1.92) years) were included in the study. Sampling method was simple non-probability sampling. Data were collected using Fear of Negative Evaluation questionnaire, Participation Scale questionnaire, Bad Sobernheimer stress (Deformity) and Bad Sobernheimer (brace) questionnaire. The duration (hours and months) of brace treatment was also recorded. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation coefficient calculation and correlational analysis.

The results demonstrated that the participation scale had a negative correlation with Bad Sobernheimer (brace) score (r= 0.49, p = 0.006). Participation scale also had a positive correlation with fear of negative evaluation score (r= 0.42, p = 0.019). There were no significant correlation between other variables.

Psycho-social factors can affect adolescents' participation score undergoing brace treatment. People with scoliosis and hyper kyphosis undergoing brace treatment are young, so, it is important to consider psychological and social factors during brace treatment, to minimize negative consequences of brace treatment.

Dealing with a child with cerebral palsy (CP) is often accompanied by numerous limitations and troublesome parenting and long-term rehabilitation services may impose high pressure on parents. The therapists should understand the needs and expectations of parents to provide appropriate services to them. So, this study is conducted aiming to explore the experiences of parents of children with CP about therapists’ rehabilitation services in Ahvaz, Iran.

In this qualitative study, 10 parents of children with CP were selected through purposive sampling. Semi-structured interviews were used for data gathering. Interview questions were about the experience of parents about therapists’ rehabilitation services. The data were analyzed by qualitative content analysis through constant comparative method.

The data analysis led to a category named “characteristics of therapists providing rehabilitation services” that was divided into three subcategories including “clinical competency, adherence to professional duties, and adherence to professional ethics”. Clinical competency consisted of being scientifically certified, being experienced in the field, and masculine attitude and adherence to professional duties included parent training, understanding the parents’ conditions, and attention to parents’ therapeutic priorities. Finally, the adherence to professional ethics was comprised of consideration of ethical issues regarding children and parents.

Parents of children with CP stressed the need for therapists with clinical competencies, perform professional duties, and adhere to professional ethics. Therefore, therapists could provide better services through applying and implementing these principles.

As a specialized service, counseling is required by people with disabilities and their families. Moreover, counseling is one of the tasks assigned to a rehabilitation therapist when providing rehabilitation services. The aim of this study was to investigate factors related to the role of the therapist as a rehabilitation counselor.
This qualitative study was carried out through content analysis Qualitative content analysis is a method for analyzing written, spoken or visual messages. It is known as a systematic research method to describe a phenomenon. This study involved a total of 19 participants with maximum diversity selected through purposive sampling from among professors and specialists in the field of rehabilitation and counseling people with disabilities. Sampling was gradually achieved until information was saturated. Data were collected through semi-structured, open and in-depth individual interviews. Each interview lasted between 45 and 120 minutes. Data analysis involved content analysis with a conventional approach based on Graneheim and Lundman’s model (2004). The trustworthiness and dependability of the research were taken care of through criteria proposed by Guba (1985) by through Lincoln.
One of the major emerging themes was the participants’ perception of the factors associated with the role of therapist, developed through 4 subthemes: therapist's attitude and belief, individual characteristics, therapist's interests and therapist’s awareness as well as 15 codes. The findings under therapist's attitude and belief indicated that therapists emphasized the effectiveness of counseling on how referrals think about counselors. Counseling is underappreciated due to lack of positive attitude adopted by specialists toward the physical aspect of counseling, adopting a medical viewpoint and focusing on reducing physical symptoms and pain. The findings under therapist's individual characteristics, including self-orientation, misconception about versatility, application of personal desires in treatment and referral as well as fear of illiteracy in the eyes of referrals, are all key obstacles against building an appropriate status for a rehabilitation counselor. The therapist’s collaborative spirit in providing services, good behavior and avoidance from harsh treatment with referrals and the art of careful listening were considered highly effective. Under the therapist's interests, the participant's experiences demonstrated that therapist’s concern about economic interests and losing the referral hinder client visits to the counselor. Appropriate communication skills to provide information to patients, necessary familiarity with tasks and counseling capabilities will help counselors ensure how to react in case the treatment process fails.
The results of this study confirmed the profound effect of therapist’s role and performance as a rehabilitation counselor. Considering that the structure of rehabilitation counseling is undesirable due to poor development of essential mental constructs, rehabilitation therapists can, as one of the key players throughout the rehabilitation treatment process, greatly contribute to building a desirable status for the profession of rehabilitation counseling. Therefore, it is imperative that managers and decision-makers devise health policies by adopting correct strategies in an effort to repair the inappropriate mental and functional constructs of rehabilitation therapists involved in the counseling field.

The SERVQUAL (service quality) technique is one of the best techniques to evaluate customers’ expectations and perceptions of the quality of the services they have received. This study aimed to assess the quality gap in the services provided by rehabilitation centers in Iran using the SERVQUAL technique.Patients and This was a cross-sectional study conducted in Ahvaz, Iran. The study sample was composed of 255 patients randomly selected from 5 rehabilitation centers. The research data was collected using a valid questionnaire, consisting of 22 items and 5 dimensions of service quality. Most of the patients included in this study were female (72.9%), and the mean age of the patients was 40 ± 13.2 years. The total mean scores of the patients’ expectations and perceptions were 3.73 (SD = 0.3) and 3.56 (SD = 0.5), respectively. According to the gap analysis, there was a negative quality gap in each of the five SERVQUAL dimensions, but in the assurance dimension, this gap was very low, and not found to be significant. The quality gap was more negative in the tangiblesfactor (-0.33) and reliability (-0.30) than in the other factors. There was a negative gap between the patients’ expectations and what they actually perceived in the studied rehabilitation centers (with the exception of one public clinic); therefore, improvements are needed across all five dimensions.

Visually and hearing impairments are as the most common groups of physical disabilities. Due to limitation caused by these disorders, they can affect family functioning. The aim of this study was to compare the functioning of families with visual and hearing impairments with families without disorders.
In this descriptive – analytical study, 55 subjects with visually and hearing impairment from association of the blind and deaf of Ahvaz city, Iran and 55 subjects without disorders as the control group were selected by available sampling method and examined. Data collection tools include Family Assessment Device (FAD) inventory and the demographic information questionnaire. Finally, the data were statistically analyzed using descriptive and analytical statistics in SPSS 20 software.
The research findings showed that the mean scores values obtained from FAD inventory in families with visual and hearing impairments and the controls had no statistically significant differences (P=0.1). Comparing the functioning dimensions in the three groups, the families with visual impairment had poorer functioning in dimensions of behavioral control (P=0.02), communication (P = 0.01) and overall functioning (P = 0.03) with respect to the two groups.
The results suggest that the families with visual impairment have lower performance compared to families with hearing impairment and the control group in some aspects.

This study aimed to measure the hospital productivity using data envelopment analysis (DEA) technique and Malmquist indices. This is a cross sectional study in which the panel data were used in a 4 year period from 2007 to 2010. The research was implemented in 12 teaching and non-teaching hospitals of Ahvaz County. Data envelopment analysis technique and the Malmquist indices with an input-orientation approach, was used to analyze the data and estimation of productivity. Data were analyzed using the SPSS.18 and DEAP.2 software. Six hospitals (50%) had a value lower than 1, which represents an increase in total productivity and other hospitals were non-productive. the average of total productivity factor (TPF) was 1.024 for all hospitals, which represents a decrease in efficiency by 2.4% from 2007 to 2010. The average technical, technologic, scale and managerial efficiency change was 0.989, 1.008, 1.028, and 0.996 respectively. There was not a significant difference in mean productivity changes among teaching and non-teaching hospitals (P>0.05) (except in 2009 years). Productivity rate of hospitals had an increasing trend generally. However, the total average of productivity was decreased in hospitals. Besides, between the several components of total productivity, variation of technological efficiency had the highest impact on reduce of total average of productivity.

The aim of this study was to compare quality of life between spouses of veterans covered by the ‘Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs’ and spouses of the disabled covered by the Welfare Organization in the city of Borujerd. Methods & Materials: This study was a descriptive-analytic one. Through random sampling, 80 spouses of disabled veterans and 80 spouses of disabled patients were selected as samples. The SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire was used to collect data. T-test was used to analyze data and compare the groups with each other. The results suggest that the overall quality of life in spouses of disabled veterans was significantly higher than that observed in the spouses of disabled patients (p=0.004). Statistically significant differences were observed in material and environmental welfare, marital relations, familial relationships, altruistic behavior, political behavior, occupational satisfaction, and physical activity between the two groups (p=0.002). Quality of life demonstrates the feeling of well-being. High quality of life is realized when a person feels that his/her basic needs are met and opportunities for pursuing his/her goals and challenges are available.

Multiple sclerosis is a common and chronic neurologic disorder. This disorder imposes physical, economic, and psychosocial burden on individuals, their families and society. This study aims to analyze the costs of multiple sclerosis disease based on the severity of disability. We performed a cross‑sectional cost of illness study. This study was conducted in 332 patients of Khuzestan province of Iran. Data were included: Patient’s characteristics, disability status, medical, and nonmedical costs and were gathered by using the questionnaire during 3 months period. Costs analysis was performed in the basis of expanded disability status scale (EDSS). Data were analyzed by using SPSS 18 software. Mean age of the patients was 33.5 (standard deviation [SD]: 9.1) and 70.5% of patients were female. Mean EDSS score of the patients was 2.2 (SD: 1.6). Most patients (92.1%) had relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (MS) form of the disease. Costs mean per patients was 8.6 ± 7.9 million Rial. The direct and indirect costs were 93.1% and 6.9% of total costs, respectively. The major cost of the disease belongs to the pharmaceutical treatment (22% of costs). The majority costs (approximately 62%) attributed to EDSS of 6-7 and >7. Furthermore, there was strong significant relationship between cost of illness and disability severity of patients (P < 0.05). Cost mean per MS patients was relatively high. Furthermore, the results showed that cost of disease had positive and significant relationships with EDSS score that is, progression of disability increase costs of patients.

Hearing loss can affect physical, mental and social health of deaf adults and lead cause depression, anxiety, isolation, suspicion and stress. This study was aimed to compare mental health in the hearing-impaired elderly with hearing aid and hearing-impaired elderly without hearing aids referring to Ahvaz Imam Khomeini Hospital. Methods and Materials: In this cross- sectional study, the participants included 72 hearing-impaired elderly elderly aged 60 years or older who referred to Ahvaz Imam Khomeini Hospital, 36 of which were with hearing aids and 36 without. Each group consisted of 18 women and 18 men. Data collecting tool included Goldberg General Health Questionnaire–28 (GHQ-28). GHQ-28 included general health and four subscales of anxiety, depression, physical symptoms and social dysfunction. The independent t-test was used for analyzing the data. The mean mental health scores in hearing-impaired elderly without hearing aids and with hearing aid were as 48.13 (57.2%) and 35.66 (42.4%), respectively. Comparing the two groups means through t-test, it was concluded that differences between them is statistically significant (p=0.001). The mental health mean score between men and women in the two groups was significant p≤0. 049. In addition, the difference in the mean mental health subscales between the two groups was significant. Thus the hearing-impaired elderly without hearing aids compared to those with hearing aid are more likely to experience depression, anxiety, physical symptoms and social dysfunctions (p≤0. 003). The results suggest that the hearing-impaired elderly with hearing aid compared to those without hearing aid have more mental health score

Human resources are the most valuable resources in health services organizations. Since the rehabilitation employees play an important role in providing, maintaining, and improving the health of vulnerable groups in society, the investigation about the performance of these employees is a fundamental priority. The present study examined the correlation between staff burnout and quality of working life in rehabilitation centers in Ahvaz. This descriptive-analytic study was conducted among 178 full-time employees from rehabilitation centers in Ahvaz with at least one year of work experience in 2010. For data collection, demographic information questionnaire, Maslach Burnout questionnaire, and Walton Quality of Life questionnaire were applied. The data were analyzed using Pearson Correlation Coefficient. The Results showed that 5. 6% of employees had high and 79. 8% moderate quality of life. Among the indicators of quality of working life, «individual rights» with 16. 9 in the highest occupational status and «social relationships» with mean of 7. 16 were in the lowest position. The Emotional exhaustion in 51. 7% of employees was at a low level, and 78. 6% of the employees showed high levels of depersonalization. About 99. 4% of subjects had high level of lack of personal success. According to the findings, the «quality of life» showed an inverse correlation with emotional exhaustion dimension (-0. 48). There was also a significantly inverse correlation between depersonalization and quality of working life (-0. 35). According to the results of this study, it is essential to promote quality of life for the rehabilitation employees in this sensitive area of action to reduce job burnout.

Objective (s): To evaluate the psychometric properties of the Persian version of Work Ability Index questionnaire (WAI). In this methodological study, a sample of nurses and healthcare staff aged 40 years and above working in educational hospitals in Ahvaz (236 workers) in 2010, completed the questionnaire. Forward-backward method was applied to translate the questionnaire from English into Persian. The psychometric properties of Persian version of the WAI were assessed using the fallowing tests: Internal consistency and test-retest analysis (to test reliability), exploratory factor analysis, discriminant validity and convergent validity by determining the correlation between the Persian version of Short Form Health Survey (SF-36) and WAI score. The Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was estimated to be 0.79 and the ICC was 0.83. Factor analysis indicated three factors: self-perceived work ability (24.5% of the variance), mental resources (22.23% of the variance), and presence of disease and health related limitation (18.55% of the variance). Statistical tests showed that the questionnaire was capable of discriminating two groups of employees who had different levels of sick leave. Convergent validity analysis showed that the instrument significantly correlated with all dimensions of Persian version of SF-36. Item-scale correlation corrected for overlap showed the items had a good correlation except for item. The finding showed that the Persian version of Work Ability Index is a reliable and valid measure of work ability and can be used both in research and practice.

Hospitals as the centers that consume the most resource of health system, based on their function have difference performance and efficiency. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficiency of Ahvaz hospitals using data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. This study is a descriptive-analytic study, that assessed the efficiency of teaching and nonteaching hospitals in Ahvaz using DEA in 2006-2010. The input variables include the number of doctors, the number of nurses, and the number of beds. The output variables include inpatient bed occupancy, the number of surgeries, the number of outpatient, the number of inpatient, and length of stay. Data was collected using standard forms that have been made by Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Then data was analyzed by DEAP2 software and independent T-test, to compute the difference between the efficiency of hospitals. The mean of technical, scale and managerial efficiency in hospitals during the period of study were 0.740, 0.862 and 0.837 respectively. The mean of technical efficiency in teaching hospitals and nonteaching hospitals were 0.557 and 0.873 respectively. The results showed a significant difference between them. Hospitals with technical efficiency level less than one had slack inputs and outputs. So they should decrease their inputs in order to achieve the expected optimal efficiency.

Providing high quality health care is not possible without information related to the past and current condition of the patient. Records show which services, where, when and by whom was delivered. Documentation is referred to the process of precisely recording the information regarding patient care and treatment. The purpose of this study is to determine the essential data set required in audiology record keeping and designing a model for Iran. In an applied research of a descriptive-comparative type which was carried out in 2010, data elements of audiology records of domestic and foreign patient notes were used to compile a check list which was subjected to debate by Iranian audiologists in Delphi method. 110 audiologists and 17 faculty members responded to the opinion poll. From 51 elements which were subjected to discussion, 37 elements by more than 75 percent of the participants, nine elements by 50 to 75 percent of the participants and five elements by less than 50 percent of the participants, were agreed upon. The only element to be considered more important by faculty members than audiologists was "Gender" (p=0.018). Seventy percent of the participants valued the effectiveness of information in patient records very high. The minimum data set for audiology records must include demographic information, past medical history, patient assessment and treatment plan. With reference to record design principles this information was used to develop amodel for patient audiology record which also included the necessary instructions for completing it.

motor, cognitive perceptual and psychosocial abilities and can influence most performance areas. Occupational therapy sees leisure time and related activities among the most important parts of human life. This qualitative research was performed to describe the attitudes and experiences of people with MS in Ahvaz, Iran about leisure time activities.Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a progressive neurological disease that affects sensory from members of MS Association of Khuzestan province and occupational and physiotherapy clinics in Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences (2011). Data saturation was achieved with 11 interviews. The study involved secondary analysis of in-depth transcribedsemi-structured interview data, using Colaizzi's method.This descriptive phenomenological study used purposeful sampling to select subjects (themes) emerged from the analysis of the subthemes in one main domain of attitude and experience of people with MS about leisure time activities. The participants categorized the effects of leisure on human performance into 2 subthemes (physical and mental performance) resulting in one theme (importance and aim of leisure). Besides, based on their ways of passing leisure time (individual style and group style) 3 subthemes and thus one theme (style of spending leisure) were extracted. In addition, 3 subthemes were mentioned for barriers(individual, social, and environmental barriers) that resulted in "leisure obstacles" as a theme.Finally, 2 subthemes were suggested for improving leisure time (personal and social role toleisure improvement) that demonstrated a theme (leisure suggestions).Nine preliminary structural elements (subthemes) and 4 essential structural elements physical and mental performance limitations in people with MS. Experiences of participants in this study expressed the importance of leisure from different aspects. Moreover, although these people spend their leisure time in individual or group activities, they face several obstacles including personal, social, and environmental barriers. In order to improve the quality of leisure for MS patients, more attention needs to be paid to the role of the individual as well as the community.The findings showed that leisure activities are also affected as a result of various

As individuals with long-term disabilities and other older adults face declines in health and function, there is a greater need for assistive technology (AT) or assistive devices and environmental interventions (EI) to help them maintain their independence and community participation. These aids can help older adults and individuals with disabilities function in work, home, recreational, and other community settings as they encounter age related or disability related changes. ‘Assistive Technology refers to products, devices or equipment that are used to maintain, increase or improve the functional capabilities of people with disabilities. A thorough assessment of the individual’s preferences and needs must be conducted before an assistive device is obtained. If one type of device is inadequate to meet an individual’s needs, it should not be assumed that there are no viable alternatives. Individuals’ use of AT and the type of technology used may change over time or as they age. Low-tech aids, such as canes or walkers, or high-tech aids, such as manual or power wheelchairs or scooters, are used to help individuals achieve mobility. Assistive Technologies to aid in communication currently range from low-tech devices such as books to high-tech, augmentative communication devices, which are computers. Computer technology can help individuals become more independent and can enhance their ability to overcome a wide range of limitations. Accessibility can involve more than architectural structure. AT for use in the environment can also increase individuals’ ability to function within their environment. Advancements in AT will occur in the technology itself, the services associated with the technology, and in the government policies and programs relative to AT. There will more widespread use of universal design, with less special-purpose AT required.